When it comes to Thanksgiving Day, the turkey is the star of the show. There are many great sides and desserts, but they call the holiday Turkey Day for a reason! The late, great NFL coach and broadcaster John Madden loved turkey.

Turducken is a Louisiana Cajun butcher shop specialty that became entwined with football and holiday traditions thanks to NFL legend John Madden. Here's the story of how it all happened.

John Madden’s love of football and family came through the most on Thanksgiving. On Thursday, NBC will continue to honor Madden’s legacy when it opens its broadcast before the nightcap between the

When it comes to Thanksgiving Day, the turkey is the star of the show. There are many great sides and desserts, but they call the holiday Turkey Day for a reason! For NFL players and teams that play on Thanksgiving,

Legendary football broadcaster John Madden helped make the turducken an NFL Thanksgiving Day tradition. Here’s how he did it.

Madden and his long-time broadcasting partner, Pat Summerall, covered the NFL Thanksgiving special for 22 years. According to an ESPN feature, during a Rams-Saints game on Dec. 1, 1996, Madden was introduced to the turducken by New Orleans radio personality Bob DelGiorno. He was hooked.

Prior to those games, a coin featuring a silhouette of coach Madden on one side (“Heads”) and a six-legged turducken on the reverse side (“Tails”) will be used for the coin toss. Additionally, a patch featuring a silhouette of coach Madden will be included on the jersey of each player at all three games.

Madden jersey patches will be worn by all six teams playing on Turkey Day. A special Madden coin — heads is a Madden silhouette, tails is a turducken — will be tossed. There will also be Madden tributes on the broadcast and on the field for all three games.

John Madden's famous wheels were back at Lambeau Field Thursday as the NFL and NBC honored the late coach. Check out the inside, and meet its most recent driver.

John Madden will be honored in all three NFL games on Thanksgiving Day