Come Near’s “He Gets Us” campaign: “What Is Greatness?”
The ad: “He Gets Us,” a campaign run by Christian nonprofit Come Near, debuted at the Super Bowl in 2023. For its third year in a row, the group dropped down from two ads to just one. This year’s ad starred some of the people that Come Near has been working with in New Orleans since it began meeting with local groups two months ago.
The format of the 60-second “What Is Greatness?” ad was familiar to those who’ve seen previous ads from “He Gets Us.” First, it poses a question, and then flashes through a series of still images that demonstrate the response they want people to ruminate on.
How it aimed to touch hearts: The Super Bowl 59 ad aimed to equate simple, quiet acts of kindness with Jesus’ example of greatness. That includes things like donating organs, caring for strangers, supporting immigrants, or caring for people experiencing homelessness. The soundtrack, a Johnny Cash cover of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus,” added to the emotive vibe.
Google Pixel: “Dream Job”
The ad: Google’s first Super Bowl ad of the 2025 game starred its Pixel smartphone. In it, a man seems to be answering mock interview questions for a potential job. After initially hesitating over a question about his most significant job, he describes his experience as a father—but using corporate language. At the end, he begins a real job interview, thanks in part to Google Pixel’s Gemini AI features.
How it aimed to touch hearts: Playing on parenthood-related themes is a pretty safe bet given there are about 63 million parents in the U.S., according to the last census, though that number is going down (it was 66 million in 2010).
And while Google’s no stranger to heartwarming spots, this one probably worked better on parents than it did on everybody else.
Rocket: “Own the Dream”
The ad: The mortgage company Rocket has gone for laughs in the past, but this year took a more serious tone. It shows scene after scene of families enjoying intimate moments in their homes or moving into them. A cover of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” plays in the background, and the spot ends with a play for unity, saying that “everyone deserves their shot at the American dream.”