As reported by the Wall Street Journal, an impressive 115 million individuals tuned in to watch Super Bowl XLVII in 2024. The focus and attention garnered by celebrities, advertisers, and athletes who are not directly involved in the big game provides them with a significant platform to maintain their relevance and keep their brands in the spotlight.
We will reflect on the athletes who achieved such feats during this year’s Super Bowl, as well as in previous years.
Gronk’s Kick Of Destiny
Once again, Rob Gronkowski, the former NFL tight end, made an ambitious attempt at a 25-yard field goal. This incredible feat had the potential to earn FanDuel bettors a staggering $10 million in bonus bets. Gronkowski once again failed to make the winning kick in his second consecutive Super Bowl. I’m curious to see if he believes that the third attempt will be successful in 2025.
Messi’s Michelob Dribbling
The Argentinian player reminded sports fans that even though the football season has come to an end, there’s still another type of football to enjoy during the spring and summer. Lionel Messi skillfully maneuvered the ball along the beach while patiently awaiting the arrival of his Michelob Ultra, showcasing his exceptional abilities.
Brady In A Betting Spot
Despite being in his first season away from the NFL, Tom Brady made a significant impact on this year’s Super Bowl, making his presence known from the start. In an advertisement for BetMGM, Vince Vaughn humorously suggested that Tom Brady was the only individual on Earth who couldn’t use the platform due to his remarkable success in life.
Brady Returns To Support Ben
Brady also landed a role in a Super Bowl commercial for Dunkin Donuts, appearing alongside fellow Boston sports enthusiast Ben Affleck. With the addition of Matt Damon, the trio teamed up to form a “Dunking” boy band with the intention of playfully teasing Jennifer Lopez. Brady’s lighter side was rarely seen by NFL fans.
Beckham’s Comedic Amnesia
The concept behind UberEats’ Super Bowl commercial revolved around the idea that, in order to remember something, you must forget something else. Accompanied by his wife Victoria, David Beckham and his spouse seemed to have a slight memory lapse regarding the well-known band she was once a member of. They came up with “Pepper Ladies” and “Cinnamon Sisters,” but surprisingly never thought of “Spice Girls.”.
Romo Piles It On With Skechers
On Super Bowl Sunday, NFL fans were captivated by Tony Romo’s presence, both as a game commentator for CBS and as a star in a Skechers commercial alongside Mr. T. Romo pointed out to viewers that the shoe brand’s name is spelled without a “T,” which seemed to bother the former A-Team TV star.
Bud Light Buddies With Manning
For many years, Bud Light has included Super Bowl commercials. Their 2024 campaign was centered around the idea of fulfilling desires. Someone wishes they could be friends with Peyton Manning. As expected, the former NFL quarterback materialized at the bar, taking a seat next to the customer.
Tua Moonlights With 1990’s Stars
Paramount showcased an advertisement that brought together Tua Tagovailoa, Patrick Stewart, Arnold from “Hey Arnold,” and the band Creed. Although it may have seemed like an unlikely combination, the team came together to conquer the challenge of scaling a massive mountain. Tagovailoa attempted to throw a grappling hook in an effort to aid their escape, but unfortunately, it didn’t reach the desired height.
Stone Cold Fires Up The Engine
Kawasaki invested a significant amount of money to promote its new Ridge vehicle and cleverly used the slogan “business in the front, party in the back” to capture people’s attention. In the final moments of the commercial, the legendary “Stone Cold” Steve Austin effortlessly splits a boulder in half, accompanied by the unmistakable presence of a mullet at the back of his head.
Marino Leans In
Dan Marino, the former NFL quarterback, has garnered immense popularity throughout his career, despite not clinching a championship title. He cleverly embraced this fact in a memorable M&M’s commercial. The commercial showcases M&M’s transforming peanut butter into diamonds, which are then used to create championship rings for those who came close to winning the big prize.
Coca Cola With Mean Joe Greene
One of the most well-known Super Bowl commercials in history was broadcast in 1979, featuring a player who was known for his serious demeanor. A child observes Joe Greene, the former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, entering the locker room with a limp. Showing kindness, the child offers him a Coca-Cola. Greene finally agrees to take the soda, causing a grin to appear on his face. He kindly hands over his jersey to the child.
Bugs and Michael Jordan
Prior to their exciting collaboration in the 1996 film “Space Jam,” Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan joined forces in 1993 to conquer basketball players as they promoted Air Jordan sneakers. By doing so, Bugs engaged in some playful antics that added an extra level of entertainment to the game.
H-O-R-S-E For A Big Mac
In 1993, Jordan starred in a well-known Super Bowl commercial where Larry Bird proposed a game of “Horse” to determine who would get to enjoy Jordan’s Big Mac and French fries. The two excitedly share wild ideas about shots they believe the other person won’t be able to make, all in a playful effort to win the lunch they both desire.
Mets Make A Splash
Since acquiring the New York Mets in 2020, hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen has displayed a willingness to spend generously. He invested a significant amount of money in a Super Bowl ad showcasing Mets players diligently working in a ticket office. Stars such as Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Edwin Diaz would graciously take calls as customer service agents, ensuring that fans were committed to purchasing season tickets.
Buffalo Grabs A Snickers
The Buffalo Bills endured a series of devastating losses in the Super Bowl during the 1990s. However, they had a slightly better experience in a Super Bowl commercial aired in 1996. Head coach Marv Levy delivered a motivational message to the team, emphasizing that they needed to win it all before leaving the facility. Players like Jim Kelly and Bruce Smith were delighted by this news, as it meant they would have more Snickers. The message was met with enthusiasm.
