History

To officials that work today at all levels, thanks for giving your time

The NFL has had 239 Thanksgiving Day games

Published

1 year ago

November 28, 2024

Ben Austro, data provided by Quirky Research

Thanksgiving and football was already an American tradition when the NFL had a Thanksgiving sextupleheader in its inaugural season in 1920. As the the NFL kicks off its 239th Thanksgiving game tonight, we salute the people who make the game a game and not just a scrimmage: the officials. We salute all who give some of their time to the tradition from the pros down to the local rivalry games.

Here is a list of officials that worked at least 5 NFL Thanksgiving Day games, including those assigned today, marked with a turkey leg.

Official	S₁	Sₓ	R	U	LOS	Deep	Replay	Total
Bobbie Cahn	1923	1942	14					14
Jack Reardon	1925	1936		3	7	2		12
Joe Connell	1952	1978		9				9
Tom Kelleher	1960	1987				8		8
Derick Bowers 🍗	2003				8			8
Mark Baltz	1989	2013			7			7
Don Carlsen	1989	2012				7		7
Ray Dodez	1968	1985			6	1		7
Dick Dolack	1966	1990				7		7
Fritz Graf	1960	1983				7		7
Tom Hensley	1967	1987		4	3			7
Perry Paganelli	1998	2022				7		7
Jim Quirk (II)	2010			3		4		7
Burl Toler	1965	1989			7			7
Boris Cheek 🍗	1996					7		7
Bill Downes	1941	1965	6					6
Jim Durfee	1921	1937	5			1		6
Chuck Heberling	1965	1986	4		1		1	6
Gerry Austin	1982	2007	2			4		6
Larry Nemmers	1985	2007	2			1	3	6
Fred Swearingen	1960	1980	1			5		6
Charlie Berry	1940	1961			6			6
Al Conway	1969	1996		6				6
Pat Mallette	1969	1994				6		6
Mark Perlman	2000	2023			6			6
Gordon Wells	1972	1993		6				6
Dick Creed	1978	1998				4	2	6
Earnie Frantz	1981	2001			3		3	6
Dino Paganelli	2006					5		5
Tommy Bell	1962	1976	5					5
Tommy Hughitt	1925	1949	5					5
Jim Tunney	1960	1990	5					5
Gene Barth	1971	1990	4		1			5
Mike Carey	1990	2013	4			1		5
Fred Silva	1967	1988	4		1			5
Dick Jorgensen	1969	1989	3		2			5
Fred Wyant	1966	1992	3		2			5
Dave Anderson	1984	2002			5			5
Ed Camp	2000	2021			5			5
Gary Cavaletto	2003	2021				5		5
Ed Coukart	1989	2005		5				5
Roy Ellison	2003			5				5
Ruben Fowler	2006	2020		5				5
Pat Harder	1966	1982		5				5
Jack Johnson	1976	1990			5			5
Jim Kearney	1978	1993				5		5
Jeff Lamberth	2002	2022				5		5
Ron Marinucci	1997	2017			5			5
Tony Michalek	2002			5				5
Charley Musser	1965	1984				5		5
Lou Palazzi	1952	1981		4	1			5
Walt Peters	1968	1985			5			5
Wilfred Smith	1929	1938		3	2			5
Tom Stabile	1995	2014			5			5
Chuck Sweeney	1941	1964				5		5
Dan Tehan	1933	1964			4	1		5
Armen Terzian	1961	1981				5		5
Paul Trepinski	1963	1978		5				5
Tony Veteri (II)	1992	2016			5			5
Hendi Ancich	1982	1998		3			2	5
Bob McGrath	1993	2001				1	4	5
Kent Payne 🍗	2004					5		5
Greg Bradley 🍗	2009				4	1		5
Terrence Miles 🍗	2009					5		5
Official	S₁	Sₓ	R	U	LOS	Deep	Replay	Total