NFL fans are getting an early Christmas gift this year - a full day of football on December 25, with not one, not two, but three games on the slate. It’s a rare treat, as the league typically only schedules one or two games on Christmas, depending on how the calendar falls. But with the holiday landing on a Thursday this season, the NFL is giving fans a stacked tripleheader.
And if you’ve been paying close attention to the uniforms, you might’ve noticed a festive twist. Several teams took the field wearing a special candy cane patch on their jerseys - a subtle but clever nod to the holiday and the league’s Christmas Day showcase.
The Denver Broncos were among the first to reveal their look, dropping a pregame teaser showing off their candy cane-emblazoned uniforms ahead of their matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Broncos leaned into the moment, pairing their signature orange with a little seasonal flair.
Over in New Jersey, the Minnesota Vikings also sported the holiday patch during their road game against the New York Giants. Dressed in white jerseys over purple pants, the Vikings added the candy cane insignia to their gameday fit - a small detail, but one that stood out to fans watching closely.
Interestingly, the patch wasn’t universal across all teams playing this week. One fan on social media pointed out that the Washington Commanders were wearing the candy cane patch during their game against the Philadelphia Eagles, while the Eagles were not. That raised some eyebrows, but there’s a simple explanation.
According to CBS NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the patch is part of a league-wide promotional effort tied to the Christmas Day games. All six teams playing on December 25 - the Commanders, Cowboys, Vikings, Lions, Chiefs, and Broncos - are participating in the initiative to highlight the league’s special holiday lineup.
Here’s the full Christmas Day NFL schedule:
- **Commanders vs.
Cowboys**
- **Vikings vs.
Lions**
- **Chiefs vs.
Broncos**
When the league first put this schedule together, the hope was that these matchups would carry serious playoff weight. While not every game may have the postseason stakes originally envisioned, there’s still plenty of intrigue - from divisional rivalries to young stars looking to make their mark on a national stage.
And for fans, it’s a win no matter what. Three NFL games on Christmas, plus five marquee NBA matchups, means wall-to-wall sports all day long. Whether you're unwrapping gifts or just kicking back with family, Thursday is shaping up to be a sports fan’s dream.