• by Les Luchter , January 29, 2024

During his 12-year NFL career, quarterback Kurt Warner (Rams/Cardinals) undoubtedly saw his share of defensive blitzes.

Now there’s a blitz he likes much more. Starting today, Warner goes on the offensive for Bingo Blitz, Playtika’s free mobile game which already has celeb Drew Barrymore onboard under a multiyear contract.

While Barrymore appears in product commercials, Warner is backing -- quarterbacking? -- a Super Bowl-timed sweepstakes that promises to reward a $1 million prize if the defense of either the Kansas City Chiefs or the San Francisco 49ers makes a Big Game-record eight sacks.

Playtika points out that such a feat is “feasible” since eight or more sacks occurred five times during the regular season, but neglects to mention that three of those times came against the hapless New York Giants and the other two against the similarly futile New York Jets and Washington Commanders.

Nonetheless, there’s always hope, even against the Chiefs or 49ers, so through Saturday, anyone with a free Bingo Blitz account, whether existing or newly created, can enter the “Bingo Blitz Big Game” sweepstakes through the game’s app.

“This is the first time the Big Game is being hosted in Las Vegas, which inspired us to show up in a big way given so many of our fans love experiencing the thrill of Vegas through our games, Playtika chief marketing officer Nir Korczak tells Marketing Daily.

Warner, Korczak continues, was already a Bingo Blitz lover and “we knew he would embrace the opportunity to talk about the blitz from his perspective. He spent his career trying to avoid the blitz but now in retirement, he can finally cheer it on.”

That cheering will take place over Warner’s social channels, where he’ll be encouraging his fans to download the Bingo Blitz app, create an account and enter the sweepstakes. The ex-quarterback is also planning to meet with media outlets on February 8.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Playtika will also be hosting Bingo Blitz parties in Vegas, Korczak says.

The brand is also looking forward to seeing Pringles’ Super Bowl commercial since Playtika will soon be announcing its own Pringles partnership. Korczak isn’t revealing any details other than that the deal has been in the works for more than six months and “will allow Bingo Blitz players to interact with the iconic Pringles brand like they never have before.”

Pringles’ Big Game ad, meanwhile is expected to include a new celebrity endorser, with People recently reporting on social media buzz that – largely based on a Pringles post touting a mustachioed man – the mystery guest will be none other than Kansas City Chiefs star and Taylor Swift beau Travis Kelce. As noted, Kelce has become a top celeb endorser, having appeared in ads for Campbell's, Pfizer, Experian and other marketers.

In other Chiefs endorsement news, Brittany Mahomes, wife of quarterback Patrick Mahomes and frequent Swift companion, has teamed with pharma company Kaléo on an awareness campaign about young children and food allergies that recommends Kaléo’s AUVI-q. In a campaign video, Brittany notes that the product is “the only epinephrine auto-injector out there for infants and toddlers.’

Bronze Brittany, the couples’ son, had a severe allergic reaction to peanuts last summer.