Troy Polamalu in a New Coke Zero Ad Reminiscent of Iconic 'Mean Joe Greene' Commercial

CHECK OUT THE 1ST 12 SECONDS OF THE COMMERCIAL

This Sunday, Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu, one of football's most electrifying players, takes on the starring role in "Mean Troy," a new Coke Zero ad that puts an unexpected twist on the iconic Coca-Cola "Mean Joe Greene" commercial.

On February 1, nearly 100 million fans watching NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl XLIII
will see Polamalu shine on the field, but one of the Pro Bowl safety's biggest hits of the day may come in the first Coke Zero ad ever to air during the Super Bowl telecast. In the 30-second spot, Polamalu reprises the part made famous by Pittsburgh Steelers legend "Mean" Joe Greene, but in true Coke Zero style, he takes the role in an entirely different direction.

The first 12 seconds of the new Coke Zero spot are certain to cause double-takes as they mimic the look of the original ad. The scene opens with Polamalu limping down a tunnel to the locker room, followed closely by a young fan who offers an ice-cold Coke Zero to his battered hero. All similarities end there as the action takes a surprising turn to humorously reinforce that with Coke Zero, it's possible to have "Real Coke Taste and Zero Calories."

"The Coca-Cola 'Mean Joe Greene' ad is one of the most famous commercials of all time, so I was blown away when they asked me to be in this new spot," said Polamalu. "Following Joe's performance is tough, but because my Coke Zero ad has a totally unpredictable twist, we got to put a new spin on it. We're keeping the ending a surprise, but I think people will get a kick out of the intensity I display to get my hands on the real Coke taste of Coke Zero."