Dan Campbell, C.J. Stroud & Ashton Jeanty Star in Applebee’s “Ultimate Trio” Ads

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell is back in the spotlight—this time as head shift manager in Applebee’s latest ad campaign. After winning fans over as an assistant shift manager in last year’s commercials, Campbell’s role has been “promoted” to include coaching Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty.

Together, the trio brings energy and humor to Applebee’s promotion of its Ultimate Trio appetizer deal. While last year’s ads leaned heavily on Campbell’s motivational coach persona, this year shifts focus toward the restaurant’s expanded menu—though Campbell’s charisma still shines.

According to ESPN, Campbell’s natural delivery required minimal takes and quickly trended across social media—making him a perfect choice for Applebee’s encore campaign.