Tradition Tag

Tradition.  This is a word that is highly regarded among the NFL faithful.  When you think about tradition, names like Lombardi and Hallas come to mind.  Keeping tradition in the NFL has always been important to the fans, players,  and owners alike.  There has been one tradition in the NFL that has held true and is distinguished by a common link to our nation's past.

Every year families gather to eat turkey and stuffing, catch up with relatives, and watch football.  You could argue that NFL football is as much a part of Thanksgiving as the turkey or any Thanksgiving custom.  Professional football has been played on Thanksgiving Day since the 1920's but the modern Thanksgiving Day NFL tradition didn't start until 1970.  Since that time the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions have played games on "turkey day" nearly every season*.  Both the Lions and the Cowboys had often frequented the game or games on Thanksgiving but it wasn't until 1970 that both teams played and thus the tradition began.

*Lions have played every year but the Cowboys did not play in '75 & '77.