The 2021 Super Bowl looked  different this year due to the pandemic. Besides the lack of crowds and celebration at the game, the advertisements broadcasted to the viewers at home looked different too. 

Major companies have decided to sit this Super Bowl out. Budweiser, Hyundai, Planters, and Coca-Cola are just a few of the companies who are not participating this year for various reasons. Budweiser, a beer company, is redirecting the money they would have used for their annual Clydesdales commercials to instead be used to support COVID-19 vaccines awareness. 

The companies who are advertising this year have made an effort to make the commercials correlate with current events. There is a clear theme of social justice and equality in the commercials this year. Another popular theme is COVID-19 related commercials honoring healthcare workers. 

While Super Bowl commercials often have nothing to do with the company that is being advertised, Toyota in particular, strayed far away from the usual car commercial this year. They did, however, fall into the category of commercials that are meant to give hope and tug at heartstrings. The commercial recapped the life story of Jessica Long, a paralympic swimmer. It was not until the very end that there was a short note that Toyaota is the sponsor of the American Paralympic team. 

Some companies decided to center their commercials around characters from the past. Cadillac’s commercial featured Timothe Chamelet as Edgar Sciccorhands, while UberEats brought back the iconic Wayne’s World characters, Wayne and Garth along with guest Cardi B, in attempts to bring attention to small restaurants.

Many people tune in to the Super Bowl not just for the football, but for the new and entertaining commercials. COVID-19 changed the commercials in several ways, however, they still left viewers with a sense of unity, hope, and joy.