Nissan's Rollicking 'Heisman House' Rolls Into Its Ninth Season on ESPN

Kyler Murray’s in the house. And he got all dressed up for the occasion.

The Arizona Cardinals quarterback and most recent Heisman Trophy winner joins eight other prior recipients of college football’s most prestigious prize in the ninth edition of Nissan’s “Heisman House” campaign.

Dude dons a natty pinstriped suit while the other gridiron greats sport their college jerseys in the spot below, which dropped Tuesday night during ESPN’s coverage of the UCLA vs. Cincinnati game:

As usual, it’s all about hanging out at a sumptuous mansion (the Heisman House), with lots of antics and cars, in the series of spots running across ESPN as part of Nissan’s 14-year Heisman Memorial Trophy Award sponsorship.

Along with Murray ($35 million over four years and that’s how he dresses?), 1956 Heisman honoree Paul Hornung joins the team this year, which also includes returning House members Baker Mayfield, Derrick Henry, Marcus Mariota, Tim Tebow, Eddie George, Bo Jackson and Tim Brown.

“The Nissan cars and technology play their biggest role ever,” says Stephen Lum, creative director at Nissan agency TBWAChiatDay Los Angeles. “We’ve also leaned in to situations and comedy that rely more heavily on the ensemble cast.” 

Directors Anthony and Joseph Russo—best known for sitcom Arrested Development (on which they won an Emmy) and Marvel blockbusters including Avengers: Endgame (the highest grossing film ever!)—conjure up a fast-moving comic vibe, whether the guys are trying to start up a Nissan, or park one of the vehicles: 

“We tried to flesh out and define each of the guys’ personalities, so that in every situation we put them in, their motivation or reaction made sense in relation to the rest of the cast,” says Lum.

One scene proved smashingly memorable. “We only needed one take for Bo’s stunt double to run through the [glass] door,” Lum says. “We didn’t prepare the guys for what was going to happen, so their reaction in the spot is genuine.”

Does Bo know home improvement?

As in past House campaigns, Nissan lets fans vote for their favorite Heisman Trophy candidates via Twitter or at nissanheismanhouse.com. Plus, a simulated Heisman House hits the road for a campus tour starting on Saturday in Austin, Texas, for the LSU vs. Texas game. 

CREDITS

Client – Nissan

Agency – TBWAChiatDay Los Angeles
CCO – Renato Fernandez
ECD – Al Merry
CD – Liz Cartwright
CD – Stephen Lum
Sr. Copywriter – Adam Aceino
Sr. Art Director – Josh McCrary
Copywriter – Ryan Siepert
Art Director – Dan Hales
Copywriter – Stew Tribe
Art Director – Alex Holm
Copywriter – Avi Steinbach
Managing Director – Scott Kavanaugh
Business Lead – Val Tyll
Business Director – Tony Burman
Business Supervisor – Sharon Hsu
Assistant Business Manager- Raquel Devariel
Associate Strategy Director – Corianda Dimes
Supervising Sr. Planner – Jared Rosen
Sr. Producer – Chris Spencer
Producer – Garrison Askew
Associate Producer – Michael Schroepfer
Director of Business Affairs – Robin Rossi
Steve Walsh – Media Business Lead
Lauren Natale – Media Business Manager

ESPN Creative Works
Brett Becks – Director of CW Integration
Joe Knaus – Director of CW Strategy
Heisman Trust
Rob Whalen