Kansas City Chiefs Thanksgiving Record: Complete List of Wins and Losses in NFL Holiday Games

The Kansas City Chiefs, originally founded in August 1959, spent their first three seasons as the Dallas Texans before relocating to Kansas City in 1962. The NFL has featured at least one game on Thanksgiving Day since 1920, except for the 1941-1944 hiatus caused by World War II. In 1934, it was established that the Detroit Lions would host a Thanksgiving home game annually. The Dallas Cowboys joined this tradition in 1966, hosting a Thanksgiving home game each year. In 2006, the NFL introduced a third game to the Thanksgiving schedule.

Although the Chiefs began playing in 1960, they have only appeared on Thanksgiving ten times. Here is a detailed look at their performance in those games.

Thanksgiving Game Record

The Chiefs have played ten Thanksgiving games in total, achieving a 5-5 record. While the franchise was known as the Dallas Texans, they played once on Thanksgiving and lost.

Frequency of Chiefs Thanksgiving Appearances

Since moving to Kansas City in 1962, the Chiefs have participated in ten Thanksgiving games. Scheduling opportunities are limited due to the fixed annual games hosted by the Lions and Cowboys. Both teams are in the NFC, which means the Chiefs, as an AFC team, face them only once every four years, typically on the road every eight years. Matching the game to the Thanksgiving date further restricts appearances. Even with the addition of a third Thanksgiving game in 2006 that is not conference-specific, Kansas City has rarely been selected, with 2006 being the only year they played in this slot against the Denver Broncos, winning 19-10.

Most Recent Thanksgiving Game

The Chiefs last played on Thanksgiving in 2025 against the Cowboys. Before that, their previous appearance was in 2006, marking the year when the NFL expanded to three Thanksgiving games instead of just the traditional Cowboys and Lions matchups.

Analysis: Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving

The Kansas City Chiefs have a relatively limited history on Thanksgiving Day, appearing in only ten games since the franchise's inception in 1960. Despite the team's long-standing presence in the NFL, scheduling constraints and the fixed traditions of the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys have significantly restricted their opportunities.

As an AFC team, the Chiefs rarely face the NFC-hosted Thanksgiving games, which occur annually in Detroit and Dallas. Even after the addition of a third, non-conference-specific game in 2006, Kansas City has only participated twice in this slot, including a win over the Denver Broncos that same year.

The franchise currently holds a 5-5 record on Thanksgiving, reflecting a balanced performance over the limited appearances. Their most recent game, played in 2025 against the Cowboys, continues this sporadic pattern, emphasizing that the Chiefs remain occasional participants rather than regular fixtures on the holiday schedule.

Sources:

• Chiefs record on Thanksgiving: Full list of wins, losses for Kansas City on NFL holiday