Pete Davidson Super Bowl Commercial: Why Brands Keep Betting on Staten Island's Finest

If you turned on the TV during the Big Game over the last few years, you probably saw a familiar, slightly tired, yet incredibly charming face staring back at you. Pete Davidson has become the unofficial king of the commercial break. Seriously. While other A-listers are picky about their "brand prestige," Pete seems to have a blast getting tackled by linebackers or hanging out with talking cats.

But why? What is it about a Pete Davidson Super Bowl commercial that makes multi-billion-dollar companies like Unilever and HexClad open their checkbooks? It’s not just about the name recognition. It’s the "hittability."

The Alien in the Kitchen: HexClad 2025

The most recent splash involved a kitchen, Area 51, and a very confused Gordon Ramsay. In the HexClad 2025 Super Bowl commercial, titled "Unidentified Frying Object," the brand decided to go big for its first-ever Big Game appearance. They spent a reported $8 million just for the airtime.

The premise is peak Pete.

Gordon Ramsay is ushered into a secret government lab where he's told he has to cook for an alien ambassador. The "secret tech" used to make HexClad pans? Apparently, it’s salvaged from UFOs. When the ambassador finally walks in, it’s not a grey man with giant eyes. It’s Pete Davidson in a track jacket.

"You're an alien?" Ramsay asks, bewildered.
"All famous people are aliens," Pete retorts.
Ramsay argues that he’s famous, too.
"I meant like... really famous people," Pete shots back.

It’s self-deprecating. It’s meta. It works because Pete is willing to be the butt of the joke. HexClad didn't just want to sell pans; they wanted to introduce themselves to 100 million people who had never heard of "hybrid cookware." By pairing a high-intensity perfectionist like Ramsay with a "just rolled out of bed" icon like Davidson, they captured two completely different demographics in 30 seconds.

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The Mayo Years: Tackling Food Waste

Before he was an alien ambassador, Pete was the face of mayonnaise. Specifically, Hellmann’s. This partnership actually spanned multiple years, starting with the iconic 2022 spot where he got leveled by Super Bowl champion Jerod Mayo.

That 2022 ad was a turning point. The "Make Taste, Not Waste" campaign needed a way to talk about leftovers without sounding like a boring PSA. Enter Pete. He’s at a party with his real-life mom, Amy, when Jerod Mayo bursts in to tackle people throwing away bread and spinach.

When Mayo finally gets to Pete, he pauses. "Mom's already tackling food waste," Pete says, trying to avoid the hit. Mayo tackles him anyway.

"I get it," Pete groans from the floor. "I’m very hittable."

That line—"I'm very hittable"—basically sums up his entire marketing appeal. He knows the internet loves to meme him. He knows people have opinions on his dating life. Instead of fighting it, he leans in.

The 2023 "Brie and Ham" Follow-up

In 2023, Hellmann's brought him back, but this time he shared the fridge with Jon Hamm and Brie Larson. It was a pun-heavy fever dream. Hamm and Brie are tiny, sitting in a fridge next to a jar of mayo. Pete opens the door and tells them, "I'm gonna eat you guys."

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It was weird. It was polarizing. But it was memorable.

The 2024 "Mayo Cat" Cameo

By 2024, Pete’s role in the Hellmann's universe shifted to a cameo. The ad focused on Kate McKinnon and a cat that could "talk" (it just said "mayo"). The cat becomes a global celebrity, eventually dating Pete Davidson.

The joke here was a direct wink at Pete's tabloid-heavy dating history. When the cat dumps him, the headlines in the commercial read: "Mayo Cat Breaks Up With Pete Davidson." It was a short, 2-second gag, but it was the most talked-about part of the ad.

The Strategy: Why Pete Works for Super Bowl Ads

You might wonder why a brand would pay millions for a guy who often looks like he forgot there was a dress code.

1. Relatability: Pete doesn't feel like a polished Hollywood star. He feels like your cousin who happened to get famous.
2. The "Meme-ability" Factor: Every Pete Davidson Super Bowl commercial is designed to be clipped for TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). Brands aren't just buying 30 seconds on Sunday; they're buying a week of social media relevance.
3. Cross-Generational Appeal: Gen Z loves his "no-filter" vibe. Boomers and Gen X recognize him from Saturday Night Live or the news.
4. Self-Awareness: He is the first person to make fun of himself. This takes the "corporate" edge off the advertisement.

The Actual Impact on Brands

Does it actually sell stuff?

According to VML (the agency behind the Hellmann’s ads), the "Tackle Food Waste" campaign doubled its projected sales goals within a week of the game. HexClad, which was already doing $300 million in annual revenue before their 2025 ad, saw a massive spike in brand searches.

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When a brand like HexClad enters the Super Bowl, they aren't looking for a direct "buy now" click. They're looking for "mental availability." They want you to think of their alien-tech pans the next time you're frustrated with your eggs sticking to a skillet. Pete Davidson provides the "sticky" memory that makes that happen.

What’s Next for Pete and the Big Game?

While some brands like HexClad have hinted at "sitting out" future games to focus on different sports marketing, Pete’s involvement in the Super Bowl seems inevitable as long as he remains the internet’s favorite lightning rod.

He’s moved from being the "new guy" in 2022 to the "reliable vet" in 2025. Whether he's selling insurance, beverages, or more condiments, the formula remains the same: give Pete a funny script, let him be a little awkward, and watch the social media engagement climb.

If you're a brand looking to make a splash in the next Super Bowl, the lesson is clear. You don't necessarily need a flawless hero. Sometimes, you just need someone who is "very hittable" and willing to joke about it.

Practical Steps for Brand Enthusiasts:

• Watch the extended cuts: Most of Pete's best lines are edited out for the 30-second TV spot. Check YouTube for the "Director's Cut" of the HexClad and Hellmann's ads to see the improv.
• Track the "Pete Effect": Notice how brands use him for "top of funnel" awareness rather than direct sales. It's a masterclass in modern celebrity endorsement.
• Look for the cameos: In 2024, his role was tiny but high-impact. Expect future ads to use him as a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" Easter egg to reward attentive viewers.