NFL is honouring the late John Madden, one of the league’s most popular broadcasters on this year’s Thanksgiving Day.

NFL fields and helmets are also paying tribute to the departed legend. The three networks CBS, FOX and NBC will pay tributes to Madden on the occasion. 

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A John Madden thanksgiving logo at the 25 yard line will feature on the field for each of the games Buffalo Bills vs Detroit Lions, Dallas Coboys vs New York Giants and New England Patriots vs Minnesota Vikings. NFL has also announced that the events being carried on in Madden’s memory will happen on an annual basis.

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“No one cared more or contributed more to our game than John Madden,” Roger Goodell, commissioner of NFL was quoted to have told by deadline. “Honouring 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”, he added.

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Madden, a hall of fame former coach of Oakland Raiders, later moved on to commentary and with his expressive style, won several fans. The Madden NFL video game, named after him, was also highly successful.

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John Madden’s son Joe Madden and his mother reportedly drove towards the thanksgiving destination. “With a turducken in the back it takes awful to thaw these things”, Joe Madden was quoted as saying by USA TODAY sports.  Madden, aged 85, passed away on December 28,2021 due to undisclosed causes at his home in Pleasanton, California.

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This years games will have a $10,000 donation made in the name of the player who wins the “Madden player of the game” to any youth or high school football program of their choice.