The Super Bowl was yesterday…which means a whole lot of ads got dropped yesterday as well! Brands shelled out millions of dollars, got celebrity cameos, and did whatever they could to make sure they caught people’s attention this year. The average cost for a :30 second commercial was reportedly 7 million dollars the NY Times reports. Well, if you went to the "restie" or got some food you may have missed a commercial or 2. We have them all right here in one spot for ya!
I've got a rundown of all the ads shown during the Super Bowl broadcast below. My personal favorites include Beyonce trying to break the internet, Aubrey Plaza acting deadpan as she talks about loving Mountain Dew, and Arnold Schwarzenegger struggling to pronounce the word “neighbor” in the State Farm motto “Like a good neighbor, state farm is there.” That spot ended nicely with a cameo by Danny Devito, his co-star in the movie "Twins"
Here's the list of Big Game commercials in the order they ran...
- BMW - Christopher Walken makes fun of people who try to sound like him…Usher makes an appearance as well as soon as someone says the word “Yeah!”
- Mountain Dew - Aubrey Plaza plays up her deadpan comedic stylings while she talks about how she’s always having a blast. Nick Offerman shows up to help out by being just as deadpan as her
- Squarespace - Aliens have to to earth…but can’t get our attention until they make a stylish website with the help of SqaureSpace. The ad was apparently directed by Martin Scorsese
- Lindor - Candy flies around…and people have fun eating Lindor candy
- Google - Google shows off how their products can help people with low vision in a heartwarming ad
- Dunkin’ - Ben Affleck tries to impress his wife Jennifer Lopez with his sick music skills. Despite help from Matt Damon and Tom Brady…it doesn’t go great
- E*Trade - Babies play pickleball
- poppi - A soda ad that is hoping to convince people that this soda is healthy
- National Football League - A kid with big dreams of playing in the NFL is supported by NFL players while he runs through a market, goes to an NFL training program and meets former New York Giant Osi Umenyiora
- BetMGM - Vince Vaughn tells everybody that they can bet on the BetMGM app…except Tom Brady because he’s won too much already
- TurboTax - “Abbott Elementary” star Quinta Brunson tells people to do their taxes…and reveals doing your taxes could make you win $1-million
- NYX Cosmetics - Cardi B hawks “suspicious” lip gloss
- Apartments.com - Aliens come to earth and they need an apartment. Thankfully Jeff Goldblum is around to help out!
- Etsy - America realizes they have to give France a gift after they’re given the Statue of Liberty. Thankfully, Etsy helps them out…and America gives France a giant cheese board
- Kia - A dad uses his high-beams to light up an ice rink so a grandpa can see his granddaughter skate outside his house
- Coors - The Coors Light train travels across the country to make a football watching party less awkward. LL Cool J drives the train, which bursts through the wall
- Volkswagen - Volkswagen uses old-looking footage to say that they’re part of the American dream
- Doritos - Two abuelas, Dina and Mita, go into full on action-hero mode after someone takes the last bag of Dinamita chips at the grocery store. Jenna Ortega makes a cameo
- Verizon - Beyonce tries to break the internet…and at the very end teases “drop the music.” She would go on to drop two songs last night.
- Microsoft - Microsoft shows people contemplating their future, and using their new Copilot AI to grow
- STōK Cold Brew - Anthony Hopkins sells coldbrew and supports the Wrexham soccer club as he takes being an actor very seriously…only to go out onto a soccer field as a mascot
- T-Mobile - Zach Braff and Donald Faison join Jason Momoa to urge people to cut the cord…and it does turn into a musical pretty quickly
- Pluto TV - PlutoTV shows off a human couch potato farm, which uses people’s favorite TV programming to keep the couch potatoes growing on the farm
- State Farm - Arnold Schwarzenegger can’t pronounce the word “neighbor” in the State Farm motto “Like a good neighbor, state farm is there”
- Nerds - Candies dance with joy….and then are eaten by Addison Rae
- Budweiser - The Clydesdale horses are back, and pull a wagon of beer through the snow
- Dove - Young female athletes fall down during a sports montage…and Dove says that hard knocks don’t stop girls from playing sports…low body confidence does, as they share a PSA for body positivity
- Booking.com - Tina Fey gets body doubles to go on vacations for her since there are so many options on Booking.com
- Starry - Ice Spice hangs out with the new soft drink Starry, and runs into her ex at the club
- CeraVe - Michael Cera pitches his way to do an ad for lotion…CeraVe. Because his name is very close to the brand name he says he created. That gets an obvious thumbs down but CeraVe's board
- Michelob Ultra - Lionel Messi plays soccer on a beach while waiting for a beer…while Jason Sudeikis and Dan Marino watch
- Popeyes - Ken Jeong is unfrozen after being in cryo for a long time so he can finally see what the future holds
- Pringles - Chris Pratt sports a mustache and realizes he looks exactly like the mascot for Pringles
- Hellmann’s - Kate McKinnon realizes her cat can talk and is asking for Mayo a lot…and definitely not just saying “Meow”
- Uber Eats - Celebrities cant remember anything anymore because they’re too busy remembering everything that Uber Eats can deliver
- M&M’s - The M&M’s company decided to give the almost-winners of past Super Bowls rings to commemorate the fact that they were so close…but so far
- CrowdStrike - A cybersecurity person fights off aliens with her tablet
- Pfizer - The drug company celebrates its 175 years of existing in an ad pointing out that there sure were a lot of scientists in the past…including Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein
- Bud Light - A magic beer genies grants wishes, including hanging out with Peyton Manning and Post Malone
- e.l.f. Cosmetics - A “Suits” reunion mixed with a “Judge Judy” reference is used to sell makeup
- Miller Lite - Rob Riggle jogs in Miller Lite body paint, as part of the brand’s “Running of the Beers” campaign
- Homes.com - Dan Levy of “Schitt’s Creek” and Heidi Gardner of “Saturday Night Live” pitch a bunch of scenarios….
- Kawasaki - People keep growing mullets when they’re in the presence of a Kawasaki Ridge
- Skechers - Mr. T gets mad at Tony Romo who says there’s now T in Skechers…cause Mr. T is in Skechers
- Reese’s - A bunch of people aren’t happy Reese’s is making a change…until it turns out they’re making a big Reese’s Cup
- Oreo - The cookie brand goes through time as twisting Oreos is used to determine fate, like flipping a coin for heads or tails
- Paramount+ - Paramount gathers its stars including Patrick Stewart and Arnold from “Hey Arnold!” to convince you to sign up for their streaming service
- Drumstick - Eric André is sick on a plane and then cared for by an ice cream
10 Players In Super Bowl LVII With North Carolina Connections
When it comes to teh Super Bowl you have to pick a team to cheer for. Even if (more often than not for Panthers fans) your team isn't in it. It's essentially a rule of being an American. That decision can be based on any number of things. I have often found myself cheering against teams because of a player I don't like or simply disliking the team. Sometimes if I truly have no reason to cheer for or against either team I've even chosen one if I had been to the city they are from. Sometimes there are just players who are likable for whatever reason. But a BIG reason for me is if they have a local tie. Essentially as a graduate of NC State if there is a player on either team from there. So which players in Super Bowl LVII have any time to the state of North Carolina?
The matchup, which will be played Sunday, February 11th will feature the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Admittedly I'm pulling for the Chiefs for two reasons. One is a player I'll introduce you to in a few minutes- an NC State alumni. And of course for the Taylor Swift angle as well. I was certainly well versed in football and the Chiefs long before Taylor and Travis started dating, but when two of my favorite things in the world collide- well I couldn't be more on board with it.
Players In Super Bowl LVII With North Carolina Connections
There are 9 players and one coach on the rosters of both teams for Super Bowl LVII with connections to the state of North Carolina. This includes former Panthers, as well as players who went to high school and college in the state. So if you aren't sure who to pull for in the big game, perhaps this will help you make up your mind!
Kansas City Chiefs
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)The Kansas City Chiefs are representing as the AFC Champion for the 4th time in 5 years. Led by Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and coached by Andy Reid the Chiefs are approaching dynasty status, especially if they are able to get a victory this year in Vegas. There are 5 players on the Chiefs that have ties back to the North Carolina.
Harrison Butker
The kicker for the Chiefs Harrison Butker was actually drafted by the Panthers in 2017. However, the team waived him a few months earlier. He spent time in Pittsburgh and has been with the Chiefs since 2019. Sounds like getting cut by the Panthers certainly was for the best!
Noah Gray
He's not the most famous tight end on the team. But Noah Gray does play the position. He was drafted by the Chiefs out of Duke University in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. Gray played a role in the game vs the Ravens recording two catches.
Joe Thuney
Joe Thuney is hoping for his 4th Super Bowl ring this year. The offensive guard won two with the New England Patriots. He also won one last year with the Chiefs. Thuney played his college ball at NC State (Go Pack!). He was named first-team all pro for 2023.
Marquez Valdez- Scantling
Why is a guy from Florida who graduated from the University of South Florida on this list? Good question. Marquez Valdez-Scantling played at NC State for 2 years 2013-2014 before transferring to South Florida closer to home. The receiver made several clutch catches in Sunday's game including one for a first down to clinch the win.
Joshua Williams
Joshua Williams was drafted by the Cheifs in the 4th round in 2022. He played college football at Fayetteville State University. The cornerback grew up in Fayetteville NC. He's had 14 solo tackles this season.
San Francisco 49ers
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Representing the NFC after a three-score comeback is the San Francisco 49ers. If you are a Panthers fan there are several compelling reasons to pull for the niners including two former players and a former coach. There is also one player on the active roster with ties to North Carolina as well as one on the team's practice squad. Depending on how the team allots to rings (they get 150) practice squad players can receive a Super Bowl ring.
Steve Wilkes
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)If you are any more than a casual football fan or viewer of the Carolina Panthers you know who Wilkes is. The current defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers held the same position in Carolina last season. That was before he was elevated to interim head coach after the filing on Matt Rhule. Wilkes saw more on-the-field success than any coach has in the time that David Tepper has owned the team. Fans were outraged when he was not given the permanent head coaching job. He was a favorite among fans and players, and while I personally am not cheering for the 49ers this go around I do wish him all the success in the world.
Sam Darnold
The Sam Darnold experiment didn't work out in Carolina. And while the former Panthers and Jets starting QB is sitting behind Brock Purdy, he is in one of the best paying and in my opinion best overall jobs in the NFL. The backup quarterback. Darnold could have to step in at any moment whether that is a Purdy injury, an equipment malfunction, or by design.
Javon Hargrave
Javon Hargrave played college football at South Carolina State so you may be asking why he is included on this list. Hargrave is a pro-bowl defensive tackler for the 49ers. And he played his high school ball at North Rowan High in Salisbury, NC.
Christian McCaffrey
He was one of the most loved Carolina Panthers in recent memory. We all felt pain when he was traded to the 49ers. And dare I say he is even more electric in Santa Clara than we has in Charlotte? McCaffrey is one of the most versatile players in the NFL, a running back who is also used often as a receiver. I'd love to see him get a ring, even if it wasn't with us. I think most Panthers fans feel the same.
T.Y. McGill
T.Y. McGill who played at NC State is currently a member of the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He has bounced around playing on several teams throughout his career. He has played in two games for San Francisco so far this season. There is always a chance he could be activated to the 53 man roster before the big game.
