Emily Farrell 
Forty points earned by the Philadelphia Eagles, 126 million viewers tuned in, and $8 million for 30 seconds of airtime. These are just a few of the standout stats from Super Bowl LIX, the biggest night for football and for advertising.
As both Philly sports fans and public relations professionals, every part of Sunday felt like it was our Super Bowl. This year’s ads featured no shortage of absurd CGI (Coffee Mate’s might be the top offender), Matthew McConaughey appearances, and, of course, the tried-and-true use of nostalgia. Check out some of our favorites from this year’s big game below!
Google Pixel: “Dream Job”
“I’m always a sucker for a Super Bowl commercial that pulls on your heartstrings. My favorite this year was Google Pixel’s ‘Dream Job’ – which turns the conversation of AI as a job killer on its head. In the ad, we see a father using AI to prepare for an interview, refining his responses about how being a father has taught him key jobs skills, like quick thinking, teamwork, and dependability. A commercial featuring AI walks a thin line, and Google did a great job humanizing the technology in a way most people can relate to and empathize with.” — Emily Charles White
Nike: “So Win”
“This year’s ads were a little lackluster overall, relying heavily on celebrity appearances, flying facial hair (gross), Kanye West (unhinged), most disturbingly, the singer Seal as a…singing seal for Mountain Dew. One ad that stood out was Nike’s So Win campaign, the brand’s first Super Bowl ad in nearly 30 years. With its crisp production, focused storytelling, and inspiring female athletes, this ad captured the power of women’s sports without relying on gimmicks.” — Rebecca Devine
“Because Girl Power of course! And for calling out all the messages that women consistently hear in sports and everywhere else.” — Jessica Sharp
Rocket: “Take Me Home”
“My favorite ad of the year was Rocket’s ‘Take Me Home’ ad. It’s the first time a Super Bowl ad has ever synced to a live, in-stadium sing-along. It also has a beautiful message that the United States can be home to everyone.” — Lizzy Leer
Lay’s: The Little Farmer
“Americana is always a big theme in Super Bowl ads, though usually it manifests itself in beer or car ads. A different approach that I liked came from Lay’s. In ‘The Little Farmer,’ a young girl dedicates herself to growing a potato when she is left behind as the men head off to work on their family farm.
Her determination is not just heart-warming. It encourages girls to dream big (without even saying it) and increases our appreciation for home-grown food and the people who grow it, which Lay’s ties back to their method of production. In 60 seconds, they humanized a simple bag of chips.” — Emily Farrell
Novartis: “Your Attention, Please”
“The Novartis’ 60-second Super Bowl ad certainly caught my attention. The ad takes a fresh approach to breast health awareness, and it features killer celebs like Hailee Steinfeld, Wanda Sykes, and showcases a diverse cast of women.
The ad starts with an attention-grabbing focus on women, reminiscent of old beer commercials, before shifting to a more meaningful narrative about breast health. With humor and a clear call to action, it directs viewers to YourAttentionPlease.com for resources and quizzes on breast cancer.
At first, I wasn’t sure what the ad was going to be about. By the end, all of my girlfriends looked at each other saying “woooowwww.” The ad effectively balances entertainment with education, ensuring the message resonates while standing out from traditional pharma ads.” — Abby Stryker
Instacart: “We’re Here”
“My favorite Super Bowl commercial took me and my husband down memory lane and reminded us of iconic brand characters we grew up with like the Kool-Aid man, one of my all-time favs busting through the wall, the Pillsbury Doughboy, the Jolly Green Giant, the Energizer Bunny, and Chester Cheetah. Topping off this commercial for me was Trick Daddy’s ‘Take It To Da House.’ The entire commercial was cute but delivered the message for Instacart through the visuals and song.” — Veronica Mikitka Reed
Uber Eats: “Century of Cravings”
“Matthew McConaughey’s distinctive voice sets the perfect tone for Uber Eats’ playful theory that football is just an elaborate plot to make us all hungry (and I kind of agree). The commercial brought together an impressive mix of stars like Kevin Bacon, Martha Stewart, and Greta Gerwig, with each new celebrity appearance making the conspiracy theory more entertaining as the game unfolded.” — Emily Kanter
“I enjoyed the Uber Eats ‘Century of Cravings’ ad, which featured Matthew McConaughey pitching actor, director and screenwriter Greta Gerwig in a movie centered around his intricate conspiracy theory that the game of football was invented solely to make people hungry.
The minute-long ad spans nearly 150 years of sporting history, as McConaughey portrays Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning calling a steak-themed audible and legendary coach Mike Ditka insisting that, yes, William Perry did have to call himself ‘The Refrigerator.’
The star-studded spot was the latest installment in a thread of self-aware ads from the food-delivery platform, with all the humor, production value and cinematic pop to meet the moment for the big game.” — Tom McParland
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