Sun, Oct 25
Novartis / USA / 2026Film

Relax Your Tight End.

A Super Bowl LX spot in which NFL tight ends relax in full uniform, to tell men that the first step in prostate cancer screening is a simple blood test.

Brand
Novartis
Market
USA
Region
Global
Year
2026

The challenge

Novartis says early detection gives a relative five-year survival rate above 99%, yet 60% of US men aged 45 and over wrongly believe prostate cancer screening requires a digital rectal exam, and an estimated 40.3 million eligible men in the US have never had a PSA blood test.

The idea

For its 'Relax, it's a blood test' initiative as the NFL's official pharmaceutical partner, Novartis and Fallon made a minute-long spot directed by Eric Wareheim. Current and retired tight ends, including George Kittle, Rob Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez, float in a pool, do yoga and have their hair brushed to Enya's 'Only Time' while former coach and prostate cancer survivor Bruce Arians explains: 'They've learned there's a simple, finger-free blood test.' It aired during Super Bowl LX on 8 February 2026, backed by a website with risk tools, screening events with NFL teams and a pop-up at the Super Bowl Experience in San Francisco (Novartis).

Case study source: Novartis Source ↗

Awards

  • Cannes Lions 2026Pharma LionsGrand Prix
  • Clio Awards 2026Clio Health / Pharmaceutical / FilmGrand Clio
  • Cannes 2026: Silver in Pharma

Credits

Production company
PRETTYBIRD
Director
Eric Wareheim
Media
N2
PR
MSL

Related work.

The Sunday Brief

Get the best work and the news that matters, every Sunday.

We’ll only use your email to send the Sunday Brief. Privacy policy