The NFL will honor Hall of Fame coach and longtime NFL broadcaster John Madden with the creation of the John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration. The honor will come on the first Thanksgiving Day after Madden’s passing in December of 2021.
The league will have several segments on all three games broadcasted on Thanksgiving Day to commemorate the life and legacy of football’s greatest ambassador.
“No one cared more or contributed more to our game than John Madden,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Honoring his memory and impact on the NFL is important and Thanksgiving Day brings all of the elements significant to John to life — family, football, food and fun.”
The NFL will name a “Madden Player of the Game” for each broadcast, and donate $10,000 to the NFL Foundation or youth/high school football program of that player’s choice.
The league will also commemorate Madden with special logos at the 25-yard lines of each stadium and both teams will wear a Madden patch on their uniforms.
