Nfl Christmas Games History. In contrast to thanksgiving day games,. For years, the nfl avoided christmas by moving the nfl championship game.

In 1971, as the nfl was crafting the upcoming schedule, they decided to buck tradition and schedule games for christmas day, which fell on a saturday that. In 1971, four teams featuring a combined 26 pro football hall of famers and two teams on a crash course for the super bowl played in the first nfl games.