Thanksgiving Day courses might vary by household. But one component remains fairly fixed, at least as far as sports enthusiasts are concerned: NFL football.
The Shield has effectively taken ownership of Turkey Day, making the holiday a centerpiece of its annual schedule. The 2025 season will prove no exception, with a sextet of sides set to take the stage during one of the United States’ favorite holidays. Two of those franchises — the Lions and Cowboys — are used to the pressure of headlining the holiday.
NFL fans waited with bated breath to see who will join Detroit and Dallas in Thanksgiving Day’s three-game set. Now, they know. Here’s what you need to know about the NFL’s Thanksgiving schedule in 2025.
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Thanksgiving football schedule 2025
Per usual, the NFL’s Thanksgiving slate will include a pair of Turkey Day regulars — the Lions and the Cowboys. Both sides will host their opponents, as has been the case for time immemorial.
This season, Detroit will take on an opponent that has yet to be announced. Dallas, meanwhile, will joust with Kansas City.
A third primetime matchup aired on NBC will be announced later as well.
Here’s the full Thanksgiving schedule, including kickoff times and TV channels for all three games.
MORE NFL SCHEDULE RELEASE:
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV channel | Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD at Lions | 12:30 p.m. ET | Fox | Fubo |
| Chiefs at Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. ET | CBS | Fubo |
| TBD at TBD | 8:20 p.m. | NBC | Fubo |
TBD at Lions
- Kickoff time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: Fox
- Live stream: Fubo
The Lions will play host on Thanksgiving, with the opponent yet to be announced.
Chiefs at Cowboys
- Kickoff time: 4:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: CBS
- Live stream: Fubo
The Cowboys host the Chiefs in the second of the Turkey Day fixtures. Dallas downed NFC East rival New York on Thanksgiving Day 2024, claiming a 27-20 victory. It’ll look for a similar result this time around against an AFC opponent in Kansas City.
The Chiefs last played on Thanksgiving back in 2006. This will be the 11th time the club is featured on the holiday.
TBD at TBD
- Kickoff time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC
- Live stream: Fubo
The third and final Thanksgiving matchup has yet to be announced.
Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?
The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day fixtures field more viewership than most sporting events. One reason why? They’re adorned by two notable franchises — the Lions and the Cowboys.
Detroit was fundamental to the tradition of Turkey Day games, first hosting the spectacle in 1934. 91 years later and things have remained fairly consistent: the Lions have participated in 85 matches on the cornucopia-laden platform, 80 of which have occurred consecutively. If not for the outbreak of World War II, those totals could have been greater.
If not for former Lions owner George A. Richards’ quick thinking, Thanksgiving might’ve not been a part of the NFL calendar. The former radio executive hope to wrestle interest away from the Tigers — then spearheaded by Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg, Mickey Cochrane and Charlie Gehringer. The Thanksgiving Day game spawned from his desire to outshine the Motor City’s then-greatest franchise. The NFL is more than grateful for his contributions.
MORE: Why the Lions always play on Thanksgiving, explained
Detroit is 38-44-2 on Thanksgiving. Dan Campbell’s side recently snapped a seven-game losing run in in such contests, scoring a decisive — and contentious — win over Caleb Williams and the Bears in 2024.
Dallas, meanwhile, joined the Turkey Day cavalcade in 1966. Much like their Motown counterparts, the Cowboys, too, wanted a taste of the national spotlight — then-general manager Tex Schramm hoped the scheduling would make Dallas stand out.
He was swiftly proven correct; Dallas’ first Thanksgiving Day matchup drew more than 80,000 fans.
The Cowboys have since participated in 58 straight Cornucopia Cups, save for the 1975 and 1977 seasons, when the St. Louis Cardinals were given their spot.
Dallas holds a 33-22-1 all-time record in Thanksgiving matchups. Its most recent result was positive — a 27-20 victory over the Giants in 2024.
MORE: Why do the Cowboys, Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
Which NFL teams have never played on Thanksgiving?
There’s but one side that has failed to compete on Thanksgiving Day: the Jaguars.
Jacksonville has only been an NFL franchise for 32 seasons, so it figures to claim a Turkey Day matchup sooner or later. However, that might be dependent on the organization’s ability to field a winning roster, something that’s been easier said than done in the River City as of late.
Three other NFL teams — the Bengals, Buccaneers, and Panthers — have appeared on Thanksgiving once. Of the league’s 32 clubs, just 10 have played on the holiday fewer than five times
Here is the leaderboard for Thanksgiving game appearances entering the 2025 season:
| Team | Total |
|---|---|
| Detroit Lions | 85 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 57 |
| Chicago Bears | 38 |
| Green Bay Packers | 38 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 21 |
| New York Giants | 16 |
| Washington Commanders | 13 |
| Denver Broncos | 11 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 |
| Buffalo Bills | 10 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8 |
| New York Jets | 8 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 8 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 8 |
| Miami Dolphins | 8 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 7 |
| Tennessee Titans | 7 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 6 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 5 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 5 |
| New England Patriots | 5 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4 |
| New Orleans Saints | 4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 3 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 2 |
| Houston Texans | 2 |
| Carolina Panthers | 1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0 |
