Crystal Pouncey
Nov 24, 2023 - 12:05

"Turkey Legs to Turducken: John Madden's Best Thanksgiving Calls"

John Madden's best Thanksgiving calls, from turkey legs to turducken. NFL power rankings Week 12: Eagles, Chiefs affirm their place at top.

John Madden, the iconic Super Bowl-winning coach turned broadcaster, had a long and storied career filled with memorable moments on Thanksgiving. One of his most famous calls came in 1996, during a regular season matchup between the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints. Madden, enjoying Thanksgiving leftovers, was introduced to a local dish called "triducken." He later corrected himself, explaining that it was actually "turducken," a dish made by stuffing a turkey with a duck, and then stuffing the duck with a chicken.

This new tradition was just one of many memorable moments Madden had on Thanksgiving. In 1989, he introduced the inaugural John Madden Turkey Leg MVP Award, which was given to the top defensive player of the game. This award became a fixture on CBS Thanksgiving broadcasts and continued when Madden moved to FOX in 1994.

In 1994, Madden and his broadcast partner, Pat Summerall, moved to FOX and introduced the turkey leg trophy case. During the Thanksgiving game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers, Madden showed viewers the trophy case where the bones of the turkey legs were kept, along with the winners' photographs.

In 1997, Madden and Summerall continued their Thanksgiving broadcasts, and Madden introduced the concept of the turducken during the game between the Lions and the Chicago Bears. He also showcased his traditional six-legged turkey, which had become a staple of his Thanksgiving games after a barbecue owner in Texas created it specifically for Madden.

In 1999, Madden honored the late Walter Payton by dedicating a missing turkey leg to him during the Thanksgiving game between the Lions and the Bears. This tradition continued until Madden left FOX after 2001 and the tradition changed to a trophy called the "Galloping Gobbler."

Madden's love for Thanksgiving football will be celebrated by CBS, FOX, and NBC during their Thanksgiving game broadcasts. The second annual "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration" will select a player of the game from each matchup and award them with a $10,000 check from the NFL Foundation to be given to a high school or youth football program in their honor. "Madden Hallmarks" will also kick off each game's broadcast, and "John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration" stencils will be placed on the sidelines of each game.