Tom Brady’s most memorable Thanksgiving moments include his transition from player to broadcaster this year.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion will be on the call for Thursday’s highly anticipated New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys game on FOX at 4:30 p.m. ET. This marks Brady’s inaugural Thanksgiving broadcast, continuing the beloved tradition initiated by John Madden, where the standout player of the game receives a turkey leg as a reward.
As he navigates his first year in the broadcast booth, Brady humorously expressed his surprise upon discovering he had to work on the holiday.
“What!?!?” Brady exclaimed, playfully reacting when Curt Menefee informed him of his Thanksgiving duty on the “FOX NFL Sunday Postgame Show.”
Interestingly, it seems Brady is not alone in his surprise. Michael Strahan shared a similar experience when he joined FOX’s studio show in 2008.
“Same exact look I had [when I found out I had to work Thanksgiving], Tom,” Strahan remarked. “Don’t feel bad about it. When we don’t show up on Thanksgiving, we’ll be having Thanksgiving together. Let these guys do their stuff.”
Despite the light-hearted banter, Brady’s Thanksgiving work history is not new. The legendary quarterback has played in four Thanksgiving games throughout his illustrious career, each filled with memorable moments. As he prepares for the Giants-Cowboys clash, let’s revisit some highlights from Brady’s Thanksgiving past.
2000: Tom Brady’s NFL Debut on Thanksgiving
While many fans associate the beginning of Brady’s career with his emergence as a starter for Drew Bledsoe after an injury in 2001, his first appearance actually came during his rookie season.
In a game against the Detroit Lions in 2000, Bledsoe struggled, culminating in a 101-yard interception return that put the Lions ahead 34-9. This prompted Coach Bill Belichick to insert Brady into the game with just over four minutes left.
Although he returned to his college state, Brady’s performance was modest, completing only 1 of 3 passes for 6 yards. His first completion was a simple checkdown to tight end Rod Rutledge, followed by a quick punt.
Drew Bledsoe’s challenging outing against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 2000 paved the way for Tom Brady’s NFL debut. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Brady’s entry into the game caught many off guard. Phil Simms, who was broadcasting for CBS, recalled, “Tom Brady coming in the game? I thought he was the third-string quarterback, not the second?”
Simms later noted that both then-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis and Belichick had praised Brady’s potential during pre-game discussions. Although his debut performance didn’t indicate future greatness, it would soon be clear that Brady was destined for an extraordinary career.
Reflecting on that Thanksgiving game, Brady remarked, “I was active for that game. It was Thanksgiving Day. We got our butts beat pretty bad by the Lions, and I got in at the end of the game. I think I threw a few, three passes.”
“It was just an insignificant start to the career because I wouldn’t say many people were expecting me ever to have the kind of career that I had. So, for me, it was great to be out on the field and learning.”
2002: Brady’s First Thanksgiving Win
Brady returned to Detroit for Thanksgiving in 2002, this time as a Super Bowl champion, having led the Patriots to an unexpected title in 2001.
In what was the inaugural Thanksgiving game at Ford Field, Brady aimed to keep the Patriots in playoff contention with a 6-5 record. Although his performance wasn’t dazzling, he completed 18 of 30 passes for 210 yards and an interception, leading New England to a 20-12 victory.
Key contributions from Tedy Bruschi, who had a pick-six, and Antowain Smith, who rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown, bolstered the team. Brady’s crucial role came during the final drive, where he efficiently managed the clock to secure the win.
“We jumped up on them early, and we just wanted to control the clock,” Brady stated after the game. “We felt like we were in control.”
Despite the victory, the Patriots fell short of the playoffs that year, finishing with a disappointing 9-7 record.
2010: Brady’s MVP Showcase
Brady returned to Detroit for Thanksgiving in 2010, two years after recovering from an ACL injury. Although he was still a top quarterback, he had yet to reach the elite status he displayed in the 2007 season.
That changed in November 2010. After a surprising loss to the Cleveland Browns, Brady rebounded with dominant performances against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts, throwing for five touchdowns and rushing for another.
Against the struggling Lions, Brady showcased his skills, completing 21 of 27 passes for 341 yards, four touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in a 45-24 victory. This marked only the second time in his career that he achieved a flawless passer rating.
Brady’s four touchdown passes all came in the second half, as he led the Patriots to five consecutive scoring drives after trailing at halftime.
“He’s like a surgeon,” commented then-Lions center Dominic Raiola about Brady’s performance.
Brady ended the season with impressive numbers: 3,900 passing yards, 36 touchdown passes, and only four interceptions, leading the Patriots to a 14-2 record and earning his second MVP award. He became the first player in NFL history to win the MVP unanimously.
Despite the accolades, the Patriots’ postseason ended abruptly, losing to the New York Jets in the AFC divisional round.
Tom Brady celebrated a Thanksgiving postgame meal after being named the player of the game by CBS Sports in 2010. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
2012: Brady’s Dominance in the ‘Butt Fumble’ Game
In 2012, during the height of the Patriots-Jets rivalry, these two AFC East teams faced off on Thanksgiving night. The Jets entered the game with a 4-6 record, far from their playoff form of previous years.
Despite their struggles, the Jets aimed to play spoiler against the 7-3 Patriots, having previously lost in overtime to them earlier in the season.
However, New York’s hopes quickly diminished as Brady led the Patriots on a significant touchdown drive in the second quarter, connecting with Wes Welker for a touchdown. The Jets had a promising drive of their own, only to fumble the ball at the Patriots’ 19-yard line.
Julian Edelman’s touchdown return on a fumbled kickoff by the Jets highlighted a remarkable stretch where the Patriots scored three touchdowns in their Thanksgiving victory in 2012. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
By the end of the second quarter, the Patriots had built a 35-0 lead, scoring 21 points in just 52 seconds. Brady connected with Julian Edelman for a 56-yard touchdown, further extending the lead. The Jets managed a field goal right before halftime, but were outscored 35-3 in a quarter where they held the ball for 12 minutes.
Much of the postgame focus was on the Patriots’ rapid scoring spree during that quarter.
“I was unfortunately on the other side of that in a Pro Bowl where they scored on a fumble, then an interception,” Coach Bill Belichick commented when asked about the Patriots’ remarkable scoring stretch. “It doesn’t take a lot to score like that; defensive touchdowns and special teams can add up in a hurry. Nothing surprises me in the NFL.”
2024: Brady’s First Thanksgiving Game as a Broadcaster
In 2024, Brady will once again be working on Thanksgiving, but this time in a new role as a broadcaster. He is enthusiastic about calling the game for FOX when the Cowboys take on the Giants and seems ready to indulge in some holiday feasting.
“I guess Gordon Ramsay’s got someone working on the turducken,” Brady shared on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “I’ve never had one. I don’t know how ducks and chickens got wrapped into this whole thing. It used to be just turkey. Now, it’s all kinds of birds that we’re eating.”
“I’m going in with two hands,” Brady added, expressing his eagerness to enjoy the holiday meal. “F— it. I’m just going in and have at it.”
