Have you ever wondered why the Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving Day?

Well, it all started in 1966 when the owner of the team, Tex Schramm, was looking to put his team before a nationally televised audience.

Schramm proposed the idea of playing a game on Thanksgiving Day to the NFL and they took a chance by allowing it to happen. The NFL and the Cowboys were so uncertain about attendance that the NFL actually guaranteed the Cowboys revenue at the gate.

As it would turn out, about 80,000 people showed up for the Thanksgiving Day game and from there the Cowboys have been on television for just about every Thanksgiving Day slot.

I can't recall the documentary I was watching years ago, but I recall hearing that Dallas has now actually been "grandfathered-in" when it comes to playing the 3:30 pm Thanksgiving Day game.

Let me include here that I once attended a Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas and it is awesome. There is a playoff-life atmosphere in the stadium, with Thanksgiving meals on the menu. So, if you're a football fan, put a Thanksgiving Day game on your bucket list, you won't regret it.

Aside from the game, the Cowboys always have a national recording artist perform for halftime, much like what you see at the Super Bowl, and they kick off the "Red Kettle Campaign" in conjunction with the Salvation Army.

Now after writing all of this, I am ready for Thanksgiving and football. I hope you enjoy time with your family and let's hope the three games scheduled this year are good.

Dallas will host in Washington this year in AT&T Stadium at 3:30 pm central.

 

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