Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad wins NRB award (and continuing publicity) for Focus on the Family

The 2010 Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mom is the gift that keeps on giving for Focus on the Family. Next month at their convention in Nashville, the National Religious Broadcasters will reportedly name it the year's best -- and why not? The commercial, on view below,...

By Michael Roberts

January 21, 2011

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The 2010 Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mom is the gift that keeps on giving for Focus on the Family. Next month at their convention in Nashville, the National Religious Broadcasters will reportedly name it the year's best -- and why not? The commercial, on view below, certainly did its job, both before and after the big game.

Even before CBS approved the ad for broadcast, its pro-life pitch was already earning attention, with abortion foes championing it sight unseen and Bill O'Reilly devoting a segment of his Fox News show to gripes about it from pro-choice types.

And afterward? Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger maintained that opponents inadvertently helped spread the commercial's pro-life message -- and so did the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, who raved about it on their programs. Indeed, Focus on the Family earned some of its most positive press ever in relation to the spot, as well as increased visits to its website. And when Tim Tebow was drafted by the Broncos, the connection between the Heisman Trophy winner and Colorado Springs-based Focus was reinforced again.

Take a look at the ad here:

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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