(Jan. 31, 2006) -- With the Road to Super Bowl XL at an end, NFL Network will pay tribute to the players, fans and families that comprise "NFL Nation" in a 60-second commercial during ABC's Super Bowl XL broadcast on February 5.
For the third consecutive Super Bowl, the 26-month-old cable and satellite channel dedicated to the National Football League and the sport of football will have a spot in the big game -- but this time the spot focuses on fans proudly displaying their team's colors and coming together, with the game and Super Bowl Sunday serving as the unifying force.
The spot is highlighted by groups of football fans in different settings -- from two young boys dressed in Peyton Manning and Michael Vick jerseys watching two older boys playing football in a park, to Chargers fans wearing LaDainian Tomlinson jerseys at the beach, to Lions fans, one in hard hat, at a manufacturing plant.
Among the other scenes within the commercial:
- A meeting of the opposing quarterbacks in the first Super Bowl: Bart Starr and Len Dawson.
- New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi playing with his two sons in the backyard.
- New York Giants running back Tiki Barber and family headed to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.
- Pittsburgh running back Jerome Bettis with his parents.
- A family of fans cheering on their Seahawks.
- Former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, with his Heisman Trophy, watching football.
- Former coach Dick Vermeil with his children and grandchildren.
- A Patriots fan with the Lombardi Trophy.
The "NFL Nation" theme runs through the voiceover, which begins: "We're a nation of football fans," before continuing, "...Tonight we're all connected, at one point in time, by the game. So on this, our most Super Sunday, we just want to say thanks. We're proud to be a part of the family."
NFL Network's ad agency -- Triple Double -- brings together the same team responsible for the previous two Super Bowl commercials, including the critically acclaimed "Tomorrow" spot in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the first television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, click here.
