Dan Campbell’s Acting Shines in Hilarious Applebee’s Ad (Video)

When WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan visited the Detroit Lions training camp, he humorously suggested that head coach Dan Campbell might have had a future as a professional wrestler. Hogan even gave Campbell a playful nickname, “Dirty Dan” Campbell.

Campbell initially garnered attention during his introductory press conference in 2021. His profile further elevated nationally when the Lions were featured on the 2022 edition of “Hard Knocks.” Now, with the team achieving high-level success on the field, Campbell’s charismatic personality is drawing even more widespread attention.

On Monday, Lions’ running back Jahmyr Gibbs posted a photo on Instagram showing Campbell, or someone who looks remarkably like him, working at Applebee’s. This turned out to be a cleverly orchestrated advanced promo.

As football season approaches, Applebee’s has launched a new ad campaign for their 50-cent boneless wings, and it features none other than Dan Campbell as a waiter taking a customer’s order. Chicken wings and football are a natural combination for many fans, and this ad capitalizes on that sentiment.

In the commercial, Campbell makes the typical pitch for the 50-cent wings, just like any Applebee’s waiter or waitress would. However, he does so while wearing a coach’s headset and covering his mouth with what appears to be a bill holder. When a customer begins to give his order, Campbell humorously insists on a bit of covert behavior.

“Cover your mouth,” Campbell advises, “They could steal your order.”

Following his lead, both customers cover their mouths with their menus while ordering the wings. Campbell, sporting a wry smile, looks pleased with their compliance.

“Perfect. They’ll never see it coming,” he says approvingly.

Interestingly, Campbell appears to have some natural acting skills. Applebee’s choice to feature him in this ad underscores his national recognition and popularity. No NFL fan is likely to wonder, “Who is that?” when they see this commercial.

The Lions’ head coach has become the star of a commercial for a national restaurant chain, promoting one of their most popular deals just as football season kicks off. For fans of the team, this signifies an exciting new era of visibility and success.

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