NFL Rookie Xavier Legette Reveals His Thanksgiving Feast Involved Raccoon on the Menu

Thanksgiving might conjure up images of turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce for most people, but Carolina Panthers rookie receiver Xavier Legette took a completely different route for his holiday meal this year. Instead of the usual bird, Legette revealed he dined on something far less traditional—raccoon.

Legette shared the surprising Thanksgiving dinner choice during an appearance on The St. Brown Podcast when NFL brothers Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown asked him about an unusual food he enjoys.

“I eat raccoon,” the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick confessed. “Like a raccoon that you see in the trash.”

Naturally, the brothers were floored. Equanimeous, currently playing for the New Orleans Saints, pressed further, asking, “Where do you even get that?”

Legette, a Mullins, South Carolina native, explained that he hunts the critters himself. “Kill it, skin it, cook it, eat it—all that,” he said. In fact, his family made it a Thanksgiving tradition this year, heading out for a hunt before bringing the unconventional dish to the dinner table.

So, what does raccoon taste like? Legette says it’s not like chicken. “‘Coon’ got its own taste,” he added, describing it as wholly unique.

And raccoon isn’t the only unusual protein in Legette’s diet—he’s also a fan of squirrels and rabbits. While these choices might raise eyebrows, Legette’s culinary preferences reflect his roots and a lifestyle that values resourcefulness.

Whether you find it adventurous or unorthodox, one thing’s for sure: Xavier Legette’s Thanksgiving meal is one for the books.