Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown has publicly criticised the NFL's decision to schedule his team to play on Christmas Day, expressing significant frustration at being separated from family during one of America's most important holidays.
St. Brown's Festive Frustration
Speaking candidly on the St. Brown Brothers podcast, the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver made his displeasure abundantly clear. The Lions are set to face the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on 25 December, with kick-off scheduled for 4:30pm ET. This marks a departure from the team's cherished tradition of playing exclusively on Thanksgiving, a holiday staple for Detroit since 1934.
"The two biggest holidays I feel like in the United States, we played on both of them," St. Brown stated, referencing the Thanksgiving and Christmas fixtures. He emphasised the personal sacrifice, noting, "And I don't even have kids yet. If I had kids, I'd be even more pissed. Like, you can't be spending it with your family. Get to see your kids open gifts - I feel like that's something that a lot of parents love to see and can't wait for."
A Break from Tradition and Family Time
The disruption is particularly acute for St. Brown, as this will be his first ever Christmas Day game in his five-season NFL career. He has previously played on 26 December during his 2021 rookie year and on Christmas Eve in both 2022 and 2023. Compounding the issue is the fact the game is an away fixture, requiring travel. "Us traveling, it's like, damn," he added, highlighting the additional burden.
His comments underscore a growing tension between the NFL's expanding holiday schedule—aimed at maximising television audiences—and the personal lives of its players. The league has increasingly scheduled games on Christmas Day in recent years, viewing it as prime broadcasting real estate.
A Silver Lining in Prime Time
Despite his strong objections, the 25-year-old receiver did acknowledge a professional upside to the situation. Recognising the platform, he conceded, "Hey, another primetime game, can't really complain. And I love playing at Minnesota. So, it should be a good one."
This grudging acceptance points to the dual reality for modern NFL stars: a desire for normal family holidays conflicting with the demands of a high-profile, commercially driven sports calendar. The Lions' matchup against the Vikings remains a crucial late-season contest, but St. Brown's outburst has ignited a conversation about the human cost of the league's scheduling ambitions.
