“Nationwide’s decade-long partnership with the National Football League has allowed the brand to engage with some of the most passionate and dedicated fans in the world of sports,” said Ramon Jones, Nationwide’s evp and CMO.
Toyota
After being selected with the “Mr. Irrelevant” final pick in the 2022 Draft by the San Francisco 49ers before leading them to last year’s Super Bowl, Purdy’s now the center of Official NFL Auto Partner Toyota’s push for its new 2025 Crown Signia.
He’s teased a red-carpet draft interview series hosted by 13-year-old Jaxlyn “Jazzy” Guerra, stars in a 30-second spot giving joking tips to players entering the NFL and introduces fans in Detroit to Toyota vehicles and a passport-style fan game at the NFL’s on-site fan festival.
Rocket Mortgage
Detroit’s own Rocket Mortgage drafted Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his brother Taulia—a member of the 2024 NFL Draft class—to talk about the role siblings and others play in helping each other realize their goals through support. Created by agency partners 160/90, the Rocket Mortgage “Dreammate” campaign also features sportscasters Joy Taylor and Taylor Rooks and Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
“We uncovered a common thread between becoming drafted into the NFL and buying a home that served as the foundation for ‘Dreammate,’” said 160/90 global executive creative director Jody Friedericks. “These milestone, dreams-do-come-true moments don’t happen without some support, and everyone can relate to having someone believe in them before they truly unlocked their full potential.”
Sharpie
Sharpie unsurprisingly wants to leave a lasting impression, continuing a campaign launched in February with the University of Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze—the brand’s first Sharpie Rookies of The Year. Penix and Odunze committed to using only Sharpie products at pivotal moments throughout their first year in the NFL, so Newell Brands marker marque has an ad showing them training to write their contract signatures with Sharpie S-Gel pens.
