Which NFL teams have never played on Christmas Day? Which ones have played most?
More NFL teams, including some first-time participants, are playing games on Christmas Day this year. Which teams have yet to join in the Christmas club?
The NFL has held Christmas games intermittently through the years, and there haven’t been all that many. Only 27 Christmas Day games have been played in all of league history. This is due partly to scheduling problems, as the holiday doesn’t always fall on a day when games are usually held.
Not all teams have been lucky enough (or unlucky, depending on one’s perspective) to have played in these special holiday games. Quite a number have never participated in the NFL Christmas celebrations, while some teams have been on the field several times.
Top performers
The team that has brought its fans the most Christmas cheer is the Dallas Cowboys, who have played in five games, including the first-ever Christmas game in 1971 against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings are next on the list, with four games played. They are tied with the Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, and Denver Broncos who have also participated four times.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in third place, with three games played.
Missing out
After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Rams played their first Christmas Day games in 2022, eight NFL teams are left without having had the chance to entertain their fans at Christmas time.
NFL teams who still haven’t played on Christmas Day
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New England Patriots
- New York Giants
- Seattle Seahawks
- Washington Commanders