DETROIT—Sources inside the Detroit Lions facility reported Monday that rookie guard Tate Ratledge cautiously approached head coach Dan Campbell to ask if it might be possible for him to take Thanksgiving off. The 24-year-old reportedly double-checked the team schedule, rehearsed his request several times, and waited for a moment when Campbell didn’t appear to be yelling at a blocking sled before bringing it up.
Ratledge, who said he has “a very important family tradition” on Thanksgiving Day, explained that his entire extended family gathers annually for a massive feast that includes homemade recipes, storytelling, and several hours of football on TV. The rookie reportedly emphasized that he really didn’t want to miss the celebration this year, especially since he already sacrificed multiple weekend events because of the NFL calendar.
According to team sources, Ratledge went into detail about his grandma’s signature stuffing, a dish he described as “life-changing” and “worth at least three timeouts.” He also mentioned that he was looking forward to spending time with cousins he rarely gets to see, insisting that the emotional bonding experience could “help him play better,” if that would strengthen his case.
The guard also noted that his mother had promised to bake a pecan pie specifically for him, reminding Campbell that it was his favorite dessert and that she only makes it once a year. Witnesses said Ratledge spoke slowly when mentioning the pie, hoping it might tug at Campbell’s heartstrings or at least remind the coach of his own holiday cravings.
Team insiders said Campbell listened politely but with visible confusion, reportedly responding, “You do know the Detroit Lions literally play every Thanksgiving, right?” Despite the obvious scheduling conflict, Ratledge remained optimistic, suggesting that perhaps this year could be “an exception” or that maybe he could take the day off if they moved the game to Friday.
At press time, sources confirmed Ratledge had tried to sweeten the deal by offering to “come in and play a makeup game” during the team’s bye week, adding that he was flexible on kickoff time.
