Packers-Lions could attract a record-setting audience, too

The upcoming 2025 NFL Thanksgiving Day game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys is anticipated to become the most-watched regular-season game in history. The current record for viewership was set on Thanksgiving Day 2022, when 42.1 million viewers watched the Cowboys defeat the Giants. This surpassed a 1990 Monday night game between the Giants and 49ers, which drew 41.5 million viewers. Historically, seven of the nine largest TV audiences for NFL games have occurred on Thanksgiving.

The anticipated record-breaking viewership is attributed to the popularity of both teams and the new Nielsen audience measurement system. Additionally, the game will be simulcast on Tubi, which previously added 13.6 million viewers to Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl LIX. This boost in accessibility, coupled with the game's significance and the teams' appeal, suggests that both Thanksgiving afternoon games could surpass the previous viewership record.