Subway Back On Track With Athlete Ambassadors, Starring J.J. Watt And Family
Thursday, March 5, 2020 at 10:00PM By Barry Janoff
March 5, 2020: Subway for many years supported its sandwiches and other products in marketing with athlete ambassadors known as Famous Fans, including Michael Phelps, Ryan Howard, Mike Trout, Robert Griffin III, Nastia Liukin, Pele, Apolo Ohno, Clayton Kershaw and Michael Strahan.
A change in marketing personnel and a serious situation involving company spokesman Jared Fogle moved Subway in a different, non-spokesperson direction.
In 2015, Fogle, who had appeared in advertising for more than a dozen years, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.
Now, the brand is back with athletes, leading off a new campaign with NFL stars and brothers J.J. Watt (Houston Texans), T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Derek Watt (Los Angeles Chargers); as well as their parents, John and Connie.
The effort supports a limited-time promotion offering a free footlong sandwich when ordering one via the Subway app (at select locations).
“It’s not very often you get the opportunity to partner with a brand that literally played a role in your journey almost every step of the way,” J.J., T.J. and Derek said via Subway.
“We started eating Subway back in our youth football days and continued through college and our professional career. It is a privilege to join such an iconic brand, and to do so with our entire family makes it even more special.”
In the first spot of what Subway said would be a series, “What’s Your Favorite,” Dad, having purchased sandwiches, joins the others in a car and hands out the goods to the three brothers in the back seat.
“Turkey, my favorite,” says J.J.
“Turkey’s my favorite,” interjects T.J., starting a mini family feud.
“No it’s not, it’s tuna,” says Derek.
“I changed by favorite,” responds T.J.
At which point, a very annoyed Mom turns around from the driver’s seat and booms, “Hey, knock it off!”
To which the brothers, as if they were six, respond in unison, “Sorry.”
“There were serious flashbacks when filming that part,” J.J. posted to his Twitter page. “Almost too authentic.”
A 30-second spot, "Everyone Has Their Favorite," sees the confusion over favorite Subway sandwiches extending to the family kitchen.
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The three bothers and their dad also appeared in Gatorade commercials, “Beat the Heat,” in 2018.
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