How to Turn Your Thanksgiving Turkey into a Football Player: The Ultimate DIY Holiday Project

This turkey is ready to play ball! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, turkeys are searching for the perfect disguise to avoid becoming dinner. Print out our disguise a turkey as a football player printable template and make a sport-themed disguise for your turkey.

This is a wonderful Thanksgiving activity that lets your kids make a fun craft as well as gives them a writing assignment where they can write what the disguise is all about and why it works.

Turkey in disguise is a fun Thanksgiving activity based on a popular book Turkey Trouble. The aim of this activity is to make a disguise for the turkey so that the turkey won’t be recognized and will successfully avoid becoming dinner.

We’ve shared many fun characters already, like the mermaid and our unicorn and now a sporty turkey in disguise that boys and girls will love joins the ranks.

This lovely football player disguised turkey hides behind a helmet and a large jersey. No one will be able to recognize the turkey behind this outfit.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start planning your holiday celebrations. If you want to take your festivities to the next level this year, why not disguise your turkey as a football player? This fun, creative project is sure to be a touchdown with guests of all ages.

As a long-time DIY enthusiast and crafter, I love coming up with unique ways to present the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. Disguising it as a football player is a great way to combine America’s beloved sport with its favorite holiday meal. Not only does it make for a hilarious and memorable centerpiece, it also gets the whole family involved in creating something together.

In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to turn your turkey into a football pro. Let’s get started!

How to Disguise Your Turkey as a Football Player: Step-by-Step Guide

Transforming your turkey into a football star is easier than you may think With just a few simple materials and these step-by-step instructions, you’ll have a sports-ready bird in no time

Supplies You’ll Need

A cooked turkey or chicken (12-15 lbs works best)
Football helmet
Football jersey (size XXL or larger recommended)
Football pants
Shoulder pads
Cleats or large rubber bands
Small football
Decorative materials (construction paper, fabric, markers, tape, etc.)

Instructions

Cook the turkey: Prepare your turkey however you normally would, whether roasting, smoking, or deep frying. Make sure it is fully cooked through before dressing it up.
**Assemble the uniform:**Lay out the football helmet, jersey, pants, and shoulder pads. Cut small slits up the back of the jersey and pants to fit them over the turkey easily.
**Dress the bird:**Carefully slip the helmet over the turkey’s head, then work the jersey and shoulder pads onto the body. Pull the pants up the legs and secure them with rubber bands around the ankles.
Add the finishing touches: Use tape to attach the small football to one wing to look like the turkey is carrying it. Make number and letter decorations out of construction paper and tape them to the jersey.
**Create the field:**On your serving platter or table, arrange shredded green paper or fabric like grass to make a football field. Use white paper or chalk to mark yard lines. Make small paper footballs for additional decor.
Stand your player up: Place your costumed turkey upright on the platter, looking like he’s about to run across the field. Proudly present your football turkey to family and guests!

Turkey Football Player Disguise Tips and Tricks

To help your turkey look like a true football pro, keep these tips in mind:

Stuff the uniform – For a fuller, more rounded look, stuff the jersey and pants with tissue paper. This fills out the baggy uniform better.
Pad the shoulders – Add extra shoulder padding under the jersey to give your turkey some bulky football player shoulders.
Secure the helmet – Tape or glue the helmet securely so it stays on. Pinch the turkey’s snood into the face guard to look like a chin strap.
Make a face – Draw football player eyes, eyes black, and a mouthguard onto the helmet using markers or paint. Get creative and fun with it!
Accessorize – Add things like wristbands, a whistle, clip board, or any other football-related items you can think of. Go all out!

Get Creative with Your Turkey’s Position and Number

When disguising your turkey as a football player, don’t forget to give him a number and position to match his costume. Here are some creative ideas:

Make him the quarterback with a jersey number like 12, 15, or 7.Tape a playbook to his wing too.
As a wide receiver, give him a single-digit number like 85. Have him look like he’s about to catch a pass.
Assign him #54 or 99 if he’s your linebacker turkey ready to tackle.
Dress him as the placekicker and put a kicking tee under his foot with the ball ready to be booted.
For a more general player, go with a jersey number like 32 or 28. Get a whole “team” of turkeys together!

Part of the fun is coming up with creative positions and numbers that match your turkey’s costume. Get the whole family involved in brainstorming fun football ideas.

Football Turkey Disguise Ideas for Kids

Disguising the turkey as a football player makes for a fun craft and activity to keep kids engaged throughout the holiday. Here are some ways to get them involved:

Have kids help decorate the turkey’s jersey with markers, fabric glue, and fabric scraps to make it their own unique design.
Let them draw the eyes and mouthguard onto the helmet to finish the football player face.
Allow them to come up with the player’s official position and number for the costume.
Have them help assemble the field around the turkey using paper, fabric, and other decorative items. Supervise as needed.
Kids can make additional paper footballs, helmets, pennants, and other decorations to surround the turkey.
Encourage them to get creative and add any other crafty details to the turkey disguise that they come up with!

Disguising the turkey is a fun project for kids of all ages. With supervision, even young children can participate in creating this hilarious Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Presenting Your Football Turkey Showstopper

Once your turkey is ready to take the field in full football regalia, it’s time to present him to the Thanksgiving crowd. Here are some tips for showing off your masterpiece:

Display the turkey center stage on a large platter or cake stand surrounded by the football field decor.
Have him “running” across the field as if in action during the big game. Prop him up with turkey legs if needed.
Spotlight your scene with overhead lighting. LED string lights or a lamp aimed down create great effects.
Take lots of pictures of your football turkey from all angles. This is a keepsake you’ll want to remember.
Allow guests to admire your creative turkey before carving. Let the kids announce the player’s position and number.
After presenting, carefully remove the disguise before carving to serve the turkey.

Your elaborately costumed turkey is sure to be the star of the Thanksgiving table!

Score Extra Points with More Turkey Disguises

If football isn’t quite your thing, there are so many other ways to creatively disguise your Thanksgiving turkey:

Baste the bird in decorative fabric, scarves, or ties for a “dressed up” turkey.
Use feather boas, wigs, and masks to give your turkey a funny disguise.
Dress as a historical figure like a pilgrim, Benjamin Franklin, or Abe Lincoln.
Decoratively conceal it inside a flower arrangement, cornucopia, or basket.
Disguise it as another animal like a peacock, chicken, or penguin for laughs.

Let your imagination run wild! Choose disguises that fit your own style, humor, and the interests of your family.

Thanksgiving Touchdown: A Holiday Tradition Worth Making

There’s no better way to merge Thanksgiving tradition with football season than disguising your turkey as an edible player. It adds lots of laughs, team spirit, and creativity to your holiday celebrations.

I hope these instructions, tips, tricks, and ideas have inspired you to take on this hilarious project yourself. Just follow the guide, tap into your creative side, and enjoy the process. Display your costumed turkey with pride on the big day!

This is sure to become a new family tradition that you’ll look forward to each year. When you present your masterpiece turkey, don’t be surprised when you score a collective touchdown reaction from all your impressed guests. Happy Thanksgiving!