What is the Lions' Thanksgiving record? All-time results

Thanksgiving has become synonymous with football, and watching the Detroit Lions play on the holiday is as much an American tradition as eating turkey. But Turkey Day hasn’t always been kind to Detroit and its fans.

The Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day every year since 1934 (with the exception of 1939–1944 during World War II), but despite numerous opportunities, Detroit often found themselves on the losing side. The Lions haven’t won a game on Thanksgiving Day since 2016 and have lost their last seven Turkey Day games, including a narrow 29-22 loss to the NFC North rival Green Bay Packers last season.

The Lions (10-1) are in position to snap out their Thanksgiving loss Thursday against the Chicago Bears (4-7) after posting one of the best records in the league.

“We all want it. It’s long overdue,” said Dan Campbell, who hasn’t won a Thanksgiving match since taking over as head coach in 2021. “It’s just not really fun (to lose). …Ask my wife,” she will tell you. She prays hard for a win because she knows I’m a bear if we don’t win.

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Let’s take a look back at the history of the Lions. Here’s everything you need to know about the Lions on Thanksgiving Day:

Why do the Detroit Lions play every Thanksgiving?

The Lions’ Thanksgiving Day tradition began in 1934 when George A. Richards purchased the Portsmouth (Ohio) Spartans for $8,000. He moved the team to Detroit and renamed it the Lions, a reference to the local baseball team, the Tigers.

Richards was a radio executive and used his connections to negotiate a deal with NBC to broadcast a Thanksgiving game nationally on its 94-station network. Richards also convinced Chicago Bears owner and coach George Halas to be the Lions’ opponent, suggesting the game would bring important attention to the fledgling NFL. The game was a huge success; A record-breaking crowd from Detroit attended the game, while listeners across the U.S. enjoyed the gridiron action over the airwaves.

A new great American tradition was born. The Lions always play the early game on Thanksgiving, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in the afternoon and a third, rotating primetime game added in 2006.

What is the Lions’ Thanksgiving total?

The Lions are 37-45-2 all-time on Thanksgiving.

The Lions’ longest Thanksgiving Day losing streak lasted nine games from 2004 to 2012. Detroit’s current seven-game Thanksgiving Day losing streak (2017-2023) is the second-longest in franchise history.

Detroit Lions Thanksgiving results, by year

1934: vs. Chicago Bears L, 19-16
1935: vs. Chicago Bears W, 14-2
1936: against Chicago Bears F, 13-7
1937: against Chicago Bears L, 13-0
1938: vs. Chicago Bears W, 14-7
(1945: vs. Cleveland Rams L, 28-21
1946: vs. Boston Yanks L, 34-10
1947: vs. Chicago Bears L, 34-14
1948: vs. Chicago Cards L, 28-14
1949: vs. Chicago Bears L, 28-7
1950: vs. New York Yanks W, 49-14
1951: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 52-35
1952: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 48-24
1953: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 34-15
1954: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 28-24
1955: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 24-10
1956: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 24-20
1957: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 18-6
1958: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 24-14
1959: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 24-17
1960: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 23-10
1961: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 17-9
1962: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 26-14
1963: vs. Green Bay Packers T, 13-13
1964: vs. Chicago Bears L, 27-24
1965: vs. Baltimore Colts T, 24-24
1966: vs. San Francisco 49ers L, 41-14
1967: vs. Los Angeles Rams L, 31-7
1968: against Philadelphia Eagles L, 12-0
1969: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 27-0
1970: vs. Oakland Raiders W, 28-14
1971: vs. Kansas City Chiefs F, 32-21
1972: vs. New York Jets F, 37-20
1973: vs. Washington L, 20-0
1974: against Denver Broncos L, 31-27
1975: vs. Los Angeles Rams L, 20-0
1976: vs. Buffalo Bills W, 27-14
1977: vs. Chicago Bears L, 31-14
1978: vs. Denver Broncos W, 17-14
1979: vs. Chicago Bears W, 20-0
1980: vs. Chicago Bears L, 23-17 (OT)
1981: vs. Kansas City Chiefs F, 27-10
1982: vs. New York Giants L, 13-6
1983: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers F, 45-3
1984: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 31-28
1985: vs. New York Jets F, 31-20
1986: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 44-40
1987: vs. Kansas City Chiefs L, 27-20
1988: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 23-0
1989: vs. Cleveland Browns W, 13-10
1990: vs. Denver Broncos W, 40-27
1991: against Chicago Bears F, 16-6
1992: vs. Houston Oilers L, 24-21
1993: against Chicago Bears L, 10-6
1994: vs. Buffalo Bills W, 35-21
1995: against Minnesota Vikings F, 44-38
1996: vs. Kansas City Chiefs L, 28-24
1997: vs. Chicago Bears F, 55-20
1998: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers W, 19-16 (OT)
1999: vs. Chicago Bears W, 21-17
2000: vs. New England Patriots W, 34-9
2001: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 29-27
2002: vs. New England Patriots L, 20-12
2003: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 22-14
2004: vs. Indianapolis Colts L, 41-9
2005: vs. Atlanta Falcons L, 27-7
2006: vs. Miami Dolphins L, 27-10
2007: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 37-26
2008: vs. Tennessee Titans L, 47-10
2009: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 34-12
2010: vs. New England Patriots L, 45-24
2011: vs. Green Bay Packers L, 27-15
2012: vs. Houston Texans L, 34-31 (OT)
2013: vs. Green Bay Packers W, 40-10
2014: vs.Chicago Bears W, 34-17
2015: vs. Philadelphia Eagles W, 45-14
2016: vs. Minnesota Vikings W, 16-13
2017: vs. Minnesota Vikings L, 30-23
2018: vs. Chicago Bears L, 23-16
2019: vs. Chicago Bears L, 24-20
2020: vs. Houston Texans L, 41-25
2021: vs. Chicago Bears L, 16-14
2022: vs. Buffalo Bills L, 28-25
2023: against Green Bay Packers L, 29-22

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