By Mark Constance
MICHIGAN – The Thanksgiving tradition of football is deeply rooted in American culture. And few rivalries embody that spirit more than the battles between the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears.
With decades of history, this series has delivered iconic moments, fierce competition, and lasting memories for fans of both teams.
And the pair are scheduled to face off again Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at Ford Field. Chicago current holds an 11-8 record in the rivalry. The Lions overall Thanksgiving record is 37-45-2.
The NFL has played games on Thanksgiving Day since its inception in 1920. The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games have traditionally included one game hosted by the Detroit Lions since 1934, and one game hosted by the Dallas Cowboys since 1966 (with two exceptions in 1975 and 1977).
A third prime time game was added in 2006. Unlike the Detroit and Dallas games, it has no fixed teams.
The Lions, are currently sporting a gawdy 10-1 mark, better that 1934 when they started 9-1. University of Detroit Stadium was the Lions’ home field from 1934-37 and 1940. Located on the McNichols Campus of Detroit Mercy, the stadium hosted the first Lions Thanksgiving Day game in 1934.
The Lions’ Thanksgiving Day tradition began in 1934 when owner George A. Richards sought to boost attendance by hosting a holiday game. The University of Detroit was the Lions’ home from 1934-37 and 1940. Located on the McNichols Campus of Detroit Mercy, the 26,000-seat stadium was also the Lions home stadium from 1934-37 and 1040.
The Bears, a powerhouse of the era, became one of the early opponents. The game was an instant hit, drawing tens of thousands of fans and marking the start of a beloved annual custom. Over the years, the Lions’ Thanksgiving games grew into a centerpiece of the NFL schedule, and matchups with the Bears became some of the most anticipated.
These games have often been high-stakes battles, featuring legendary players like Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and Calvin Johnson.
Thanksgiving games between these teams frequently reflect the state of their rivalry—tough, gritty, and hard-fought. Whether it’s a battle for NFC North supremacy or a prideful clash between two storied franchises, these matchups rarely disappoint.
Although many Lions players had memorable contests on Thanksgiving, Barry Sanders added to his hall of game in 1997. Sanders ran for 167 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 55-20 win. Sanders scored on runs of 40, 25 and 15 yards as the Lions scored 45 straight points to rally from a two-possession deficit. He finished the regular season with 2,053 yards rushing.
Another memorable contest saw the Bears come out on top 23-16 in 2018. Led by backup quarterback Chase Daniel, the Bears needed a late interception to earn he win, showcasing the defensive intensity that has defined the rivalry over the years.
While the Lions and Bears’ Thanksgiving rivalry hasn’t been an every-year occurrence, it remains a cherished tradition whenever the NFL pits these Midwestern foes against one another on the holiday.
For fans in Detroit and Chicago, it’s more than a game—it’s a celebration of community, family, and football. With each meeting, the series writes a new chapter in its rich history, ensuring that the Lions-Bears Thanksgiving battles remain a treasured part of NFL lore.
– Courtesy of Wiki, University of Detroit, DetroitLions.com
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Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day record:
• 1934 – 19-16 loss to Bears
• 1935 – 14-2 win over Bears
• 193613-7 win over Bears
• 1937 – 13-0 loss to Bears
• 1938 – 14-7 win over Bears
• 1945 – 28-21 loss to Cleveland Rams
• 1946 – 34-10 loss to Boston Yanks
• 1947 – 34-14 loss to Bears
• 1948 – 28-14 loss to Chicago Cardinals
• 1949 – 28-7 loss to Bears
• 1950 – 49-14 win over New York Yanks
• 1951 – 52-35 win over Packers
• 1952 – 48-24 win over Packers
• 1953 – 34-15 win over Packers
• 1954 – 28-24 win over Packers
• 1955 – 24-10 win over Packers
• 1956 – 24-20 loss to Packers
• 1957 – 18-6 win over Packers
• 1958 – 24-14 win over Packers
• 1959 – 24-17 loss to Packers
• 1960 – 23-10 win over Packers
• 1961 – 17-9 loss to Packers
• 1962 – 26-14 win over Packers
• 1963 – 13-13 tie with Packers
• 1964 – 27-24 loss to Bears
• 1965 – 24-24 tie with Colts
• 1966 – 41-14 loss to 49ers
• 1967 – 31-7 loss to Rams
• 1968 – 12-0 loss to Eagles
• 1969 – 27-0 loss to Vikings
• 1970 – 28-14 win over Raiders
• 1971 – 32-21 win over Chiefs
• 1972 – 37-20 win over Jets
• 1973 – 20-0 loss to Redskins
• 1974 – 31-27 loss to Broncos
• 1975 – 20-0 loss to Rams
• 1976 – 27-14 win over Bills
• 1977 – 31-14 loss to Bears
• 1978 – 17-14 win over Broncos
• 1979 – 20-0 win over Bears
• 1980 – 23-17 loss to Bears
• 1981 – 27-10 win over Chiefs
• 1982 – 13-6 loss to Giants
• 1983 – 45-3 win over Steelers
• 1984 – 31-28 win over Packers
• 1985 – 31-20 win over Jets
• 1986 – 44-40 loss to Packers
• 1987 – 27-20 loss to Chiefs
• 1988 – 23-0 loss to Vikings
• 1989 – 13-10 win over Browns
• 1990 – 40-27 win over Broncos
• 1991 – 16-6 win over Bears
• 1992 – 24-21 loss to Oilers
• 1993 – 10-6 loss to Bears
• 1994 – 35-21 win over Bills
• 1995 – 44-38 win over Vikings
• 1996 – 28-24 loss to Chiefs
• 1997 – 55-20 win over Bears
• 1998 – 19-16 win over Steelers
• 1999 – 21-17 win over Bears
• 2000 – 34-9 win over Patriots
• 2001 – 29-27 loss to Packers
• 2002 – 20-12 loss to Patriots
• 2003 – 22-14 win over Packers
• 2004 – 41-9 loss to Colts
• 2005 – 27-7 loss to Falcons
• 2006 – 27-10 loss to Dolphins
• 2007 – 37-26 loss to Packers
• 2008 – 47-10 loss to Titans
• 2009 – 34-12 loss to Packers
• 2010 – 45-24 loss to Patriots
• 2011 – 27-15 loss to Packers
• 2012 – 34-31 loss to Texans
• 2013 – 40-10 win over Packers
• 2014 – 34-17 win over Bears
• 2015 – 45-15 win over Eagles
• 2016 – 16-13 win over Vikings
• 2017 – 30-23 loss to Vikings
• 2018 – 23-16 loss to Bears
• 2019 – 24-20 loss to Bears
• 2020 – 41-25 loss to Texans
• 2021 – 16-14 loss to Bears
• 2022 – 28-25 loss to Buffalo Bills
• 2023 – 29-22 loss to Packers
– Information courtesy of the following: Wiki, University of Detroit, profootballhalloffame.com, DetroitLions.com, Detroitnews.com, detroithistorical.org
