Historical past of the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day Soccer Video games

Since their inception again within the 12 months of 1920, the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL) has performed soccer video games on Thanksgiving Day, which have been really based mostly upon the historic taking part in of faculty soccer video games on and across the nice American vacation. The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day video games have historically included one recreation hosted by the Detroit Lions since 1934, in addition to one recreation hosted by the Dallas Cowboys since 1966 (with 2 – exceptions in 1975 and 1977).

Since 2006, a 3^rd – prime time American soccer recreation has additionally been performed on Thanksgiving Day. In contrast to the traditional and conventional afternoon video games hosted by the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys, the Thanksgiving Day evening recreation has no particular designated groups every 12 months.

In 2022, the NFL branded the Thanksgiving Day video games because the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration in an effort to honor the good late head coach and NFL broadcaster in John Madden, who had tragically handed away again in December of 2021.

1945 – Jim Benton pulls in 303 – Receiving Yards:

Enjoying for the Cleveland Rams, Benton turned the very first professional soccer participant to surpass 300 – receiving yards in a Thanksgiving Day recreation in his 28 – 21 victory over the Lions. Benton managed to catch 10 – passes from his Corridor of Fame quarterback, Bob Waterfield, together with a 70 – yard landing cross, and for good measure he had an interception whereas taking part in protection too. His yardage file stood robust for a complete of 40 – years and it stays certainly one of solely 6 – 300 – yard receiving video games within the historical past of the Nationwide Soccer League, a notable achievement given how the sport was performed up till the trendy period of professional ball.

Jim Benton’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards

• 2 – Time NFL First – Crew All – Professional Choice (1945, 1946)
• NFL Receiving Touchdowns Chief (1939)
• 2 – Time NFL Receiving Yards Chief (1945, 1946)
• NFL Receptions Chief (1946)
• NFL 1940’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• Helms Athletic Basis Corridor of Fame Choice
• PRFA Corridor of Very Good Palms Choice (2005)
• Arkansas Razorbacks All – Century Crew Choice
• Arkansas Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice
• College of Arkansas Sports activities Corridor of Honor Choice

1976 – O. J. Simpson racks up 273 – Yards

 Throughout O. J.’s 7^th – NFL season with the Buffalo Payments, and simply 3 – years faraway from his 2,003 – yard NFL season, Simpson broke his personal NFL file when he rushed for 273 – yards in a Thanksgiving Day soccer recreation. Simpson’s longest rush on that turkey day was good a 48 – yard landing through the 3^rd – quarter of the Buffalo Payments’ 27 – 14 eventual and unlucky loss to the Detroit Lions on that day.

The NFL file stood for a 12 months, till the Chicago Bears’ Walter Payton rushed for 275 – yards in a single NFL recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, and it now stands on the quantity – 6 spot on the all – time NFL listing for dashing yards in a single recreation.

J. Simpson’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• NFL Most Helpful Participant Award Winner (1973)
• NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1973)
• 5 – Time NFL First – Crew All – Professional Choice (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
• 5 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976)
• Bert Bell Award Winner (1973)
• Related Press Athlete of the 12 months Award Winner (1973)
• 3 – Time UPI AFC Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1972, 1973, 1975)
• 4 – Time NFL Dashing Yards Chief (1972, 1973, 1975, 1976)
• 2 – Time NFL Dashing Touchdowns Chief (1973, 1975)
• NFL Scoring Chief (1975)
• AFL All – Star Choice (1969)
• NFL 1970’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• NFL 75^th Anniversary All – Time Crew Choice
• NFL 100^th Anniversary All – Time Crew Choice
• Buffalo Payments Wall of Fame Choice
• Nationwide Champion (1967)
• Heisman Trophy Award Winner (1968)
• Maxwell Award Winner (1968)
• Walter Camp Award Winner (1967)
• 2 – Time UPI Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1967, 1968)
• Sporting Information Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1968)
• 2 – Time Unanimous All – American Choice (1967, 1968)
• USC Trojans Quantity 32 Retired

 1977 – Bob Griese Throws for six – Landing Passes:

 Griese tied a Nationwide Soccer League file at the moment for tallying scoring throws, which included a complete of three of them to Nat Moore, within the Miami Dolphins’ 55 – 14 demolition of the St. Louis Cardinals on that Thanksgiving Day efficiency. The ball recreation was performed at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium on a 39 – diploma day that will not have been very predictive of such a excessive – scoring recreation. Griese managed to make a complete of 151 – NFL common – season begins all through his Corridor of Fame profession taking part in skilled soccer. This Thanksgiving Day efficiency was certainly one of 4 through which he tossed greater than 3 – landing passes so it was positively a big day for Bob.

Griese’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• 2 – Time Tremendous Bowl Champion (VII, VIII)
• 2 – Time NFL First – Crew All – Professional Choice (1971, 1977)
• 6 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978)
• NFL Passing Touchdowns Chief (1977)
• NFL Completion Share Chief (1978)
• 2 – Time AFL All – Star Choice (1967, 1968)
• Jim Thorpe Trophy Award Winner (1971)
• Bert Bell Award Winner (1977)
• Miami Dolphins Honor Roll Choice
• Miami Dolphins Quantity 12 Retired
• Dolphins Stroll of Fame Choice (2011)
• Sammy Baugh Trophy Award Winner (1966)
• Large 10 Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1966)
• Consensus All – American Choice (1965)
• 2 – Time First – Crew All – Large Ten Choice (1965, 1966)

 1979 – Earl Campbell rumbles on the bottom for 195 – Dashing Yards:

 Earl was in his 2^nd – NFL season with the Houston Oilers when he made his solely Thanksgiving Day taking part in look, and it was fairly a memorable one for positive. Even after logging 264 -carries all through the Houston Oilers’ preliminary 12 – video games, Campbell ran the ball a complete of 33 – occasions which was good for 195 – floor yards, 2^nd – to solely O. J. Simpson’s 273 – yards on a Thanksgiving Day NFL recreation. Campbell scored 2 – touchdowns within the Houston Oilerstriumphant 30 to 24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. 1 of his most memorable landing scores got here on a 61 – yard rush to the home. This recreation was 1 of 20 through which Earl Campbell had not less than 30 – rushes.

Campbell’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• NFL Most Helpful Participant Award Winner (1979)
• 3 – Time NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1978, 1979, 1980)
• NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Award Winner (1978)
• 3 – Time First – Crew NFL All – Professional Choice (1978, 1979, 1980)
• 5 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983)
• Bert Bell Award Winner (1979)
• 3 – Time NFL Dashing Yards Chief (1978, 1979, 1980)
• 2 – Time NFL Dashing Touchdowns Chief (1979, 1980)
• NFL 1970’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• NFL 100^th Anniversary All – Time Crew Choice
• PFWA All – Rookie Crew Choice (1978)
• Tennessee Titans / Houston Oilers Ring of Honor Choice
• Tennessee Titans Quantity 34 Retired
• Heisman Trophy Award Winner (1977)
• Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy Award Winner (1977)
• Sporting Information Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1977)
• 2 – Time First – Crew All – American Choice (1975, 1977)
• Texas Longhorns Quantity 20 Retired
• Texas Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice
• Houston Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice

 1994 – Dave Krieg’s Excellent Passer Ranking Efficiency:

Having changed the then injured Detroit Lions beginning quarterback, Scott Mitchell, earlier within the season, Krieg accomplished 20 of his 25 – passes which was good for 351 – yards and three – landing passes, with 0 – interceptions too main the Detroit Lions to a 35 to 21 win over the Buffalo Payments on Thanksgiving Day.

Primarily based on the proper 158.3 – passer ranking, not less than, it was one of the best recreation of his lengthy NFL profession. (There have been 80 – excellent passer scores in NFL historical past with a minimal of 10 – complete cross makes an attempt.) Krieg who was 36 years outdated at the moment, led the Detroit Lions to a 5 and a couple of file in addition to a spot within the NFC playoff panorama that 12 months. Krieg would go on to play for 3 – different NFL franchises as a again – up QB earlier than finally retiring after the 1998 – 1999 NFL season.

Dave Krieg’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• 3 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (1984, 1988, 1989)
• NFL Completion Share Chief (1991)
• Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor Choice

1998 – Randy Moss Catches 3 – (lengthy) Touchdowns Passes:

 As he continued his breakout rookie season, Randy Moss managed to drag in his landing passes of 51, 56, and 56 yards within the Minnesota Vikings‘ 46 to 36 excessive – scoring win in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, and he made it look really easy too. They have been Moss’ solely catches of the sport as nicely. That efficiency was 1 of 6 – occasions in submit AFL / NFL merger historical past when a participant surpassed a minimal of 160 – receiving yards on three or much less cross catches. No different participant has ever caught greater than 3 – landing passes on Thanksgiving Day, and Moss’ 163 – receiving yards ranks him excessive – amongst all turkey day performances particularly as a large receiver.

Moss’ Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Award Winner (1998)
• NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (2007)
• 4 – Time NFL First – Crew All – Professional Choice (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007)
• 6 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007)
• 5 – Time NFL Receiving Touchdowns Chief (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009)
• NFL 2000’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• NFL 100^th Anniversary All – Time Crew Choice
• Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor Choice
• 50 Biggest Minnesota Vikings Crew Choice
• New England Patriots All – 2000’s Crew Choice
• New England Patriots All – Dynasty Crew Choice
• PFWA All – Rookie Crew Choice (1998)
• NCAA I – AA Nationwide Champion (1996)
• Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner (1997)
• Consensus All – American Choice (1997)
• MAC Most Helpful Participant Award Winner (1997)
• MAC Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1997)

Moss’ NFL Data:

• Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Season with 23
• Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Rookie Season with 17

1998 – Troy Aikman Passes for 455 – Yards to Come Again 

Whereas sadly down 21 to six to the Minnesota Vikings thanks largely to Randy Moss’ efficiency, the Dallas Cowboys have been in massive – time catch – up mode for almost all of this ball recreation. That led Aikman to set a Thanksgiving Day file and set up his profession excessive for passing yards. It was the one 400 – yard recreation of his wonderful professional soccer Corridor of Fame profession, and it got here on a private file for makes an attempt with 57 and completions with 34. Troy mustered just one – landing cross that day, nevertheless the Dallas Cowboys by no means acquired nearer than inside 10 – factors following their deep 21 to six early deficit.

Aikman’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• 3 – Time Tremendous Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
• Tremendous Bowl MVP Award Winner (XXVII)
• NFL Man of the 12 months Award Winner (1997)
• 6 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
• NFL Completion Share Chief (1993)
• PFWA All – Rookie Crew Choice (1989)
• Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor Choice
• Nationwide Champion (1985)
• Davey O’Brien Award Winner (1988)
• Pac – 10 Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1987)
• Cotton Bowl MVP Award Winner (1989)
• Consensus All – American Choice (1988)
• All – Pac – 10 Choice (1987)
• UCLA Bruins Quantity 8 Retired

2004 – Peyton Manning matches Griese’s Thanksgiving Day NFL File:

Manning was additionally blessed to throw an astonishing 6 – landing passes in a Thanksgiving Day NFL recreation, this one throughout a 41 to 9 victory for the Indianapolis Colts over the Detroit Lions. These landing scores accounted for greater than 1 / 4 of his 23 – completions and represented 1 of simply 9 of his NFL video games through which he threw not less than 5 – landing passes (yeah, he was fairly good).

Peyton shares the present NFL file for throwing 7 – landing passes in a recreation with solely Nick Foles, and Drew Brees, and P. Manning ranks 3^rd – in profession landing passes with 539, behind simply “Turkey Tom Brady” who has 649 in addition to Drew Brees with 571.

Manning’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• 2 – Time Tremendous Bowl Champion (XLI, 50)
• Tremendous Bowl MVP Award Winner (XLI)
• 5 – Time NFL Most Helpful Participant Award Winner (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)
• 2 – Time NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (2004, 2013)
• NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (2012)
• Walter Payton NFL Man of the 12 months Award Winner (2005)
• 7 – Time First – Crew NFL All – Professional Choice (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013)
• 3 – Time NFL Second – Crew All – Professional Choice (1999, 2000, 2006)
• 14 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014)
• 3 – Time NFL Passing Yards Chief (2000, 2003, 2013)
• 4 – Time NFL Passing Touchdowns Chief (2000, 2004, 2006, 2013)
• 3 – Time NFL Passer Ranking Chief (2004, 2005, 2006)
• 2 – Time NFL Completion Share Chief (2003, 2012)
• NFL 2000’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• NFL 100^th Anniversary All – Time Crew Choice
• Sports activities Illustrated Sportsman of the 12 months Award Winner (2013)
• NFLPA Alan Web page Group Award Winner (2005)
• 3 – Time Bert Bell Award Winner (2003, 2004, 2013)
• Bart Starr Award Winner (2015)
• PFWA All – Rookie Crew Choice (1998)
• Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor Choice
• Indianapolis Colts Quantity 18 Retired
• Denver Broncos Ring of Fame Choice
• Denver Broncos Quantity 18 Honored
• Maxwell Award Winner (1997)
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner (1997)
• Davey O’Brien Award Winner (1997)
• William V. Campbell Trophy Award Winner (1997)
• SEC Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (1997)
• Consensus All – American Choice (1997)
• First – Crew All – SEC Choice (1997)
• Second – Crew All – SEC Choice (1996)
• College of Tennessee Athletics Corridor of Fame Choice
• Tennessee Volunteers Quantity 16 Retired
• Louisiana Excessive College Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice (2021)
• Indiana Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice (2020)
• Louisiana Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice (2019)
• Colorado Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice (2018)
• Tennessee Sports activities Corridor of Fame Choice (2019)
• Tennessean of the 12 months Award Winner (2016)

Peyton Manning’s NFL Data:

• Most Passing Touchdowns in a Season with 55
• Most Passing Yards in a Season with 5,477
• Most Landing Passes in a Recreation with 7 (tied)

2010 – Tom Brady Matches Krieg’s Excellent Passing Ranking on Thanksgiving Day:

Tom accomplished 21 of his 27 passes which was good for 341 – passing yards and 4 – touchdowns within the New England Patriots’ 45 to 24 destruction of the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. The New England Patriots really trailed 24 to 17 half – method by way of the three^rd – quarter of the sport earlier than Tom tossed 3 – landing passes (79 – yards and 22 – yards) to Deion Department, and 16 yards to Wes Welker, within the span of solely 13 – minutes and 30 – seconds. It’s certainly one of simply 3 – video games through which Tom Brady achieved an ideal passer ranking all through his best of all – time NFL profession taking part in quarterback.

Brady’s Soccer Profession Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• 7 – Time Tremendous Bowl Champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII, LV)
• 5 – Time Tremendous Bowl MVP Award Winner (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX, LI, LV)
• 3 – Time NFL Most Helpful Participant Award Winner (2007, 2010, 2017)
• 2 – Time NFL Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (2007, 2010)
• NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (2009)
• 3 – Time NFL First – Crew All – Professional Choice (2007, 2010, 2017)
• 3 – Time NFL Second – Crew All – Professional Choice (2005, 2016, 2021)
• 15 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
• 5 – Time NFL Passing Touchdowns Chief (2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2021)
• 4 – Time NFL Passing Yards Chief (2005, 2007, 2017, 2021)
• 2 – Time NFL Passer Ranking Chief (2007, 2010)
• NFL Completion Share Chief (2007)
• NFL 2000’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• NFL 2010’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• NFL 100^th Anniversary All – Time Crew Choice
• AP Male Athlete of the 12 months Award Winner (2007)
• 2 – Time Sports activities Illustrated Sportsman of the 12 months Award Winner (2005, 2021)
• Bert Bell Award Winner (2007)
• New England Patriots Corridor of Fame Choice
• New England Patriots All – 2000’s Crew Choice
• New England Patriots All – 2010’s Crew Choice
• New England Patriots 50^th Anniversary Crew Choice
• New England Patriots All – Dynasty Crew Choice
• Nationwide Champion (1997)

Tom Brady’s NFL Data

• Most Profession Quarterback Wins with 251
• Most Profession Passing Makes an attempt with 12,050
• Most Profession Passing Completions with 7,753
• Most Profession Passing Touchdowns with 649
• Most Profession Passing Yards with 89,214
• Most Move Completions in a Season with 490 (2022)
• Most Move Makes an attempt in a Season with 733 (2022)
• Longest Landing Move at 99 yards (tied)

 2015 – Ziggy Ansah Data 3.5 – Sacks:

 Ziggy was a singular terror to the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, Mark Sanchez, on the Detroit Lions’ 45 to 14 Thanksgiving Day win. Ansah additionally exacted a measure of draft – day revenge, as he did most of his final harm versus the offensive sort out Lane Johnson whom the Philadelphia Eagles simply so occurred to draft 1 – spot above him within the 2013 NFL Draft. Johnson, who stays one of many NFL’s finest proper – tackles, acquired the ultimate chortle over Ziggy although, as Ansah final appeared in a Nationwide Soccer League common – season recreation again through the 2020 – 2021 NFL season.

Ansah’s Soccer Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• Second – Crew NFL All – Professional Choice (2015)
• NFL Professional Bowl Choice (2015)
• PFWA All – Rookie Crew Choice (2013)
• First – Crew All – Impartial Choice (2012)

 2018 – Amari Cooper Scores a 90 – Yard Landing:

In his 4^th total – NFL recreation, which simply so occurred to be with the Dallas Cowboys, after they acquired him from the Oakland Raiders, Cooper lined up with the offense at their very own 10 – yard line. Quarterback Dak Prescott fired to him throughout the center, and Cooper caught the ball on the 31 – yard line. He spun away from 3 – Washington defenders and sprinted the remaining 69 yards for the rating. Cooper reached a max pace of 20.82 – miles per hour, on the time the quickest of any Dallas Cowboys’ vast receiver since Nationwide Soccer League tracked knowledge utilizing Subsequent Gen Stats.

Cooper’s Soccer Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• 4 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
• PFWA All – Rookie Crew Choice (2015)
• BCS Nationwide Champion (2012)
• Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner (2014)
• Unanimous All – American Choice (2014)
• SEC Offensive Participant of the 12 months Award Winner (2014)
• First – Crew All – SEC Choice (2014)

 2019 – Cameron Jordan Crashes Down on 4 – Quarterback Sacks:

Jordan had a profession recreation in opposition to his New Orleans Saints’ division rival, gathering all 4 – of his complete sacks versus the Atlanta Falcons quarterback in Matt Ryan on Thanksgiving Day a number of years in the past. Cam’s efficiency powered him to a profession – excessive 15.5 – sacks on that season. Simply 3 – NFL seasons afterward, he broke the New Orleans Saints file for profession sacks, Jordan humorously thanked Matt Ryan, whom he tackled behind the road of scrimmage a complete of 23 – occasions all through his illustrious NFL profession.

“Plenty of Matt Ryan,” the New Orleans Saints defensive finish, Cameron Jordan, emphasised when he defined how he managed to set that NFL file. “He’s been good to me. Completely satisfied New 12 months, Matt Ryan, for those who see it.”

 Jordan’s Soccer Achievements, Honors, & Awards:

• First – Crew NFL All – Professional Choice (2017)
• 2 – Time NFL Second – Crew All – Professional Choice (2018, 2019)
• 8 – Time NFL Professional Bowl Choice (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
• NFL 2010’s All – Decade Crew Choice
• First – Crew All – Pac – 10 Choice (2010)