Super Bowl LIX Ads
Trends, Triumphs, and $7 Million Faceplants
The Super Bowl of advertising—the one night when brands get 51 minutes to prove they’re creative geniuses or that they just wasted $7 million on something nobody will remember by Monday. This year’s batch of ads is a mix of AI hype, nostalgia plays, cause marketing, and some bold first-timers trying to make a name for themselves.
So what are the big trends this year? Let’s break it down.
🚀 1. AI, AI, and More AI (Did We Mention AI?)
It’s illegal to advertise in 2025 without mentioning AI.
Meta (twice!) is pushing its Ray-Ban Meta Glasses with Chris Pratt and Chris Hemsworth.
Google is showcasing Gemini Live on the Pixel 9 only after fixing its AI’s “cheese facts” problem.
GoDaddy is introducing GoDaddy Airo, its new AI tool for small businesses.
OpenAI (yes, the ChatGPT people) is running its first-ever TV ad. Hope it’s better than some weird AI-generated images floating around the internet.
💡 Takeaway: Every brand is either selling AI or pretending they know what it is. But if the ads are all AI-generated, we’re in for some uncanny valley nightmares.
🎟️ 2. Nostalgia Is the New Creativity
Why take a risk when you can repackage the past and sell it to us?
Hellmann’s: Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reunite for a When Harry Met Sally-themed sandwich ad.
Doritos: Bringing back the legendary "Crash the Super Bowl" contest.
Pepsi: Celebrating 50 years of the Pepsi Challenge—because we all need another blind taste test.
Skechers: Coach Andy Reid apparently has a side hustle as a hand model now.
Budweiser: The Clydesdales are back, plus a pony (because tiny horses = instant nostalgia).
FanDuel: Peyton & Eli Manning are doing a live kicking competition.
P&G’s Spruce: The Baha Men are remixing “Who Let the Dogs Out” for a weed killer commercial.
Taco Bell: Instead of celebrities, they’re featuring real drive-thru moments from fans.
💡 Takeaway: The strategy here is simple—if people already liked something, repackage it and hope they still do.
📢 3. Cause Marketing: “Look, We Care!”
A few brands go deep and emotional every year instead of just selling stuff.
Dove is tackling the high dropout rate of girls in sports with a campaign promoting body confidence.
Novartis is encouraging breast cancer screenings with a spot featuring Wanda Sykes and Hailee Steinfeld.
The NFL is running an ad about its charity partnerships (because we all forgot about those lawsuits, right?).
💡 Takeaway: Some ads genuinely matter, while others feel like corporate guilt trips. Either way, expect a few tearjerkers before halftime.
💰 4. Betting & Finance Brands Want Your Money
Super Bowl viewers love gambling and financial planning because we’re getting a ton of ads about both.
FanDuel: The Manning brothers’ live kicking challenge.
NerdWallet: First-ever Super Bowl ad (because you budgeted for that $7M commercial).
Rocket Mortgage: Rebranding as the "Apple of home ownership.” (Sure, Jan.)
Ramp: Partnering with Eagles RB Saquon Barkley to promote its financial platform.
💡 Takeaway: Someone is trying to get your money, whether it’s sports betting or mortgage rates.
🍔 5. Food & Beverage: The Usual Suspects
If it can be eaten, sipped, or chugged, it’s getting a Super Bowl ad.
Starbucks: Rebranding as The Starbucks Coffee Company because… why not?
Dunkin’: Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, and Jeremy Strong—because Boston runs on Dunkin’.
Pizza Hut: Rob Gronkowski is hyping up the Ultimate Hut Bundle (which is not even remotely healthy).
Mountain Dew: Becky G and SEAL in a Taika Waititi-directed ad.
Lay’s: A heartwarming story about potato farmers.
Michelob Ultra: Willem Dafoe and Kathryn O’Hara playing pickleball.
Bud Light: Post Malone, Shane Gillis, and Peyton Manning in a neighborhood party.
💡 Takeaway: You’re already eating snacks. These brands just want to make sure it’s their snacks.
🔥 The Final Take: Who Will Win and Who Will Flop?
Every year, a few ads go viral, some bomb spectacularly, and a couple make zero sense.
✔ Likely Winners:
✅ Hellmann’s (Nostalgia + Humor)
✅ FanDuel (Live stunt + Peyton & Eli)
✅ Lay’s (Emotional storytelling)
✅ Bud Light (Celebrity party vibes)
❌ Probable Flops:
🚫 Meta (Twice? Really?)
🚫 OpenAI (Unless it’s mind-blowing, people will roast it)
🚫 GoDaddy (Unless Walton Goggins can work miracles)