By Moses Joshua 
How a desperate bid for attention became one of America’s favorite holiday traditions
A Tradition Older Than Most NFL Franchises
Every year, as families gather around the table for turkey and stuffing, the Detroit Lions take the field. This Thanksgiving, they’ll kick off the NFL’s triple-header with a divisional clash against the Green Bay Packers at 1 p.m. ET — a matchup steeped not only in rivalry, but in nearly a century of history.
While both Detroit and Green Bay enter the holiday sitting just behind the 8–3 Chicago Bears in the NFC North race, the story of why the Lions always play on Thanksgiving reaches back far earlier than today’s standings.
How a Marketing Gamble Built an Iconic Tradition
The Lions weren’t even born in Michigan. Originally founded in 1928 as the Portsmouth Spartans in Ohio, the franchise officially joined the NFL in 1930. But it wasn’t until the team relocated to Detroit in 1934 that its signature identity — and eventual Thanksgiving legacy — took shape.
At the time, the Detroit Tigers baseball club commanded the region’s sporting loyalty, with the Red Wings beginning their rise in popularity just a couple of years earlier. New Lions owner George A. Richards recognized immediately that his football team needed something dramatic to capture the city’s attention.
So he made a bold move.
Richards negotiated a Thanksgiving Day showdown against the powerhouse Chicago Bears, aiming to drum up interest and fill seats. The gamble worked better than anyone expected.
Despite the Lions losing the game, the event was a phenomenon. The stadium sold out, would-be spectators were turned away at the gates, and Detroit suddenly had a football team fans were eager to follow.
One more stroke of genius cemented its legacy: Richards also owned WJR radio, an affiliate of the NBC Blue Network. The network agreed to air the Thanksgiving game nationally. The Lions-Bears matchup was broadcast across 94 stations, marking the first national NFL broadcast in league history. Exposure exploded — and so did Detroit’s fanbase.
Thanksgiving Becomes a Detroit Staple — and a National Expectation
Since that game in 1934, Detroit has suited up for Thanksgiving almost every single year. Their record sits at 38-44-2, but the results matter far less than the tradition itself.
By 1966, the Dallas Cowboys added their own Thanksgiving game to the schedule. And since 1978, both Detroit and Dallas have hosted annually, with the Lions always opening the slate.
In 2006, the NFL introduced a primetime matchup, extending Thanksgiving into a full three-game celebration and locking the Lions into their unmistakable holiday identity.
A Tradition That Still Shapes the NFL Playoff Picture
This year’s Thanksgiving contests carry serious stakes. Detroit and Green Bay remain locked in a tight NFC North race behind Chicago, while later games — Cowboys vs. Chiefs and Ravens vs. Bengals — could significantly influence postseason seeding.
The Lions may have begun their Thanksgiving run as a promotional stunt, but 91 years later, it has become a defining part of the franchise’s soul. Detroit isn’t just playing a game on Thursday — they’re carrying forward one of the NFL’s oldest and most beloved traditions.
And once again, millions will tune in, just as they have since that first broadcast nearly a century ago.