NFL to honor Madden on Thanksgiving broadcasts


From awarding victory turkey legs to the star players to being the voice on the NFL’s biggest Thanksgiving Day games for years, John Madden was synonymous with the holiday he so adored.

The NFL is making that a lasting tribute by honoring the late broadcaster by launching the “John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration” to begin on the first Thanksgiving following his death last December.

“No one cared more or contributed more to our game than John Madden,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Honoring his memory and impact on the NFL is important and Thanksgiving Day brings all of the elements significant to John to life – family, football, food and fun.”

The league plans for the Thanksgiving tribute to Madden to be an annual event starting Nov. 24, when there will be special segments on all three broadcasts by CBS, Fox and NBC dedicated to Madden.

A recording of Madden discussing Thanksgiving and the holiday’s relationship to football will serve as the lead-in to the three games that day: Buffalo at Detroit on CBS, the Giants at Dallas on Fox and New England at Minnesota on NBC.

Madden worked for all three of those networks during a career that included 20 games on Thanksgiving when he worked at CBS and Fox.

“There’s no place that I would rather be today on Thanksgiving than right here, right now, at a football game,” Madden said at the Bears-Lions Thanksgiving game in 1997. “There are just certain things that go together: the turkey, the family, the tradition, football. … And we have it all today.”

Madden began the tradition of handing out a turkey leg to the star of the game beginning in 1989 when Philadelphia’s Reggie White got it following a win over Dallas.

The following year Madden gave out victory legs to Dallas’ Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman and joked that he wished he had more for the offensive linemen. A barbecue owner in Texas took up the challenge and created an artificial six-legged turkey.

For this year’s games, the “Madden Player of the Game” will receive a trophy and a $10,000 donation in their name from the NFL Foundation to the youth or high school football program of their choice.

There will also be “John Madden Thanksgiving” logos on the 25-yard lines and a patch on the uniform jerseys featuring an image of Madden with his fist up in the air.

Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com 

Want More From Sports Gossip? 

For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

You can view the original article HERE.

Fletcher Cox Says Jason Kelce Would Root For Eagles Over Chiefs In SB LIX Matchup
Fletcher Cox Says Jason Kelce Would Root For Eagles Over Chiefs In SB LIX Matchup
AEW Star Saraya Splits From Ronnie Radke After 6 Years
AEW Star Saraya Splits From Ronnie Radke After 6 Years
Guess Who This Lil’ Beach Boy Turned Into!
Guess Who This Lil’ Beach Boy Turned Into!
The best star-studded Super Bowl commercials of all time, from Cindy Crawford sipping a Pepsi to Ben Affleck and the DunKings
The best star-studded Super Bowl commercials of all time, from Cindy Crawford sipping a Pepsi to Ben Affleck and the DunKings
Sundance Film Festival 2025 Preview: 20 Films We Can’t Wait to See | Festivals & Awards
Sundance Film Festival 2025 Preview: 20 Films We Can’t Wait to See | Festivals & Awards
Acclaimed Crime Comedy ‘Ludwig’ Is Coming to Britbox
Acclaimed Crime Comedy ‘Ludwig’ Is Coming to Britbox
The 10 Best Erotic Horror Movies, Including ‘Nosferatu’
The 10 Best Erotic Horror Movies, Including ‘Nosferatu’
The Metaphor Years: Writing Lessons from “The Twilight Zone” | Features
The Metaphor Years: Writing Lessons from “The Twilight Zone” | Features
Mantra Of The Cosmos cancel gig as Zak Starkey suffers leg condition
Mantra Of The Cosmos cancel gig as Zak Starkey suffers leg condition
Joey Bada$$ appears to diss J. Cole on new track ‘Sorry Not Sorry’
Joey Bada$$ appears to diss J. Cole on new track ‘Sorry Not Sorry’
Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes has died, aged 65
Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy guitarist John Sykes has died, aged 65
Bruges bell tower pays tribute to David Lynch
Bruges bell tower pays tribute to David Lynch
Ravens’ Ricard: Lamar winning Super Bowl is ‘inevitable’
Ravens’ Ricard: Lamar winning Super Bowl is ‘inevitable’
Unveiling the Variety of Sporting Events from Football to Tennis and Beyond
Unveiling the Variety of Sporting Events from Football to Tennis and Beyond
Lamar angry with postseason performance: ‘Tired of this shit’
Lamar angry with postseason performance: ‘Tired of this shit’
Hurts confident he’ll play in NFC title game despite knee injury
Hurts confident he’ll play in NFC title game despite knee injury
‘Back in Action’ Director & Star Almost Died Making the Movie
‘Back in Action’ Director & Star Almost Died Making the Movie
The One Consistent Thing On Fire Country Is That Bode Will Always Be Portrayed As A Hero No Matter The Circumstance
The One Consistent Thing On Fire Country Is That Bode Will Always Be Portrayed As A Hero No Matter The Circumstance
Netflix's 'Back in Action' Ending, Explained
Netflix's 'Back in Action' Ending, Explained
Clayface Gets the Proper Mondo Treatment With a New ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ Figure
Clayface Gets the Proper Mondo Treatment With a New ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ Figure
Crime London Presents Fall/Winter 2025 Collection at Pitti Uomo 105th Edition
Crime London Presents Fall/Winter 2025 Collection at Pitti Uomo 105th Edition
Your Sparkling Guide To Valentine’s Day Jewelry Gifts!
Your Sparkling Guide To Valentine’s Day Jewelry Gifts!
Top Showroom Founders Share The Secrets To Their Success!
Top Showroom Founders Share The Secrets To Their Success!
Fashion Reacts To TikTok’s Ban, Heidi Montag’s Major Comeback!
Fashion Reacts To TikTok’s Ban, Heidi Montag’s Major Comeback!