NFL Eyes Thanksgiving Eve Game Slot

The National Football League is exploring the possibility of introducing a game on the day before Thanksgiving to its upcoming schedule. This potential addition aligns with the league's ongoing efforts to identify and capitalize on new broadcast opportunities.

Thanksgiving Day games have historically been a massive draw for viewers, consistently ranking as the most-watched regular-season contests. Last year's Thanksgiving slate achieved an average viewership of 44.7 million, a significant increase from the previous year. The late-afternoon game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys on CBS set a record, averaging 57.2 million viewers.

The league has also seen success with games played on Black Friday over the past three seasons, experiencing steady audience growth. The NFL stated that as fan interest in Thanksgiving and Black Friday games continues to grow, exploring additional holiday-tied opportunities is exciting.

If a Thanksgiving Eve game is implemented, teams involved would likely receive a bye the preceding week. This expansion would bring the league's major broadcast windows to nine, including existing Sunday and Monday night games. Team owners and network executives will have the chance to present their final proposals during league meetings scheduled for later this month in Phoenix, with the regular-season schedule expected to be released in early May.