TL;DR
- The Green Bay Packers have played in 38 Thanksgiving Day games, with a record of 16 wins, 20 losses, and 2 ties.
- The Packers' 2025 game against the Detroit Lions will be their 39th Thanksgiving appearance, surpassing the Chicago Bears.
- The Packers have frequently played the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving due to their divisional rivalry and annual matchups.
- Green Bay also played on Thanksgiving when the Dallas Cowboys began hosting games annually starting in 1966.
The Green Bay Packers stand as one of the NFL's most historic franchises, entering the league back in 1921. With a legacy spanning over a century, the team has had numerous chances to compete on Thanksgiving Day.
Since 1920, the NFL has held a Thanksgiving Day game annually, with the sole exception of World War II. A decision in 1934 stipulated that the Detroit Lions would consistently feature a home game on Thanksgiving. The longstanding rivalry between the Packers and Lions, combined with their current divisional alignment and annual home-and-away matchups, has resulted in them playing each other on Thanksgiving on multiple occasions.
Green Bay had another opportunity to play on Thanksgiving when the Dallas Cowboys decided to also host a home game every Thanksgiving starting in 1966. In 2006, the NFL expanded the Thanksgiving slate to three games, with the final game of the night not always featuring a specific team, and the Cowboys have also been featured in that game.
Green Bay has participated in 38 Thanksgiving Day games, a total shared with the Chicago Bears for the third-highest number historically. Their 2025 matchup with The Lions will mark the franchise's 39th Thanksgiving appearance, surpassing the Bears' record.
Here is more on how the Packers have played on Thanksgiving.
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Packers' Thanksgiving Day record
Green Bay has appeared on Thanksgiving 38 times in total. The Packers' all-time record stands at 16 wins, 20 losses, and 2 ties.
MORE: Which NFL teams always play on Thanksgiving?
The Packers have participated in Thanksgiving Day games a certain number of times.
Founded in 1919, Green Bay became a football franchise. The NFL's inaugural Thanksgiving game occurred in 1920. The Packers participated in Thanksgiving games annually from 1923 through 1932, and subsequently from 1951 to 1963.
Since 1934, the Lions have chosen to play a home game on Thanksgiving annually. Given that Green Bay is in Detroit's division and they engage in a yearly home-and-home series, the Packers have frequently faced the Lions on Thanksgiving.
Green Bay and the Chicago Bears share the distinction of having played the third-most Thanksgiving games, with 38 appearances each. The Packers are set to take sole possession of third place when they play their 39th Thanksgiving game in 2025.
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The Packers' most recent Thanksgiving Day game was on November 23, 2023.
The Packers' most recent Thanksgiving game was in 2024. Green Bay did not face either of the NFC teams that consistently play on Thanksgiving, which would have been their probable opponent.
Instead, the Packers hosted the Miami Dolphins and won 30-17.
MORE: Why do the Lions always play on Thanksgiving?
Packers Thanksgiving history
| Date | Matchup/Result | Packers Thanksgiving record |
| Nov. 29, 1923 | Packers def. Hammond Pros 19-0 | 1-0 |
| Nov. 27, 1924 | Packers def. Kansas City Blues 17-6 | 2-0 |
| Nov. 26, 1925 | Pottsville Maroons def. Packers 31-0 | 2-1 |
| Nov. 25, 1926 | Frankford Yellowjackets def. Packers 20-14 | 2-2 |
| Nov. 24, 1927 | Packers def. Yellowjackets 17-9 | 3-2 |
| Nov. 29, 1928 | Yellowjackets def. Packers 2-0 | 3-3 |
| Nov. 28, 1929 | Packers tie Yellowjackets 0-0 | 3-3-1 |
| Nov. 27, 1930 | Packers def. Yellowjackets 25-7 | 4-3-1 |
| Nov. 26, 1931 | Packers def. Providence Steam Roller 38-7 | 5-3-1 |
| Nov. 24, 1932 | Packers def. Brooklyn Dodgers 7-0 | 6-3-1 |
| Nov. 29, 1934 | Chicago Cardinals def. Packers 6-0 | 6-4-1 |
| Nov. 28, 1935 | Cardinals def. Packers 9-7 | 6-5-1 |
| Nov. 22, 1951 | Lions def. Packers 52-35 | 6-6-1 |
| Nov. 27, 1952 | Lions def. Packers 48-24 | 6-7-1 |
| Nov. 26, 1953 | Lions def. Packers 34-15 | 6-8-1 |
| Nov. 25, 1954 | Lions def. Packers 28-24 | 6-9-1 |
| Nov. 24, 1955 | Lions def. Packers 24-10 | 6-10-1 |
| Nov. 22, 1956 | Packers def. Lions 24-20 | 7-10-1 |
| Nov. 28, 1957 | Lions def. Packers 18-6 | 7-11-1 |
| Nov. 27, 1958 | Lions def. Packers 24-14 | 7-12-1 |
| Nov. 26, 1959 | Packers def. Lions 24-17 | 8-12-1 |
| Nov. 24, 1960 | Lions def. Packers 23-10 | 8-13-1 |
| Nov. 23, 1961 | Packers def. Lions 17-9 | 9-13-1 |
| Nov. 22, 1962 | Lions def. Packers 26-14 | 9-14-1 |
| Nov. 28, 1963 | Lions tie Packers 13-13 | 9-14-2 |
| Nov. 26, 1970 | Cowboys def. Packers 16-3 | 9-15-2 |
| Nov. 22, 1984 | Lions def. Packers 31-28 | 9-16-2 |
| Nov. 27, 1986 | Packers def. Lions 44-40 | 10-16-2 |
| Nov. 24, 1994 | Cowboys def. Packers 42-31 | 10-17-2 |
| Nov. 22, 2001 | Packers def. Lions 29-27 | 11-17-2 |
| Nov. 27, 2003 | Lions def. Packers 22-14 | 11-18-2 |
| Nov. 22, 2007 | Packers def. Lions 37-26 | 12-18-2 |
| Nov. 26, 2009 | Packers def. Lions 34-12 | 13-18-2 |
| Nov. 24, 2011 | Packers def. Lions 27-15 | 14-18-2 |
| Nov. 27, 2013 | Lions def. Packers 40-10 | 14-19-2 |
| Nov. 26, 2015 | Bears def. Packers 17-13 | 14-20-2 |
| Nov. 23, 2023 | Packers def. Lions 29-22 | 15-20-2 |
| Nov. 28, 2024 | Packers def. Dolphins 30-17 | 16-20-2 |
| Nov. 26, 2025 | Packers def. Lions, 31-24 | 17-20-2 |
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