As the nation geared up for Super Bowl 60, Budweiser once again seized the spotlight with a commercial that felt as grand and nostalgic as the event itself. This year’s ad, titled “American Icons,” paired two enduring symbols of the United States—the Budweiser Clydesdale and the bald eagle—to mark a pair of milestones: Budweiser’s 150th anniversary and America’s upcoming 250th birthday. Set to the unmistakable chords of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” the commercial delivered a cinematic celebration of Americana, patriotism, and the kind of storytelling that has become synonymous with Budweiser’s Super Bowl legacy.
According to USA TODAY, the idea behind the ad was to bring together "two icons, the Budweiser Clydesdale, the American Bald Eagle at the same moment," as Anheuser-Busch’s chief commercial officer Kyle Norrington explained. And what better way to do so than with a stirring soundtrack and a storyline that tugs at the heartstrings? “Free Bird” was, in Norrington’s words, “the only song ever considered for the ad.”
The spot, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Henry-Alex Rubin—known for his work on “Murderball” and “Girl, Interrupted”—opens with a young Clydesdale foal venturing beyond its stable. The foal discovers a small bird beside a fallen tree, and when a storm brews, the horse shelters the bird, forging an unlikely friendship. As the montage progresses, viewers watch the pair grow together, culminating in a breathtaking scene where the now-grown Clydesdale leaps with the bird soaring behind, creating a momentary illusion of a Pegasus. It’s only then that the audience realizes the bird is a bald eagle, a subtle yet powerful nod to American symbolism.
The ad closes with the words “Made of America” emblazoned over a classic Budweiser pour, followed by the brand’s signature tagline: “For 150 years, this Bud’s for you.” The commercial not only celebrates the longevity of the Budweiser brand but also pays homage to the ideals and imagery that many Americans hold dear.
This year’s campaign is part of Budweiser’s ongoing “Made Of America” initiative, which dovetails with the brewer’s sesquicentennial and the country’s 250th birthday. As reported by USA TODAY, Budweiser won last year’s Ad Meter with a Clydesdale-forward spot, earning its first title in a decade and ninth overall—more than any other company. The Clydesdales, with their distinctive white-blazed faces and feathered hooves, have long been a staple of Budweiser’s branding, but this year’s pairing with the bald eagle elevated the symbolism to new heights.
Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville, Missouri, serves as the official breeding and training facility for the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. The ranch welcomed two new foals in the fall of 2025, joining more than 70 Clydesdales on the property. Last year, for the first time in over a decade, a Clydesdale foal starred in Budweiser’s Super Bowl ad, which depicted the young horse completing a keg delivery mission after being deemed too small for the regular hitch. This tradition of storytelling—showcasing underdogs, loyalty, and determination—has been a hallmark of Budweiser’s approach to advertising, especially during the Super Bowl.
But this year, the ad’s focus on patriotism and iconic American imagery was unmistakable. As Adweek noted, “Budweiser went full Americana in its Super Bowl 60 ad, with a story showcasing the unlikely friendship between two ‘American Icons:’ a Clydesdale horse and a bald eagle.” The spot, created by BBDO, sidestepped any overt cultural commentary, a move that seems intentional in light of the fallout from Bud Light’s 2023 partnership with Dylan Mulvaney. Both Budweiser and Bud Light have since anchored themselves to a “safe version of the U.S.,” as Adweek put it, steering clear of anything that might be construed as divisive or controversial.
The commercial’s visuals are undeniably stunning. Sweeping shots of the American heartland, the soft glow of a barn at dawn, and the majestic leap of the Clydesdale all contribute to a sense of grandeur and nostalgia. The inclusion of a real Budweiser barley farmer grounds the ad in authenticity, reminding viewers of the brand’s agricultural roots and longstanding ties to American industry.
Amid all this earnest patriotism, the Super Bowl also saw a playful nod to Budweiser’s advertising legacy from an unexpected source: the galaxy far, far away. The highly anticipated Super Bowl trailer for “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” the first Star Wars movie to hit theaters since 2019, turned out to be a clever parody of Budweiser’s Clydesdale commercials. Instead of the iconic horses, viewers were treated to Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu (affectionately known as Baby Yoda) riding a chariot drawn by Tauntauns—creatures familiar to any Star Wars aficionado. The parody, narrated by Sam Elliott, blended the epic tone of Budweiser’s ads with the whimsical charm of the Star Wars universe.
According to Polygon, the trailer’s unexpected twist delighted fans, even as it left them hungry for real details about the upcoming film. The movie, set to release on May 22, 2026, follows the adventures of Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu as they navigate a galaxy still reeling from the fall of the Empire. The cast includes Sigourney Weaver as Ward, Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt, and Jonny Coyne as an unnamed Imperial Warlord, with appearances from beloved characters like Zeb Orrelios and Dave Filoni’s Trapper Wolf.
The official synopsis, shared by Disney, situates the story after Return of the Jedi but before The Force Awakens, as the fledgling New Republic enlists the help of Din Djarin and Grogu to protect the hard-won peace. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film promises to blend action, heart, and nostalgia—qualities that, coincidentally, also define Budweiser’s latest Super Bowl effort.
In a year marked by both reflection and celebration, Budweiser’s “American Icons” commercial and its unexpected echo in the Star Wars parody captured something essential about the Super Bowl’s place in American culture. It’s a moment when brands, filmmakers, and fans alike come together to tell stories that are at once familiar and fresh, rooted in tradition but open to surprise. And as the Clydesdale and bald eagle soared across screens nationwide, viewers were reminded—however briefly—of the enduring power of symbols and the stories we tell about ourselves.