Fort Wayne family's Thanksgiving Day football tradition turns 50

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - For many families, Thanksgiving is about tradition.  For some, the day is about cooking a large holiday dinner to share with loved ones.  For one Fort Wayne family, the tradition begins early in the morning on a makeshift football field.

Since 1962, the Jehl family has been playing football outside a family-owned barn along Maysville Road.  It began with siblings and cousins playing each other.  Fifty years later, approximately 35 people walk onto the gridiron.

The teams are usually split up between members of the Jehl family, and people who married into the family.

"It's just a lot of fun," Steve Jehl, who has played in all 50 games, said.  "Our families are very close.  We enjoy each other's company and Thanksgiving is a family day."

At this year's game, five people played who had played in all 50 games.

The teams are made up of people of all ages.  And don't try to get a traditional-sized roster.  As many as 15 players will line up at once for each size.

The youngest player is eight years old.  The oldest is 79.  The family has played in mud, rain, ice and snow.

The rules are loosely followed, but there is one rule that one team will shout out each year.  "It doesn't matter what the score is, whoever scores the last touchdown wins," Josh Jehl, who has had to miss several Thanksgiving Day games while serving overseas in the Army, said.

Over the years, four generations have taken part in the hour-long game.  The tradition is strong enough in the family's blood that they're confident it will make it another 50 years.

"We got a lot of pride in what we do and our last name and being family," Josh Jehl said.  "I expect this to go another 50 years."

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