For me, football has always been a big part of Thanksgiving. From the time that I was a child right through today and what I do for a living as a sports reporter, this is a holiday that will always revolve around the pigskin for me even though I’ll be stuffed from eating turkey at the end of the day.

The reality is Thanksgiving is a day to spend time with your family, watch the parade in New York City on television, eat like there’s no tomorrow and watch plenty of football. My Thanksgiving will start at my radio job reporting on all the football games that will take place that day, but the overwhelming thought in my head is how thankful I will be to drive home to be with my football family for the rest of the day.

With two sons that play and love football, I’m thankful to be a football dad. I didn’t play football when I was a kid other than just throwing the ball around with my father and my friends. It was clear to me at a young age that I was going to eventually talk and write about football because I wasn’t exactly gifted athletically.

Why am I thankful to have the title of football dad?

I’m thankful because it means my kids are doing something they love.

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I’m thankful because there are so many ways to be involved as a parent, even without coaching. I’ve been on the chain gang and I’ve done PA for many of my son’s tackle games.

I’m thankful because my kids are learning valuable life lessons through football like teamwork, leadership, discipline and respect.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to scream and cheer during a game for my boys and their teammates.

I’m thankful to be able to give my sons a hug and a high five after a big win or just put my arm around them after a tough loss.

I’m really thankful to see “SCHWARTZ” on the back of a jersey. I always stress to my kids that the logo on the front is more important than the name on the back, but as a dad it’s pretty cool to see your last name running around on the field.

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I’m thankful that my son Jared didn’t lose his love for the game when he was uncomfortable playing tackle. He’s played flag football for a couple of years now and has expressed an interest in trying tackle again. A few years ago, he just wasn’t ready for it, but now it looks like I’ll be thankful to have two bruisers in the family.

I’m thankful for what Bradley has accomplished in his youth football career and I’m thankful for the moment that I cried when I saw him run out onto the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton this past summer with “USA” on his jersey at the U.S. National Team Middle School Bowl Series.

I’m thankful that my family and I attend our local high school’s football games and we make our annual trip to New Jersey a couple of times a year to see our beloved Jets.

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And finally, I’m thankful to be able to do the things that it takes to be a football dad because a few months ago, I thought I would never be able to again. I broke my hip in July playing football at the beach with my kids and it has been a journey ever since. About a month ago, I was cleared to walk and while I’m done running routes, I have been able to have a catch with my sons and go to their games.

I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this story and being a football dad without the love and support of my wife and kids through these last few months. And for that, I’m thankful … thankful to getting back to normal and thankful to have the chance to spend the holiday with my family watching football.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Peter is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network, FOX News Headlines 24/7 and WCBS 880 Radio in New York.  His son Bradley is playing middle school football and flag football on Long Island while his younger son Jared plays flag football.  Peter, his wife Sheryl and the boys are busy cheering on the New York Jets when they’re not at a youth football field.