2025 Thanksgiving Day NFL Games Set New All-Time Viewership Records

The NFL once again proved its unmatched dominance over American television, delivering a historic Thanksgiving Day slate that broke multiple viewership records and reinforced football as the centerpiece of the national holiday.

From the early afternoon kickoff to the primetime showdown, fans tuned in at unprecedented levels across broadcast and digital platforms — marking 2025 as the most-watched Thanksgiving lineup in league history.

Cowboys vs Chiefs Becomes the Most-Watched Regular-Season Game Ever

The marquee late afternoon matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs produced staggering numbers.
The game drew an average audience of 57.2 million viewers, establishing a new all-time record for an NFL regular-season game, surpassing the previous mark set in 2022.

The combination of two iconic franchises, star power, and playoff implications made it a must-watch national event — one that delivered beyond expectations.

Thanksgiving Tripleheader Averaged 44.7 Million Viewers — Highest Ever

The holiday schedule featured:

• Packers vs Lions (early game)

• Chiefs vs Cowboys (late afternoon)

• Bengals vs Ravens (primetime)
  

Together, the three matchups produced an average of 44.7 million viewers, the highest Thanksgiving Day average since records began in 1988.
This marks the fourth straight year the NFL has set a new Thanksgiving audience high.

The early showdown between Green Bay and Detroit delivered particularly strong numbers, posting 47.7 million viewers, the most-watched early Thanksgiving kickoff ever recorded.

Meanwhile, the primetime clash between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens averaged 28.4 million viewers, showing notable year-over-year growth.

Digital Streaming Surges to Record Levels

According to industry metrics, digital viewership also hit unprecedented levels.
Across all platforms, streaming generated an average minute audience of 2.2 million, representing a 58% increase from the previous year and the highest digital performance for Thanksgiving games to date.

This signals the continued expansion of NFL consumption beyond traditional television and into hybrid digital ecosystems.

Roger Goodell: “Thanksgiving and NFL Football Are Synonymous”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell celebrated the league's historic performance, emphasizing the tradition the sport holds for families nationwide.
He praised the teams and broadcast partners whose efforts helped deliver a day of thrilling competition to millions of homes.

NFL Continues to Dominate U.S. Television

The league’s overwhelming popularity goes far beyond Thanksgiving.
Since the start of the 2025 season, 48 of the top 50 most-watched U.S. television broadcasts have been NFL programming — a staggering demonstration of football’s cultural dominance and unmatched entertainment value.