Picture this: It’s 2025, and the NFL is buzzing louder than an X thread on a hot-button topic. The slogan of the year, “Super Bowl 2025, Eat The Rich,” isn’t just a catchy tagline—it’s practically the rallying cry for a new kind of protest. With 51 ads set to air, that astronomical figure roughly adds up to a staggering $357M—a payday that many wonder if Roger Goodell’s playbook has more to do with Wall Street than the gridiron. And let’s be real: when you’re setting your sight for such a high figure, it’s hard not to make the ultimate power move.

Over 30K Americans have already latched onto a Reddit post that declares, “It costs $7 million for 30 seconds of ad space during the Super Bowl. If we don’t watch, they lose money. Hit them in the wallet, boycott the Super Bowl.” Not just that, some of the ads have reportedly costed close to $8 million as well. So, there is a high possibility that we can be looking at a price higher than $357 million.

Since stepping into the Commissioner’s shoes in 2006, Roger Goodell has built a legacy as unforgettable as any Marvel antihero (minus the tragic backstory, plus a dash of billionaire swagger).

Even past boycotts—from the Saints’ discontent in 2019 to the Arizona protests in 1993—remind us that when the NFL makes a move, it’s more than just a game; it’s a cultural moment. So, as the clock winds down to Super Bowl LIX on Feb 9, 2025, the narrative is clear: while 30K+ Americans might be hitting pause on their remote controls to send a message to the NFL’s fat wallet, the league’s powerhouse, Goodell, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Imagine if the NFL were a blockbuster franchise and Goodell the box office mogul: skipping the movie isn’t just a loss of entertainment—it’s a direct hit to the profit margins. But let’s be real—Super Bowl Sunday is about the ads. This year’s lineup? A mashup of nostalgia and “Wait, why is that celeb here?!” Hellmann resurrected When Harry Met Sally’s iconic diner scene with Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. Cue Ryan’s fake… ahem… enthusiasm, followed by Sydney Sweeney popping in like, “Hey, I’m here for the mayo?” Adweek’s Alison Weissbrot called it “fan-adored,” while experts side-eyed Sweeney’s cameo harder than The Office’s Michael Scott at a Diwali party.

Uber Eats tossed Matthew McConaughey, Martha Stewart, and Charli XCX into a blender. Stewart makes a Caesar salad while McConaughey drawls, “Alright, alright, alright?” Sure, why not? Stella Artois paired David Beckham and Matt Damon as ”twin brothers”—a plot twist M. Night Shyamalan would envy. And Dunkin’? Ben Affleck and Jeremy Strong basically reenacted Succession over iced coffee. “It’s the Super Bowl playbook,” shrugged ad guru Magda Tomaszewski. “Nostalgia, celebs, animals. Rinse, repeat.” Will Chiefs get the 3-Peat?

Here’s where the plot thickens like a well-aged NFL drama…

Roger Goodell’s retirement stance

When Commissioner Goodell signed a new contract eight years ago, former NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart declared it would be his final deal. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. And if Lockhart’s crystal ball is anything to go by, the next chapter might not feature a retirement either.

With two years left on his deal, insiders—including ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr.—are tossing out lines that are as definitive as they are unapologetic: “What I’ve heard is that he isn’t going anywhere. Maybe that’s not surprising when you consider how much money he’s making and how good everything is going. . . . He’s enjoying the job. The business is almost on autopilot. I would be surprised if Roger retires after the conclusion of his current contract.” Goodell isn’t just riding a wave; he’s surfing a tsunami of revenue and owner approval.

Setting a sky-high target of $25B in annual revenues by 2027, he’s been as unflappable as Walter White in his prime. As the NFL’s financial juggernaut keeps chugging along, so does its strategic play to extract every last cent from the Super Bowl spectacle. The exorbitant ad rates have sparked a digital rebellion among viewers, with calls to boycott the event as a statement against the extravagance of corporate spending.

Beyond the controversies over ad dollars, the Super Bowl remains the cultural event of the year, pulling in not just football fanatics but also music lovers and pop culture aficionados. Are you excited for the Super Bowl? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.