Storyline

“THE NFL ON CBS” HAS BOUNTIFUL BROADCAST TRADITION ON THANKSGIVING DAY

This Year’s Game Marks 60 Years Since First Thanksgiving Day Broadcast on

The CBS Television Network

 

Images available upon request or visit www.cbspressexpress; Hartley photo courtesy University of Notre Dame; Mud Bowl courtesy of Detroit Lions

Sixty years ago, on Nov. 22, 1956 at 12:00 Noon, ET, CBS Sports broadcast its first Thanksgiving Day football game when the Detroit Lions hosted the Green Bay Packers from Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Mich. The game marked the “first coast to coast telecast of a regularly scheduled [National] Football League game for the 1956 season.”

This year, THE NFL ON CBS marks its 57th broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday, Nov. 24 (12:30 PM, ET) as the Minnesota Vikings travel to Ford Field in Detroit to play the Lions in a pivotal NFC North match-up. THE NFL ON CBS lead announce team of Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy Wolfson, reporting, call the game. This will be Nantz and Simms’ 13th year calling the annual game together.

Following is a look back at some of the memorable Thanksgiving Day games on CBS, from 1956 to the present:

Nov. 22, 1956 – Green Bay 24 – Detroit 20: A late-game touchdown pass by Packers quarterback Tobin Rote erased any hopes the Lions had for a title that season. Harry Wismer, “one of America’s top sports announcers,” described the play-by-play, while former “Notre Dame gridiron great” Heartley “Hunk” Anderson handled the color commentary for CBS.

Nov. 28, 1968 – Philadelphia 12 – Detroit 0: In a game that became known as the “Thanksgiving Mud Bowl,” the Eagles and Lions sloshed their way through “ankle deep” mud at Tiger Stadium, due to 36 consecutive hours of rain in the Detroit area. Eagles’ kicker Sam Baker accounted for all his team’s points with four field goals. Ray Scott and Paul Christman called the action.

 

Nov. 28, 1974 – Washington 23 – Dallas 24: An unlikely folk hero emerged as a rookie back-up quarterback, making his NFL debut after Dallas quarterback Roger Staubach was knocked out of the game with 10 minutes left in the third quarter and his team trailing 16-3. Clint Longley took the helm and led the Cowboys to a comeback victory over Washington, 24-23. With 35 seconds remaining in the game, Longley hit Drew Pearson for a 50-yard, game-winning touchdown capping off the improbable win and casting him forever into Cowboys and Thanksgiving Day lore. Jack Buck provided play-by-play and Pat Summerall was the analyst.

Nov. 23, 1989 – Philadelphia 27 – Dallas 20: Though the word (and recipe) was first patented in 1986 by chef Paul Prudhomme and the claim to invention was made by Herbert’s Specialty Meats in Maurice, La., it was CBS Sports’ John Madden who famously brought the word and delicacy “Turducken” into the Thanksgiving Day lexicon and tradition. The Eagles’ Reggie White was the recipient of Madden’s first Turkey Leg Award when Philadelphia beat the Cowboys, 27-20, on CBS. Pat Summerall and John Madden called the action.

Nov. 26, 1998 – Pittsburgh 16 – Detroit 19 (OT): The game marked only the second time in 59 games that the Thanksgiving Day contest went into overtime. But, it was the coin toss prior to the overtime that is remembered best by most, including then Pittsburgh Steelers head coach and now NFL TODAY studio analyst Bill Cowher. On the OT coin flip, Pittsburgh’s Jerome Bettis can be heard calling “Tails,” but the official claimed he said “Heads.” Apparently, Bettis did call heads then switched it to tails, but all that was heard on the CBS broadcast audio was heads. The Lions won the flip, then went down the field and won the game, 19-16. Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms with Armen Keteyian reporting, provided the call. Simms presented his inaugural All-Iron Award – Thanksgiving Day MVP – to Detroit linebacker Stephen Boyd. The award, an old-fashioned iron emblematic of Simms’ fastidious attention to ironing his clothes, is given to the player(s) who come out of nowhere and have a standout performance.

Nov. 23, 2000 – New England 9 – Detroit 34: In this blowout on Turkey Day on CBS, a 23-year-old back-up quarterback made his NFL debut for the Patriots. Tom Brady finished the game going 1-for-3 for six yards. The following year, he would permanently replace Drew Bledsoe and lead New England to Super Bowl XXXVI earning MVP honors. Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms with Armen Keteyian reporting, provided the call.

Nov. 26, 2015 – Carolina 33 – Dallas 14: The unbeaten, 10-0 Carolina Panthers played in their first-ever Thanksgiving Day game taking on the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo. Despite a somewhat lopsided score, the game was the most-watched regular-season game of the season on any network as 32.5 million people watched on CBS. Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy Wolfson, reporting, called the game. Simms presented his 18th annual All-Iron Award to the Panthers’ Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Jerricho Cotchery and Kurt Coleman.

THE NFL ON CBS’s Thanksgiving Day broadcast begins with THE NFL TODAY (12:00 Noon, ET) live from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City with host James Brown, along with analysts Boomer Esiason, Bill Cowher, Tony Gonzalez and Bart Scott, as well as NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. Drew Kaliski is producer and Bob Matina is director of THE NFL TODAY.

Lance Barrow is Coordinating Producer and Lead Game Producer and Mike Arnold is Lead Game Director.

Sean McManus is Chairman, CBS Sports and serves as the Executive Producer for THE NFL ON CBS. David Berson is President, CBS Sports. Harold Bryant is Executive Producer and Senior Vice President, Production, CBS Sports.

Additional coverage of the game will be available on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app.

* * *

CBS Sports Contacts:

Robin Brendle 212/975-1533 rlbrendle@cbs.com

Jerry Caraccioli 212/975-7466 gwcaraccioli@cbs.com