Gaming superstars Kyle ‘Bugha’ Giersdorf and Timothy ‘TimTheTatman’ Betar were center stage during NFL’s night of nights, both getting cameo appearances on advertisements played throughout the game.
Getting into a Super Bowl ad is a big deal. It’s one of the biggest events of the year, with companies around the world spending tens of millions just to get a slot during the sporting event’s half-time show.
With the rise of gaming in mainstream culture, and more collaborations between traditional sports and esports, it was only a matter of time before streamers and other personalities would start appearing in the special advertisements.
While Tyler ‘Ninja‘ Blevins paved the way in years gone by, this Super Bowl, it was Bugha and TimTheTatman’s time to shine over the hallowed turf.
Bugha made his Super Bowl appearance during the half-time show for Sabra, a hummus brand based in America. Promoting the brand’s #HowImuss campaign, Bugha was on screen for a split second, kitted out in a yellow tracksuit mashing a controller.
The Fortnite World Cup 2019 solos champion said one word in his appearance at the Super Bowl — “bananas.”
https://twitter.com/bugha/status/1224138380281286656
TimTheTatman had a slightly longer lline for his NFL 100 cameo, which appeared before kick-off. The Twitch streamer sat on a tractor, looking at a kid running across the paddock with a football, telling them to “take it to the house kid.”
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Betar starred alongside a host of American sporting stars, including two-time FIFA World Women’s Player of the Year Carli Lloyd and female NFL player Toni Harris.
https://twitter.com/thecheckdown/status/1224129191945342976
Ninja was the first gaming personality to appear in a Super Bowl ad, featuring in the NFL 100 video back in 2019 as the New England Patriots cemented their lasting NFL dynasty with a 13–3 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
He made more of an appearance than TimTheTatman did 12 months later, which capped off a stellar year for the Halo pro turned Fortnite streamer.
So happy to share with you guys one of the many amazing things we'v e been working on and why I've been traveling so much. Catch me in the #NFL100 #SBLIIIcommercial right before halftime. pic.twitter.com/FEAQSdsYMP
— Ninja (@Ninja) January 31, 2019
Bugha and TimTheTatman’s appearances in 2020 are only a sign of what’s to come for the world’s biggest gamers in the next few years. As the industry becomes more mainstream, big names on Twitch and other streaming platforms will be given more time in the spotlight.
Super Bowl LIV wrapped up the 2019-2020 NFL season, with the Kansas City Chiefs taking home their first title in franchise history 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers.