Pfizer is teaming up with quarterback Fernando Mendoza to launch the next phase of its cancer awareness program.
Back in February, Pfizer turned to one of the most iconic pep speeches of all time as inspiration for its latest campaign. This commitment was embodied in an ad that premiered on World Cancer Day and borrowed several excerpts from an impassioned speech given by Al Pacino’s coach Tony D’Amato in the 1999 sports drama Any Given Sunday.
Pfizer’s central message builds on D’Amato’s declaration that both football and life are “a game of centimeters” and argues that cancer is no different.
Now, two months after its launch, Pfizer has tapped Fernando Mendoza to further spread its message.
In an Instagram post, he wrote: “We know that in football, every inch counts. The same is true in the fight against cancer. We’re proud to partner with Pfizer to remind everyone that early detection makes a big difference. Talk to your doctor and schedule your cancer screening at PfizerForAll.com/Screenings.”
A new ad with a similar message began running this week, comparing the need for athletes like Mendoza to “show up” every day to win in the same spirit held by Pfizer’s scientists and doctors fighting cancer.
The campaign adds to a broader effort by U.S. drug companies to encourage more people to enroll in screening tests that can detect cancers earlier, when they are often more treatable.
Pfizer sells several cancer products, including Ibrance for breast cancer, Xtandi for prostate cancer, and Inrita for kidney cancer.
For drug companies, enhanced screening could help them detect more cancers earlier, expanding the number of patients they can target with the drugs they sell.
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Mendoza, 22, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday. He was considered the favorite to be No. 1 overall after winning the Heisman Trophy last season.
Earlier this week, he also announced the launch of the Mendoza Family Foundation in partnership with the National MS Society. His mother Elsa has been diagnosed with the disease.
This is not Pfizer’s first foray into soccer. In 2023, the company also partnered with Travis Kelce for a vaccine campaign.
Earlier this month, Pfizer also signed actor, producer and artist Lucy Liu. Lucy Liu took to Instagram to urge people to get tested for cancer.
