‘The Original Impossible’ acts as a tribute spot to Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback who won his second Super Bowl in 2023, just days after picking up his second NFL MVP award. The ad, which premiered before the big game on Adidas’ social channels, actually doesn’t show much of the 27-year-old Quarterback at all. Instead, it’s filled with footage of kids whose fine motor skills are not exactly developed, and who can only dream of one day becoming as physically dominating as Mahomes. The creative idea came from Mahomes’ preternatural ability as a youngster. He played varsity basketball, football, and baseball in high school, and quite possibly could have turned pro in any of the three sports. And with his staggering accomplishments already in his still-young NFL career, the agency wondered if there was ever a time when he couldn’t do the impossible—thus, the focus on the kids.

When constructing a tribute film to an athlete, it’s assumed that the visual will include physically-demanding action shots, impressive statistics, and other highlights from the celebrated career of the sportsman. The director of ‘The Original Impossible’ decided to do things differently. Instead, this campaign, which celebrates one of Adidas’ greatest athletes of all time, actually doesn’t show much of the 27-year-old Quarterback at all. This unconventional approach is what makes ‘The Original Impossible’ stand out as a film that everyone can be inspired by. We were all toddlers once, with big dreams, no fear, and steadfast determination to accomplish a goal. Using young children as the focal point, the director crafted a compelling–and humorous–narrative that was accessible to all audiences. By watching kids whose fine motor skills are not exactly developed, we see younger versions of ourselves who continue to dream about obtaining the strength, confidence, and success of Mahomes.