LANSING, Mich. – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pardoned a turkey Thursday ahead of Thanksgiving. The turkey was named “Aidan Cluckinson” as fans root for a Lions win on Thanksgiving as the team takes on the Chicago Bears at Ford Field.

Michigan's Governor Whitmer pardoned a turkey named "Aidan Cluckinson" before Thanksgiving, inspired by Lions' Hutchinson.

Neither will a pardoned turkey, who has been named after him. On Thursday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer pardoned "Aiden Cluckinson" who will go to the Saginaw Children’s Zoo to live out the remainder of his life.

Aidan Cluckinson' is the third turkey Governor Gretchen Whitmer has pardoned since taking office. Cluckinson joins the ranks of Dolly Pardon and Mitch E. Gander in the lineup of recent pardoned turkeys before Thanksgiving.

Governor Whitmer participated in the annual turkey pardoning ceremony on Thursday. Whitmer pardoned “Aiden Cluckinson” named after Lions Defensive End Aidan Hutchinson. Cluckinson is now on the way to their permanent home at the Saginaw Children's Zoo.