Super Bowl Jesus Ad Focuses on Inner Peace Over Politics

After sparking fierce debate for three years running, the Super Bowl's most talked-about religious ad campaign is taking a gentler approach this Sunday.

The "He Gets Us" campaign returns to Super Bowl 2026 with a 60-second spot called "More" that sidesteps the political firestorms of previous years. Instead of tackling hot-button issues, the ad focuses on something millions wrestle with daily: the exhausting chase for more money, status, and attention.

The commercial opens with rapid-fire scenes of people seeking validation through luxury, thrills, and social media. A voice repeats throughout: "You got to learn how to get more pleasure out of this." Then everything goes quiet. A woman walks peacefully through nature, and text appears: "There's more to life than more. What if Jesus shows us how to find it?"

Dr. Tyler Johnson, chief impact officer for Come Near, the group behind the campaign, says the shift came from listening. "What we've heard from people is that everyone today is inundated with noise," he told Fox News Digital. The team wanted to address the personal struggles of those who are spiritually curious but skeptical.

Previous "He Gets Us" ads drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. In 2024, a controversial spot showed a police officer washing a young Black man's feet and a protester washing the feet of a woman outside an abortion clinic. Conservatives called it "woke," while progressives questioned the money spent on Super Bowl airtime.

This year's message pulls from Romans 12:1-2 and Matthew 6:24, questioning what happens when the pursuit of more becomes our identity. "Jesus doesn't say wanting comfort, beauty, or security is wrong," Johnson explains. "But he questions what happens when the pursuit of more becomes the thing that defines us."

Why This Inspires

In a culture drowning in comparison and consumption, this ad offers permission to step off the treadmill. Whether you're religious or not, the question hits home: What are we actually chasing, and is it making us happy?

The campaign's evolution shows something rare: a willingness to listen and adapt. By turning the mirror inward instead of pointing fingers outward, "He Gets Us" creates space for personal reflection without judgment.

Simon Armour, Come Near's chief creative officer, says the takeaway is simple: "Jesus offers all of us, whoever we are and wherever we are in life, an invitation: there is more to life than chasing more."

The ad is part of a broader "Loaded Words" series launched in December, with spots also planned for the Winter Olympics and FIFA World Cup. Each explores how everyday expectations create noise in our lives and how Jesus might reframe those pressures.

For a campaign that's never shied from the spotlight, this quieter approach might be its loudest statement yet.