Who is the football player in the Advil commercial?
Uncovering the athlete behind the ad
(By Carmichael Phillip)
Who is featured in the modern Advil NFL campaign?
In the recent Advil advertising campaign tied to the NFL (particularly in Canada), the featured football player is Chase Brown, a running back for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Chase Brown hails from London, Ontario, Canada, and was chosen by Advil to “tackle pain” in their marketing push.
Why Chase Brown was selected for the campaign
Brown’s Canadian roots and his rising profile in the NFL made him a strong candidate for Advil’s cross-border promotional push.
Advil’s campaign is themed around “tackling pain,” drawing a parallel between football and the product’s promise of relieving aches, soreness, and joint discomfort.
Moreover, this campaign is part of a larger partnership: Advil is the “official pain relief partner” of the NFL in Canada, which helps reinforce the connection to a prominent Canadian NFL athlete like Brown.
Historical Advil commercials featuring football players
Advil’s advertising history includes older TV spots featuring well-known players. For example, in the 1990s, there’s a commercial featuring Steve Young, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback.
Another vintage commercial shows Nolan Ryan (though he is a baseball player, not a football player).
These older ads sometimes confuse viewers because famous athletes from various sports were used in promotional spots. But in the current NFL-linked campaign, the face is clearly Chase Brown.
What you should know about Chase Brown
Chase Brown was born in Canada and played college football before making his way to the NFL.
He’s recognized for being a “homegrown” talent in the Canadian context, which adds marketing appeal: he bridges the NFL brand with Canadian fans.
In the ads, Brown is shown confronting athletic strain, injury, or soreness, with the message that Advil can help one get back into the game. The campaign imagery aligns with his on-field persona: tough, active, resilient.
Common misconceptions & why they arise
Because Advil has used various athlete endorsements over the years, some viewers might remember the Steve Young or Nolan Ryan ads and misattribute the modern spot to them. Also, older commercials are sometimes re-aired or shared in snippets online, which adds to confusion.
Additionally, when ads cross borders or are adapted for local markets, agencies sometimes swap athletes or local celebrities. Here, the Canadian edition features Chase Brown, which may differ from U.S. versions.
Finally, many fan comments and social media discussions refer to “that football player in the Advil ad,” but rarely mention names — leading to speculation. A quick search now reveals credible sources identifying Brown.
Final thoughts: The answer in 2025
If you’ve recently seen an Advil ad tied to the NFL and wondered “Who is that football player?”, the modern campaign’s face is Chase Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals, selected by Advil as part of a Canada-focused NFL marketing partnership.
While older commercials featured names like Steve Young, those belong to a previous era of athlete endorsements and should not be conflated with the current campaign.
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