After leading his team to a victory in Super Bowl LIX, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has made history as the first NFL player to appear in a Sprite commercial.
The commercial is part of the soft drink’s revamped “Obey Your Thirst” campaign which was launched in 1994 with NBA legend Grant Hill as the major spokesperson for the brand.
The campaign continued in subsequent years, featuring various athletes and musicians, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, LL Cool J and A Tribe Called Quest.
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Sprite abandoned the slogan in 2019 and went in for “Thirst for Yours” while continuing to use hip-hop figures in advertising.
The “Obey Your Thirst” campaign returned in April 2024, featuring Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards and Olympian Sha’Carri Richardson.
Brian Rogers, Sprite’s senior brand director, shared at the time why the iconic campaign was revived.
“The ‘be true to you’ spirit of Obey Your Thirst resonated with consumers in 1994, and we’re confident it will resonate in 2024. Because now more than ever, younger generations are bombarded with messages from about who they should be and how they should behave. Sprite is the antidote to today’s intense cultural heat—expectations, pressures, opinions, advice and noise—as a brand that empowers fans to challenge the status quo and embody their authentic selves.”
Hurts is elated to be a part of the campaign. “Being a part of the next ‘Obey Your Thirst’ campaign is really special,” the NFL star told Cydney Lee of ADWEEK. “This partnership brings back a lot of childhood nostalgia and not only speaks to my core values, but to the standards I’ve set for myself throughout my career—showing up and being yourself is always enough.”
The Texan’s work with Sprite comes as the Eagles get ready to kick off their Super Bowl title defense against the Cowboys on September 4.
Jalen Hurts is the first NFL player to endorse Sprite. pic.twitter.com/Lhnin7QVje
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 28, 2025
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