Patrick Reusse Turkey of the Year past winners, from 1978 to 2022

Turkeys are everywhere these days, aren't they? Here's a history of one turkey in particular.

November 20, 2023 at 3:35PM
Who knows: Maybe Brett Favre will be a two-time Turkey winner someday. (Rogelio V. Solis, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Editor's note: Here are the 45 Turkey of the Year "winners." The Turkey was thought to have been retired in 2017. The Authentic Turkey, a one-year wonder, made an appearance the next year before The Turkey Chairman again sought to retire the honor in 2019. But the pandemic arrived in 2020 and with it came a call for the Turkey's return. That year's winner took a prize known as the Turkey Revived Under Mandate by Public, or TRUMP Award. History will remember them all as Turkeys, however, by any name:

In the Star Tribune (34 "winners" and one premature sign-off)

In the Pioneer Press (10 "winners")

1987: Carl Pohlad, Twins

1986: Dr. Kenneth Keller, U of M president

1985: Lou Holtz, Gophers

1984: Les Steckel, Vikings

1983: Paul Giel, Gophers

1982: Billy Martin, A's/Yankees

1981: George Steinbrenner, Yankees

1980: Bobby Knight, Indiana

1979: NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle; MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn

1978: Woody Hayes, Ohio State

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