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South Valley Riverton Journal

Gordon wins Super Bowl’s best commercial

Feb 20, 2019 11:01AM ● By Greg James

Sam Gordon was the first female to be recognized by the NFL at its honors assembly. (photo courtesy of Utah Girls Tackle Football League)

By Greg James |  [email protected] 

Herriman resident Sam Gordon stole the spotlight on Super Bowl Sunday.

The two-minute commercial aired shortly after the halftime show. National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell is in the midst of giving a rather dull speech welcoming banquet goers to the 100th season of the league. Marshawn Lynch, a running back in the league, leans over in his chair to get a swipe of frosting from an elaborately decorated cake. He falls into the cake and knocks a gold painted football from the top. 

The ball rolling on the ground begins a deluge of players passing, tackling and running with the ball around the banquet room. The spot includes NFL greats such as Joe Montana, Tom Brady and Franco Harris. At one point the ball flies through the air and lands in Gordon’s hands.

The San Francisco 49ers defensive back Richard Sherman walks to her and asks for the ball. 

She responds, “You want this? Come and get it.” At which point she spins to her left and pitches the ball to New York Giants rookie Saqoun Barkley. 

Her appearance in the commercial dressed in a majestic red dress ends the spot welcoming the leagues fans to the next 100 years. 

Gordon was not the only female football participant to be featured in ads during the game. Toyota ran a spot that included Toni Harris, who played football at East Los Angeles College, and CBS ran an announcement for Girls Inc.—team of young girls lined up against the New York Giants.

It was not her first time to participate with the NFL. She was given the inaugural NFL Game Changer Award at the NFL Honors awards ceremony before last year's Super Bowl. The award is not limited to players and coaches. It is given to someone who effects positive change in the world of football. She was the first recipient of the award and the first female to be honored by the NFL.

Gordon was part of a group that organized the Utah Girls Tackle Football League in 2015, and her team, the Herriman Mustangs, won the first high school state championship in 2017.  

The league was the first all-girls league in the country. It is currently accepting registrations for the upcoming season. The teams begin play in March. All girls 4th through 12th grades play on district teams divide into three age groups.

For more information, visit the league website, utahgirlstacklefootball.com.