A simple idea can sometimes be the hardest to execute. This minute-long tribute to the iconic football quarterback Patrick Mahomes inspires all of us to strive for the impossible. The director, who is known for crafting deeply moving narratives in 60 seconds or less, uses a simplistic approach to take the viewer back to infancy, a time when everything truly is impossible. Blending stock footage with original scenes, which included casting a handful of babies and toddlers to achieve the desired montage of diverse childhood experiences, ‘The Original Impossible’ is a universally-resonating story that encourages dreaming big (at any age).

Super Bowl Sunday is, undoubtedly, the biggest day for the advertising industry in the United States. According to NPR (National Public Radio), the going rate for 30 seconds of airtime cost $7 million. With that price tag comes a lot of eyeballs; in 2023, Nielsen analytics and the NFL reported that Super Bowl LVIII reached approximately 210 million viewers. Circumventing the traditional advertising experience, Adidas went a different route to get their message seen during the Big Game amidst all of the glamorous, high-profile, celebrity-filled spots. Their tribute spot to Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback who won his second Super Bowl that Sunday, broke before the game on Adidas’ social channels. The impact of the spot wasn’t just a one-day affair, ‘The Original Impossible’ continued to run in digital and on social media, supported by ‘Impossible is Nothing’-themed outdoor ads in Arizona, Kansas City, and on the Portland, Oregon, Adidas campus. Adidas proved it didn’t need a multi-million dollar ad spend to make an impact. The campaign went on to reap acclaim throughout the year, including being named Ad Age's Editors pick and winning multiple awards, including a Bronze Cannes Lion for Film.

Adidas inspires audiences to strive for the impossible in their Super Bowl-adjacent campaign featuring the iconic Patrick Mahomes, titled 'The Original Impossible.' Using a seamless blend of directed and sourced footage set to a wry, witty voiceover, the film takes us on a journey through our collective childhoods to explore how when we start out in life, we’re told there’s nothing we can do – we are the original impossible.

‘The Original Impossible’ acts as a tribute spot to Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback who won his second Super Bowl in 2023, just days after picking up his second NFL MVP award. The ad, which premiered before the big game on Adidas’ social channels, actually doesn’t show much of the 27-year-old Quarterback at all. Instead, it’s filled with footage of kids whose fine motor skills are not exactly developed, and who can only dream of one day becoming as physically dominating as Mahomes. The creative idea came from Mahomes’ preternatural ability as a youngster. He played varsity basketball, football, and baseball in high school, and quite possibly could have turned pro in any of the three sports. And with his staggering accomplishments already in his still-young NFL career, the agency wondered if there was ever a time when he couldn’t do the impossible—thus, the focus on the kids.

When constructing a tribute film to an athlete, it’s assumed that the visual will include physically-demanding action shots, impressive statistics, and other highlights from the celebrated career of the sportsman. The director of ‘The Original Impossible’ decided to do things differently. Instead, this campaign, which celebrates one of Adidas’ greatest athletes of all time, actually doesn’t show much of the 27-year-old Quarterback at all. This unconventional approach is what makes ‘The Original Impossible’ stand out as a film that everyone can be inspired by. We were all toddlers once, with big dreams, no fear, and steadfast determination to accomplish a goal. Using young children as the focal point, the director crafted a compelling–and humorous–narrative that was accessible to all audiences. By watching kids whose fine motor skills are not exactly developed, we see younger versions of ourselves who continue to dream about obtaining the strength, confidence, and success of Mahomes.