Eagles' Jalen Hurts Makes History as 1st NFL Player to Star in Sprite Commercial

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has added a historic endorsement deal to his growing portfolio in the wake of leading his team to a victory in Super Bowl 59.

Hurts is the first NFL player to appear in a Sprite commercial as part of the soft drink's revamped "Obey Your Thirst" campaign.

“Being a part of the next ‘Obey Your Thirst’ campaign is really special,” Hurts told Cydney Lee of ADWEEK via email about working with Sprite. “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 "Obey Your Thirst" campaign began in 1994 with NBA legend Grant Hill as the key spokesperson for the brand. It continued over the years with various athletes and musicians, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, LL Cool J and A Tribe Called Quest, featured in television and print advertisements.

Sprite moved away from the slogan in 2019 in favor of "Thirst for Yours" and continuing to use figures from the hip-hop world in advertising.

The iconic campaign was revived in April 2024 with Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards and Olympic gold medalist Sha’Carri Richardson featured in different television spots.

Brian Rogers, Sprite's senior brand director, explained at the time why the decision was made to bring "Obey Your Thirst" back:

"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' advertisement parodies his usual stoic demeanor during press conferences. The reporter asking him questions, named "Thirsten A. Sip," is a clever homage to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

Sprite's new ad campaign with Hurts comes as the Eagles are just over five weeks away from kicking off defense of their Super Bowl title by hosting the Dallas Cowboys in the 2025 season opener on Sept. 4.