The NFL is drawing mixed reactions after a report that it plans to add a Thanksgiving Eve game to open a new broadcast window in the 2026 season.
Chris Russo Opposes an NFL Game on Thanksgiving Eve
During a segment on ESPN’s “First Take,” Chris Russo argued that adding an NFL game on Thanksgiving Eve could oversaturate fans with football. He questioned whether the increasing number of games leads to fan fatigue and suggested that the NBA is better suited to occupy that slot.
“I know they’re only exploring it, but can the NFL leave a holy day alone? How much football can we take? Let the NBA have Thanksgiving Eve.” – Chris Russo pic.twitter.com/ZX9s5zcWad
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 12, 2026
“Now, the NFL wants to play a game on Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving. Listen, we have the game to give us on Thanksgiving stink anyway, because you can’t flex it and we’re stuck with Denver, Kansas City. We’re freaking Omaha home. So now we’re going to explore playing a game on Thanksgiving Eve. That’s an NBA night,” said Russo.
“I’ve been bedding at o’clock. Worked all week and then I got to sit there and I got to go home and watch a regular season NFL game with guys who played on Sunday. I mean, that’s a little rough. I know they’re only exploring it but can the NFL leave leave a holy day alone. How much football can we take? Let the NBA have Thanksgiving Eve. Please Roger, please.”
Adam Schefter reports the NFL’s move is part of a strategy to expand its calendar and dominate holiday dates, capitalizing on high viewership during national holidays. If implemented, this would create nearly non-stop football from Wednesday through the traditional Thursday and Friday games.
NFL Seeks to Capitalize on Excellent Ratings Momentum
Adding Wednesday turns the holiday week into a nine-day stretch with seven days of games, creating the year’s largest TV event outside the playoffs and directly competing with the starts of the NBA and NHL, which usually dominate Thanksgiving Eve.
The numbers justify the NFL’s attempt: in 2025, the three Thursday games averaged 44.7 million viewers (via Nielsen). The Chiefs-Cowboys game alone broke the all-time regular-season record with 57.2 million people tuning in. In other words, the public not only watches the games on holidays, but also consumes the sport as a family tradition.
A Wednesday game brings physical challenges for players. The league would likely pick two teams coming off a bye week to avoid forcing teams to play with just three or four days’ rest. Still, critics raise concerns about player safety and game overload.
