Why is the NFL paying tribute to John Madden on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving and the NFL have always been inseparable, but for the past four years the league has officially embraced what fans had long felt: Thanksgiving is also John Madden Day.

The iconic coach, commentator and cultural figure left such a deep mark on the sport that the NFL now dedicates its annual holiday tripleheader to celebrating his legacy.

“There’s no place I’d rather be on Thanksgiving than at a football game,” Madden once said. That sentiment shapes the fourth annual John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration, a tribute built around the things he valued most: family, food, tradition… and of course, football.

All three Thanksgiving Day games in the United States will feature special tributes to John Madden. Each network will include features on Madden’s impact - from his coaching career to his decades in broadcasting - along with stories illustrating his influence on football culture.

Peacock will also offer the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast, an alternate presentation that blends live action with elements from the Madden video game series with advanced data, animated graphics, ‘Madden-style’ visual cues and a main camera angle that mimics the quarterback’s point of view.

NFL pays Thanksgiving tribute to John Madden

Before kickoff of each game viewers will see the Madden Hallmark, a short NFL-produced segment narrated by Madden himself. It sets a warm and nostalgic tone, reflecting what Thanksgiving meant to him and why the holiday became such a defining part of his on-screen personality.

Each broadcast team will select a Madden Thanksgiving MVP. Since 2024, the award has included a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a youth or high school football program chosen by the winner. The player also receives the Madden Thanksgiving MVP Trophy decorated with classic ‘Maddenisms’ and nods to the holiday.

For the second consecutive year, the NFL will auction off merchandise worn during the three Thanksgiving Day games. The proceeds will benefit the John Madden Foundation, which supports causes Madden championed throughout his life.

Madden will even be involved in the coin toss ahead of each game, feature on a unique coin that features his silhouette on one side and a six-legged turducken, his legendary favorite Thanksgiving dish, on the other.

Finally all players from all six teams that are playing on Thursday will wear a special patch displaying Madden’s silhouette, a defining visual element of the celebration.

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