Cinnamon Toast Crunch | Who are the football players in the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal commercial?

Who are the football players in the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal commercial?

A look at the NFL stars featured in the cereal ad campaign

(By Carmichael Phillip)

Cereal commercials have long tapped into pop culture and celebrity endorsements, and in recent years General Mills has leaned into the football fandom by featuring NFL stars in its Cinnamon Toast Crunch–themed ads. But which football players appear in those commercials? In this article, we’ll map out who shows up, when, and what their roles are.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch TV Spot, ‘Training Camp’ Featuring Amon‑Ra St. Brown & Justin Jefferson

One of the more recent and visible commercials is the “Training Camp” spot, which features Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Justin Jefferson: A star wide receiver (Minnesota Vikings, as of time of writing), Jefferson participates in the ad by bringing his characteristic energy, including nods to his viral “Griddy” end-zone dance.

Amon-Ra St. Brown: Known for his head-stand celebration, St. Brown is also part of this campaign, bringing flair and personality to the ad.

This commercial is part of a broader initiative by General Mills called Cereal Training Camp, in which NFL stars play up their cereal loyalties and signature celebrations.

General Mills TV Spot, ‘Game Day’ Featuring Jason Kelce …

Another notable commercial is the “Game Day” ad, produced by General Mills, which mixes football culture and family rituals.

In this spot, the following personalities appear:

Jason Kelce — Former NFL center and now a media personality. He’s featured in this ad promoting Cinnamon Toast Crunch among other cereal/food items.

T.J. Watt — The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker makes an appearance in the ad, connecting his football identity with game-day food rituals.

J.J. Watt — The older Watt brother and former defensive star joins in as well.

Donna Kelce / Kylie Kelce — While not football players themselves, the ad also includes family members (Donna and Kylie) to give a familial, homey feel to the campaign.

This “Game Day” commercial leans more into the ritual and familial side of sports fandom, combining players with their families and favorite snacks (Cinnamon Toast Crunch being among them) to emphasize that football and breakfast traditions go hand in hand.

Though not strictly a “Cinnamon Toast Crunch-only” commercial, the Kelce brothers—Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce—have been heavily involved in General Mills’ cereal campaigns, including efforts combining several cereals (one of which is Cinnamon Toast Crunch).

In one campaign, they develop a “Kelce Mix” cereal (a mash-up of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, and Reese’s Puffs) and appear in video and advertising content supporting it.

While this is a bit tangential, their involvement means they are often associated with the brand, and their faces sometimes appear near Cinnamon Toast Crunch branding in multi-cereal contexts.

Thus, while not always exclusive to a “CTC-only” ad, the Kelce brothers are still among the more visible NFL personalities connected to these cereal commercials.

Beyond the spots themselves, General Mills has used press materials and media coverage to highlight other players in the Cereal Training Camp campaign.

For example:

Ja’Marr Chase is mentioned in several press releases as part of the broader campaign, though his direct appearance in a pure Cinnamon Toast Crunch ad is less clear.

In the 2025 iteration of the campaign, General Mills announced that Justin Jefferson would bring his “Griddy” dance to Cinnamon Toast Crunch boxes and marketing, as described in press releases.

So even in instances where a player doesn’t appear on screen, they may still be part of branding or supporting content connected to these cereal campaigns.

Summary: Who’s in Which Ad?
Commercial / Campaign NFL Players Featured Role / Notes
“Training Camp” (2025) Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown Centered on promoting Cinnamon Toast Crunch with signature moves and cereal tie-ins

“Game Day” Jason Kelce, T.J. Watt, J.J. Watt More family / ritual–oriented spot, linking football game day with breakfast traditions

Kelce Mix / Multi-cereal campaigns Jason & Travis Kelce Their broader involvement in cereal content associates them with CTC branding even when not in a pure CTC ad

Press/Brand Tie-Ins Ja’Marr Chase (mentioned), others Some players are featured in branding or marketing materials even if not in TV spots

Why use NFL players in cereal ads?

The coupling of cereal and football makes sense from a branding and marketing perspective:

Shared audience: Breakfast and sports both skew toward routines and rituals. Having NFL players in cereal ads helps cereal brands tap into football’s passionate and habitual fan base.

High visibility & star power: NFL stars bring instant recognition, credibility, and cultural relevance—especially when they are known for signature celebrations that can tie into ad themes (Griddy, head-stands, etc.).

Cross-promotion: Players help bring their own audiences, boosting the reach of cereal campaigns. Meanwhile, the cereal brand helps maintain relevance during football season down to the breakfast table.

Personality & storytelling: Commercials featuring athletes can go beyond the product and tell stories of ritual, superstition, family, and fandom. The “Game Day” ad, for instance, blends players with their families to create emotional resonance.

Final Thoughts

If you saw a Cinnamon Toast Crunch commercial with football players, chances are the stars were Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown, particularly in the “Training Camp” spot. In broader campaigns (or cereal mash-ups), Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce, T.J. Watt, and J.J. Watt have also been part of the mix.

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