NFL football and Thanksgiving go together like mashed potatoes and gravy. And no NFL player embodies this tradition more than Vince Wilfork chomping on a giant turkey leg after big wins. His legendary appetite has made Wilfork synonymous with the turkey leg, solidifying his status as the NFL’s ultimate Thanksgiving icon.
A Thanksgiving Tradition
Thanksgiving football games have been an American tradition since the first NFL games were played on the holiday in 1920 The Detroit Lions started the annual Thanksgiving game in 1934, later joined by the Dallas Cowboys and other teams. Players look forward to these contests as a way to spend the holiday with teammates and fans.
Win or lose, Thanksgiving games represent a time of gratitude for players. And the turkey leg has become the quintessential symbol of celebration on the field. Who better to be the face of this tradition than 325-pound defensive tackle Vince Wilfork? His hungry relish when eating a turkey leg perfectly embodies the festive and indulgent spirit of the holiday.
The Wilfork Turkey Leg Legend
Vince Wilfork played defensive tackle for the New England Patriots from 2004 to 2014. Standing at 6’2″ and weighing over 300 pounds during his playing career Wilfork was one of the largest men in the NFL. He was also known for playing with incredible strength, athleticism and agility uncommon in men his size.
Wilfork helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls during his tenure. But arguably his biggest fans were for his eating feats, especially his love of turkey legs on Thanksgiving Pictures and GIFs of Wilfork eagerly tearing into turkey on the field quickly went viral, making him a social media sensation
No one could match Wilfork’s enthusiasm when chomping a turkey leg down to the bone. Images of juice running down his face and fingers as he happily chewed encapsulated the glorious excess of Thanksgiving. He could often be seen holding a half-eaten leg in the air triumphantly after big wins.
Thanksgiving Feasting
Part of the fun of Thanksgiving is overindulging in delicious food. And Vince Wilfork fully embraced this tradition when it came to turkey legs. Some fun facts about his holiday feasting:
- Wilfork typically ate 2-3 entire turkey legs on Thanksgiving.
- He had a special marinade he prepared the legs with before grilling.
- Turkey legs were his favorite Thanksgiving meal, but he enjoyed other classic dishes too.
- Eating turkey legs became a tradition associated with Wilfork’s Patriots winning big games.
- A popular Wilfork GIF shows him greedily biting into a leg.
- His turkey leg antics epitomized the NFL’s Thanksgiving celebrations.
Wilfork has inspired other players to showcase their turkey legs after standout performances on Thanksgiving. But none have matched his zeal and joy in devouring those delicious drumsticks.
A Lasting NFL Thanksgiving Tradition
Though Vince Wilfork retired from the NFL in 2016, his turkey leg legacy lives on. He will forever be linked to one of Thanksgiving football’s most beloved traditions. Fans now look forward to players proudly hoisting turkey legs to celebrate wins on the holiday.
From offensive linemen to star quarterbacks, turkey legs have become a frequent sight during NFL Thanksgiving postgame celebrations. No other food better represents football on Thanksgiving than the mighty turkey leg, thanks to Wilfork’s influence. He turned the simple joy of eating into an iconic NFL tradition.
So this Thanksgiving, as you watch players happily munching on turkey legs, remember the big man who started it all: Vince Wilfork. His legendary appetite created one of the NFL’s most endearing and delicious holiday traditions.
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It’s Thanksgiving week! We always look forward to voraciously tearing apart turkey legs again, and so do NFL players. That’s because the Turkey Leg Award is NFL’s greatest Thanksgiving tradition.
Ahhhh yes. Sweet, juicy, juicy turkey.
Just look at Vince Wilfork tear that sweet tender meat off the bone … yea that’s good.
Let’s take a quick look back at how players have celebrated with those turkey legs in recent years.
2016:
Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Ben Roethlisberger had the honors, with Michelle Tafoya fake eating.
2017:
Morgan Moses used the turkey legs to perform a drum solo for TV viewers:
2018:
It was Drew Brees and a few teammates — Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, Cameron Jordan, and Sheldon Rankins — who toasted a win over their biggest rival, the Falcons.
They weren’t ready to let go of those turkey legs, either:
Considering the turkey was prepared by Emeril Lagasse, we can’t say we blame ‘em.
2019:
The Saints were back for more in 2019. A year after digging into an Emeril-prepared turkey, Brees, Jordan, and plenty of other New Orleans players were celebrating with turkey once again.
That’s a pretty decent Thanksgiving tradition the Saints are building.
Vince Wilfork brings some Texas flavor – 2015 Hard Knocks: Houston Texans Episode 4
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