Football fans who have been paying attention to the ads between downs will know the spokesperson for the Head & Shoulders commercials, but those whose knowledge of the NFL is slightly lacking (or begins post-2014) may be wondering, “Who is Tiny Troy?” The anti-dandruff and non-dandruff shampoo Head & Shoulders (H&S), owned by the multinational company Procter & Gamble, is synonymous with the solution to the skin condition that causes dry scalps to flake.
Troy Polamalu is a former American football safety who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL for 12 years. In that time, he earned an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, won two Super Bowls, went to eight Pro Bowls, entered the Steelers Hall of Honor, was part of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, and was the cover athlete for one of the best Madden video games, Madden NFL 10. Plus, he invented jumping over the line before the play starts, which has altered an aspect of the game in the showiest way possible.
“Tiny” Troy Polamalu Has Been In Several Head & Shoulders Commercials
Polamalu Is A Longtime Spokesperson For The Shampoo Brand
Head & Shoulders made a brilliant marketing move when they selected Polamalu to be their spokesperson, and he’s as synonymous with the brand as dandruff itself. Polamalu’s long flowing hair has been a part of his persona since he entered the NFL. He’s instantly recognizable with his locks flowing out the back of his helmet and down his back. After Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson pulled him down by the hair for a tackle (a legal maneuver), Polamalu didn’t cut it; he just insured it for $1 million (via BBC). It’s that important to him.
From within a zoomed-in version of the woman’s scalp, “Tiny Troy” discusses the benefits of the shampoo.
Polamalu has been in Head & Shoulders commercials for years, but recently he’s appeared as “Tiny Troy”, a shrunk-down version of himself. In the commercial, a woman is having her hair washed in a salon and the attendant recommends she use Head & Shoulders shampoo every time she showers. Tiny Troy’s voice pipes up from within the woman’s hair, and the attendant asks the miniature spokesman what he thinks. From within a zoomed-in version of the woman’s scalp, “Tiny Troy” discusses the benefits of the shampoo. The scene then cuts to him sitting in the salon, life-sized, reading a magazine.
It’s a very effective commercial. Polamalu is game for the strangest ad ideas and always looks like he’s having a good time. As a longtime spokesperson for the brand with instantly recognizable long, wavy hair, he’s the exact type of person someone would trust with haircare recommendations.
Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes Has Also Represented Head & Shoulders
Polamalu And Mahomes Are A Spokesperson Team
“Tiny Troy” isn’t the only NFL star in the hair salon Head & Shoulders ad. H&S seems to prefer athletes over celebrity actors for their commercials because the attendant in the salon is played by none other than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This is not the first time Polamalu and Mahomes have appeared together in a Head & Shoulders commercial. Mahomes usually plays the straight man to Polamalu’s more excitable character, but he brings his own lightness and energy to the role, and the two play off each other well.
“Tiny” Troy Polamalu’s best-known endorsement is for Head & Shoulders, but Mahomes has even more products he’s spoken about. He’s been a part of many ad campaigns, including ones for State Farm, Subway, DirectTV, and, memorably, Hunt’s Ketchup, due to his oft-spoken-about love for the condiment. With charm to burn, these two charismatic athletes definitely have a future in commercials that may very well outlast their football careers.
Other Iconic Sports Spokespeople
Michael Jordan, Deion Sanders, & More
Television commercials are one of the best ways for athletes to make money. This has been going on for years, and there is no one more iconic in the world of sports spokespeople than Michael Jordan. He put the Nike brand on his shoulders during his playing days and made more money on his Nike deal than he ever made in his NBA contracts. The story was so iconic that it was even made into a movie starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon called Air in 2023.
This continues to this day. The biggest change in college football are the NIL deals, which means college athletes in all sports can sign endorsement deals and make money from businesses by becoming their spokesperson. Many of these are local commercials, but there are others that have gone nationwide, such as 2024 NFL rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who has joined the Dr. Pepper commercials in its Fansville campaign with former college football legend Brian Bosworth or women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark’s State Farm ads.
NFL Hall of Fame star Deion Sanders teaming up with former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban for Aflac commercials.
One of the most famous commercials airing in the 2024 football season sees NFL Hall of Fame star Deion Sanders teaming up with former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban for Aflac commercials. The two work with the Aflac duck and do everything from spoofing Sanders’ iconic Prime Time catchphrase to Saban’s iconic coaching career.
On top of people like Tiny Troy, it is easy to see athletes appear in commercials all the time in today’s society. The pizza restaurant Little Caesars has three NFL stars as spokespeople in commercials, including George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers), Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions), and Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings). NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning has taken on several TV gigs, from Nationwide Insurance to Subway.
