NFL stars doing commercials from the 1970s and 1980s is good times. Like when Gale Sayers used to peddle the wares of a local Chicagoland gas station chain (and looked good while doing it!).

But it’s even better when those old-time NFL stars participate in commercials that you would, never, ever, never see today.

Like, say, Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell trying to convince you to spend your hard-earned money on Skoal chewing tobacco. Or smokeless tobacco. Or dip. Or whatever you want to call it to make it seem not quite as dangerous as actually smoking the tobacco.

Take a look:



A couple things.

1) Gosh, I love the second comment on YouTube from Mathias A, who chimes in with, “my granny takes a bigger pinch.” On second viewing of the commercial, the pinch Campbell takes is, by my untrained eye, rather infinitesimal (though apparently that’s what the tobacco companies recommended).

And another thing: we never actually see Campbell put the tobacco in his mouth. Editing!

2) I declare that my new catchphrase, from here on out, shall be “Got my Skoal. Nothing’s gonna make me move.” Either that, or “Skoal, brother!”

3) It’s a good thing Campbell had a decent-enough football career, because, as an actor and spokesman, he didn’t convince me in the slightest to go out and start dipping. But then again, if I could get any beautiful, bikinied woman who walks by me on the beach by munching on some Skoal, maybe I’d reconsider.

And as a bonus, here’s another Campbell/Skoal commercial with real, live, non-uniformed NFL action.



(Seriously, there was a smokeless tobacco called Happy Days?!?!

Indeed, there was. And, no joking, you could get it in raspberry flavor!)