The NFL on Thursday is honoring former player, coach and commentator John Madden on Thanksgiving day. The league changed its social media logo to the late Philadelphia Eagles star’s picture. 

“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.”

Madden died last year. “On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their families. We all know him as the Hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who worked for every major network, but more than anything, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather,” Goodell had said at the time. 

However, the legendary broadcaster left behind his Thanksgiving tradition. 

Since 1989, the MVP of each game on Thanksgiving day, receives a turkey leg instead of a trophy. The tradition started with a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Madden decided that the MVP should get a turkey leg. 

Linerback Reggie White was the first recipient of the turkey leg award. The next year, running back Emmitt Smith won it. Madden said he wished he could give out six turkey legs, one to Smith and one to each of Dallas’ offensive lineman.  Joe Pat Fieseler, owner of Harvey’s Barbecue Pit, created a six-legged turkey, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in an article from 1998. 

“We had to find turkeys that had a lot of legs on them,” Madden told the Star-Telegram.

“There’s only one place you can get a turkey with more than two legs, and that’s in Texas.”

NFL plans for the Thanksgiving tribute to Madden to be an annual event starting November 24, when there will be special segments on all three broadcasts by CBS, Fox and NBC dedicated to Madden.