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NFL schedule release 2026: Thanksgiving showcase leaks, and Black Friday is next
This transcript does not include audio timing.
For decades, Thanksgiving and football have gone together hand in hand.That annual tradition is going to look a little different this year.When the NFL expanded the Thanksgiving slate to three games in 2006, adding a primetime game, many fans believed that would end the league’s expansion on the holiday. Then the league added games on Black Friday, arguably the biggest shopping day of the year. And still, the expansion is not done.Because this year, the NFL has something new in store for us all.A game on Thanksgiving Eve, one of the biggest “bar nights” of the calendar year.As the league gets set to roll out the 2026 regular season schedule, we’ll be tracking all the games, including the new-look Thanksgiving slate.NFL’s Thanksgiving Eve gameAccording to multiple reports, the NFL is set to unveil a game on Thanksgiving Eve, the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. This, as many readers will attest, is perhaps the biggest “bar night” of the entire calendar year, as folks gather at the local watering hole in their hometown before spending the holiday with family.As reported by Puck, the Thanksgiving Eve game will be part of the package of NFL games aired by Netflix this season.Update: The NFL and Netflix confirmed on Wednesday that the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams:NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games in 2026Keeping with traditions old and new, the NFL will set three games on Thanksgiving Day itself, an afternoon doubleheader and then a primetime game on that Thursday night.The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game) and 1966 (when the Cowboys joined the holiday slate).Then the league will slot in a third game that night, and while the first two games always feature the Lions and the Cowboys, the NFL has rotated teams through the primetime game.Another new tradition is the branding of the Thanksgiving Day games. Starting in 2001 the league branded the games as the Thanksgiving Classic, but in 2022 that was changed to honor legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden, as the NFL began referring to the games as part of the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration.The first Thanksgiving Day game confirmed by the league is the one hosted by Dallas. The Cowboys will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to AT&T Stadium that Thursday afternoon:NFL Black Friday games in 2026Starting in 2023, the league began scheduling a Black Friday game as part of the NFL’s contract with Amazon Prime Video.The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, while the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024. Last season saw the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road.This year, the league is considering the possibility of having a Black Friday doubleheader.
Takes mentioned in this episode
- Philadelphia Eagles team · neutral
“Last season saw the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road.”
Recapping past Black Friday games.
- Green Bay Packers team · neutral
“the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
The NFL is announcing a new Thanksgiving Eve game on Netflix.
- Los Angeles Rams team · neutral
“the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
The NFL is announcing a new Thanksgiving Eve game on Netflix.
- Detroit Lions team · neutral
“The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games”
Discussing traditional Thanksgiving Day NFL games.
- Chicago Bears team · neutral
“Last season saw the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road.”
Recapping past Black Friday games.
- Philadelphia Eagles team · neutral
“The Cowboys will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to AT&T Stadium that Thursday afternoon”
Confirming a specific Thanksgiving Day game.
- Miami Dolphins team · neutral
“The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets”
Recapping past Black Friday games.
- New York Jets team · neutral
“The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets”
Recapping past Black Friday games.
- Kansas City Chiefs team · neutral
“while the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024”
Recapping past Black Friday games.
- Las Vegas Raiders team · neutral
“while the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024”
Recapping past Black Friday games.
- Las Vegas Raiders team · neutral
“The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, while the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024.”
The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets, while the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024.
- Chicago Bears team · neutral
“Last season saw the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road.”
Last season saw the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road.
- Los Angeles Rams team · positive
“the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
The NFL is announcing new games for the holiday season.
- Chicago Bears team · neutral
“Last season saw the Chicago Bears beat the Philadelphia Eagles on the road”
Factual recap of previous Black Friday game result
- Kansas City Chiefs team · neutral
“the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024”
Factual recap of 2024 Black Friday game
- Green Bay Packers team · neutral
“the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
Factual announcement of Thanksgiving Eve game matchup
- Los Angeles Rams team · neutral
“the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
Factual announcement of Thanksgiving Eve game matchup
- Dallas Cowboys team · neutral
“The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game) and 1966 (when the Cowboys joined the holiday slate)”
Factual recap of traditional Thanksgiving Day hosting role
- Philadelphia Eagles team · neutral
“The Cowboys will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to AT&T Stadium that Thursday afternoon”
Factual announcement of Thanksgiving Day matchup
- Miami Dolphins team · neutral
“The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets”
Factual recap of 2023 Black Friday game
- New York Jets team · neutral
“The first Black Friday Game featured the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets”
Factual recap of 2023 Black Friday game
- Detroit Lions team · neutral
“The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game)”
Factual recap of traditional Thanksgiving Day hosting role
- Green Bay Packers team · positive
“the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
The NFL is announcing new games for Thanksgiving Eve and Day.
- Las Vegas Raiders team · neutral
“the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders squared off in 2024”
Factual recap of 2024 Black Friday game
- Dallas Cowboys team · positive
“The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Dodgers”
- Green Bay Packers team · neutral
“The NFL and Netflix confirmed on Wednesday that the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
The NFL and Netflix confirmed on Wednesday that the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams
- Los Angeles Rams team · neutral
“The NFL and Netflix confirmed on Wednesday that the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams”
The NFL and Netflix confirmed on Wednesday that the streaming service will air a game on Thanksgiving Eve between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams
- Detroit Lions team · neutral
“The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game) and 1966 (when the Cowboys joined the holiday slate).”
The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game) and 1966
- Dallas Cowboys team · neutral
“The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game) and 1966 (when the Cowboys joined the holiday slate).”
The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys will be the home teams for the first two games, in a tradition that dates back to both 1934 (when the Lions hosted their first Thanksgiving Day game) and 1966
- Philadelphia Eagles team · neutral
“The first Thanksgiving Day game confirmed by the league is the one hosted by Dallas. The Cowboys will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to AT&T Stadium that Thursday afternoon:”
The first Thanksgiving Day game confirmed by the league is the one hosted by Dallas. The Cowboys will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to AT&T Stadium that Thursday afternoon: