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Peyton Manning has this weird, almost supernatural ability to make you forget he's a two-time Super Bowl champion while he's on screen. He just looks like your suburban neighbor. You know the one—the guy who takes the trash out at exactly 7:00 AM and definitely has a label maker in his garage. This year, that "regular guy" energy hit a peak in the latest peyton manning super bowl commercial for Bud Light, where he traded his Colts and Broncos jerseys for a fanny pack and some Bermuda shorts.
Honestly, it shouldn't work. We're talking about a Hall of Famer with a net worth that could probably buy a small island. Yet, when he’s standing in a cul-de-sac with Post Malone and Shane Gillis, launching beer cans with a leaf blower, you totally buy it.
The Big Men on the Cul-De-Sac Takeover
The 2025 "BMOC" (Big Men on Cul-De-Sac) spot is basically a fever dream of suburban chaos. It starts with a guy realizing his backyard party is, well, "lame." Enter Post Malone and Shane Gillis, who look exactly like the guys you’d see at a Friday night dive bar. Then Peyton rolls up. He’s the "neighbor" who’s also a "Big Man," and suddenly the vibe shifts from a quiet afternoon to a full-blown neighborhood rager.
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There’s a specific moment where Manning is grilling steaks and drinking a Bud Light while looking genuinely thrilled to be there. He mentioned in an interview with People that it’s easy to act like you're having fun when you're actually laughing. That's the secret sauce. While other celebrities look like they’re reading off a teleprompter for a paycheck, Peyton looks like he’s actually about to tell you a long story about his lawn care routine.
Why Every Brand Wants a Piece of Peyton
Brands aren't just paying for his name; they're paying for the "Manning Effect." He’s a safe bet. He’s funny, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, and he has a comedic timing that most actual actors would kill for. Think back to his old commercials. He’s played:
- A detective (Calculatin’ Manning)
- An artist (Paintin’ Manning)
- A motivational speaker (Motivatin’ Manning)
It's a long-standing partnership with Nationwide, but the Super Bowl is where the stakes get higher. In the 2025 Bud Light spot, the brand used Huey Lewis’s "The Power of Love" to lean into that 80s/90s nostalgia. It’s a calculated move. Bud Light has had a rough couple of years with their market share, and bringing in a trio like Manning, Post Malone, and Gillis is an obvious attempt to reclaim the "regular dude" audience.
The Sibling Rivalry Hits the Betting Screen
You can't talk about a peyton manning super bowl commercial without mentioning his brother, Eli. The FanDuel "Kick of Destiny 3" was the culmination of a rivalry that’s been brewing since they were kids in New Orleans.
In the ad, Eli basically calls his brother out, saying Peyton is going to miss the big kick. And, true to the script of their lives, Peyton’s kick sails wide. Eli, of course, nails his. It’s self-deprecating humor at its finest. Peyton is willing to be the "loser" in the commercial because he knows it makes him more likable. He’s already won two rings; he doesn’t need to win a FanDuel commercial.
The History of the Manning Ad Dynasty
If you look at the track record, Peyton has been the king of the "Big Game" ad break since he was still active in the league. Remember Super Bowl 50? He didn’t even need a paid commercial to make headlines. During his post-game interview, he famously said he was going to "drink a lot of Budweiser."
"I want to go kiss my wife, kiss my kids... and I'm going to drink a lot of beer." — Peyton Manning, 2016.
That single sentence was worth an estimated $12 million in earned media for Anheuser-Busch. He wasn’t even paid for it! It was just Peyton being Peyton. Fast forward a decade, and he’s now officially on the payroll, proving that the long game always wins.
A Quick Look at the Manning Ad Portfolio:
- Michelob Ultra (2021-2022): The "Superior Bowl" spots where he went head-to-head with Serena Williams in a bowling alley.
- DirectTV: The "Peyton on Sunday Mornings" series where he’s just bored and grocery shopping.
- Nationwide: The iconic jingle that everyone still hums (even if they don't want to).
- Subway: Part of the "Elite" roster alongside other GOATs.
Is He Still the GOAT of Commercials?
Some people argue that the celebrity-saturated nature of modern Super Bowl ads is getting exhausting. We see 50 stars in 60 minutes. But Peyton stands out because he’s a character actor who happens to be a quarterback. He understands the "bit."
In the 2025 Bud Light spot, the "colostomy humor" and "Jello mold" jokes might feel a bit low-brow for some, but they land because of the delivery. He isn't afraid to look silly. Whether he's in a fanny pack or a tuxedo (like in the NFL's 100th-anniversary ad where he "fumbled" a golden football), he remains the most bankable athlete in marketing history.
What We Can Learn From Peyton’s Strategy
If you're looking at this from a business or marketing perspective, Peyton’s success boils down to three things:
- Consistency: He stays on brand. He’s always the slightly dorky, highly prepared leader.
- Partnerships: He doesn't just do one-off ads; he builds multi-year relationships with brands like Nationwide and AB InBev.
- Humor: He’s never the "cool guy." He’s the guy who is the butt of the joke, which makes people trust him.
How to Watch the Best Manning Ads
If you missed the latest peyton manning super bowl commercial during the live broadcast, you can usually find the extended "director's cuts" on YouTube or the brand’s official newsrooms. For the Bud Light "BMOC" spot, the 60-second version is much better than the 30-second TV cut because you get more of the interaction between Shane Gillis and Peyton.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Marketers
- Watch for the "Easter Eggs": Manning ads are notorious for having small details in the background (like his "Sheriff" nicknames or references to his past teams).
- Follow the Series: Many of these ads, like the Nationwide "Motivatin' Manning" spots, are part of a larger narrative. Watching them in order makes the jokes land better.
- Look at the ROI: Check out sites like iSpot.tv to see how these ads actually perform. Manning consistently ranks in the top tier for "brand likability."
The era of the superstar athlete who is "too cool" for commercials is over. Peyton Manning proved that being the guy in the fanny pack is actually a much better way to stay relevant long after the pads come off.
Check out the official Anheuser-Busch newsroom or Nationwide’s YouTube channel to see the full "Motivatin' Manning" and "BMOC" series in high definition.