The Detroit Lions have played on every Thanksgiving my entire life, but how did the team become the home team for the NFL on the holiday for over 80 years?
How Detroit Became A Thanksgiving Football Tradition
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Getty Images, Canva.com
The Detroit Lions were originally the Portsmouth Spartans from Ohio. The team moved to the Motor City in 1929, but it wasn’t until 1934 that the team owner George A. Richards came up with a marketing idea to boost excitement and attendance for the Lions.
Richards talked the league into scheduling a Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears, and secured a national radio broadcast to promote the team. The game was so successful even though the Lions lost, the tradition has continued nearly every Thanksgiving since.
2025 marks the 85th time the Lions have played on Thanksgiving Day with a record of 38-45-2. The tradition began in 1934, but due to World War II, there weren’t a game 1939-1944. The tradition resumed in 1945 and has continued ever since.
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The 1935 Thanksgiving game was a key win which helped the Lions win the NFL championship.
What People on Reddit Had to Say About the Lions Thanksgiving Day Tradition
Recently a discussion on the NFL Reddit page came up asking why the Lions always get Thanksgiving games. Below are some of the comments from Reddit posters on the topic:
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Getty Images, Canva.com
That is a big rivalry between the Bengals and Browns and the teams’ colors work for the Halloween holiday, but not sure this lineup is worth an annual tradition.
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Getty Images, Canva.com
This Reddit poster makes a good point because for many years the Lions never got a Monday night, Thursday night, or any prime-time game.
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Getty Images, Canva.com
I never heard the rumor but if General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler pulled that, I can see how effective a threat that might have been in the 80s and 90s.
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Getty Images, Canva.com
I doubt the pilgrim ever ate a meal of lion, but it made me laugh.
There are a lot more comments on why the Lions play on every Thanksgiving you can check out here.
👇BELOW: Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Game From 1999👇
Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day Game From 1999
The Lions were then led by Bobby Ross and saw scoring touchdowns by Germane Crowell in the first quarter, then Greg Hill and Johnny Morton in the second quarter, which would prove to be enough by the end of the 4th. The game was a sell-out of 77,905, which is not unusual for these games.
Gallery Credit: Leanne Shaw Truckey