Applebee's is doubling down on football fever this NFL season, and it's recruited some of the game's familiar faces to bring its latest offering to the huddle. Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell have teamed up to pitch the restaurant chain's new "Ultimate Trio" deal, in a commercial that plays up Jeanty's gridiron skills and Campbell's authoritative presence. "All right, Jeanty, time to learn the option play," Campbell instructs as the ad kicks off, according to ClutchPoints.
In the ad, which also features Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, Jeanty confidently replies, "Come on, coach, I know how to run the option," as mentioned on ClutchPoints. And run he does, right through a playbook of Applebee's menu choices, which according to Campbell, boasts "over 80,000" combinations. For the wallet-friendly price of $14.99, customers are invited to pick three appetizers and three dipping sauces, which could make for an ideal spread for upcoming Sunday football sessions. This creative approach to 'options' not only mirrors Jeanty's on-field versatility but also underscores the sheer variety of the Applebee’s menu, as reported by News 3 LV.
Jeanty, fresh from his standout season with Boise State where he rushed for over 2,600 yards and 29 touchdowns, made his NFL mark with a preseason touchdown for the Raiders against the San Francisco 49ers. A sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, his entry into the NFL is as splashy as it gets. Meanwhile, Campbell, who transitioned to coaching after an 11-year stint as an NFL tight end, is in the limelight for reasons beyond football strategy. He's taken on the mantle of not just an NFL coach, but also an Applebee’s pitchman, further cementing his diverse portfolio of roles both in and out of the sports arena.
It's worth mentioning that Campbell's coaching career has seen its ebbs and flows. After a rocky 3-13-1 start with the Lions in his first season as head coach, he managed to steer the team to playoff appearances in the following two seasons. In 2024, the Lions had an impressive 15-2 run, only to fall short against the Washington Commanders in an NFC Divisional Round game. Through the lens of this commercial, however, Campbell is casting plays of another nature, engaging a nationwide audience as he runs down the compelling options found within an Applebee’s menu. "There are over 80,000," he emphasizes on News 3 LV.
