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Thanksgiving isn\u2019t just about turkey, pumpkin pie, and awkward family conversations. For millions of Americans, it\u2019s also about football, with the\u00a0Detroit Lions<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dallas Cowboys<\/a>\u00a0as the holiday\u2019s perennial headliners. But why these two teams? Let\u2019s dig into how this tradition began and why it\u2019s become such a beloved part of Thanksgiving Day.<\/p>\n The Detroit Lions\u2019 Thanksgiving tradition dates back to 1934, long before the\u00a0NFL<\/a>\u00a0was the powerhouse it is today. George A. Richards, a savvy radio executive and owner of the Lions, had just relocated the team from Portsmouth, Ohio, to Detroit. In a city where baseball\u2019s Detroit Tigers dominated the sports scene, Richards needed a bold move to get his team noticed.<\/p>\n He saw Thanksgiving as his golden ticket. That year, the Lions hosted the undefeated Chicago Bears in a game that captured the city\u2019s attention. Fans packed University of Detroit Stadium, with 26,000 attendees and thousands more turned away.<\/p>\nThe Detroit Lions: Thanksgiving\u2019s Pioneers<\/strong><\/h2>\n