NFL opener proves Sooners rule the league with star-studded ad lineup

The faces of the NFL either came from Donna Kelce or Norman, Oklahoma, apparently.

As Sooners on SI's John Hoover pointed out Thursday night, four different Oklahoma Sooners were featured in different commercials during opening night of the 2025 NFL season when the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys got things going, including Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, Lane Johnson and CeeDee Lamb. And even more familar faces will pop up in ads as the season goes on.

Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, CeeDee Lamb, Lane Johnson in NFL opening night commercials

Mayfield was the only one not playing on Thursday night as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' quarterback. Johnson, though, was blocking for Hurts for the Eagles, while Lamb was catching passes for the Cowboys. But even though Mayfield doesn't see the field until Sunday and even when the game was on a commercial break, the face of a Sooner and the league could still be seen.

Popeyes has started an entirely new campaign centered around Mayfield that launched last month.

Sprite tabbed the other former OU quarterback, and peep what was in Hurts' hand when he arrived to the stadium for Week 1. Hurts recently signed a multi-year deal and became the first NFL player to appear in a Sprite commercial.

But nothing will ever top Hurts' Jordan ad after winning the Super Bowl. Michael Jordan was actually in the house Thursday night as Hurts debuted new Air Jordan 11 “LoveHurts” cleats and even did the famous Jordan shrug after scoring his first touchdown.

Johnson was featured in a USAA ad, hopefully replacing Rob Gronkowski.

And Lamb has started a new campaign with Old Spice.

This was just opening night of the NFL. We'll see these commercials and plenty more by the Super Bowl in February, when Sooners will surely be playing in the game and appearing in ads.

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