Helmets Off: How the NFL is Winning with Global Storytelling — with Marissa Solis

In this episode of Giant Stories, we sit down with one of today’s most dynamic marketing leaders, Marissa Solis, Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing for the NFL. From transforming fan engagement to expanding the NFL’s global reach, Marissa shares how one of America’s most iconic brands continues to evolve through the power of storytelling. Episode highlights include: The challenge and possibility of infinite stories: Marissa opens up about what it’s like leading brand and consumer marketing for the NFL—a league that’s both deeply rooted in American culture and rapidly expanding across the globe. Going global with the game: Hear how the NFL tailors its storytelling in markets like the U,K., Germany, and Brazil—each with unique fan cultures and engagement styles. "Helmets Off" and human-first storytelling: Discover how the NFL is revealing the humanity of its players—showing them not just as athletes but as brothers, fathers, and community leaders. Creating a cultural force: From The Simpsons to Joe Burrow at Paris Fashion Week, the NFL is leaning into bold, unexpected collaborations to stay relevant across generations. Flag football and inclusivity: Marissa shares how flag football is opening new doors for youth, especially girls, and helping the league build a global pipeline of future fans and athletes. Marketing to a new generation: Learn how data-driven fan journeys help the NFL craft stories that resonate across age groups, cultural backgrounds, and motivations. What brands get wrong: Marissa shares candid insights about what makes marketing feel stale—and what today’s audiences truly want from brands: authenticity, purpose, and emotional connection. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or a brand marketer, this conversation is packed with insight on how to tell stories that unite people, inspire communities, and stretch far beyond the game. #GiantStoriesPodcast #MediumGiant #NFL #NationalFootballLeague About Marissa Solis Marissa Solis is a magnetic business leader with over 25 years of expertise in business consulting, CPG, retail, and sports marketing. Currently, Marissa leads all global brand and consumer marketing initiatives for the NFL, including all national advertising, traditional and digital media initiatives, in-stadium marketing, and new fan development. A graduate of Georgetown University, she began her career in brand management at Procter & Gamble Latin America, where she led marketing for brands like Ariel, Downy, and Pampers. Marissa spent a few years as a management consultant at Deloitte Consulting, leading change initiatives and communication consulting for public sector clients. In 2003, she took a role in marketing at Pepsico’s Frito-Lay North America Division. During her 18-year tenure at Pepsico, Marissa led numerous brand marketing initiatives and national campaigns for globally renowned food and beverage brands like Doritos and Pepsi. She also held roles in shopper marketing and sales for key PepsiCo retail customers like Walmart, Target, and Costco. In 2017, Marissa led the creation of a cross-functional Hispanic Business Unit—the first of its kind—winning Industry Recognition for work to engage Latinos in key brand initiatives. She went on to lead marketing for brands at Frito-Lay North America, including the coveted relationship with the NFL. She won several Reggies, Sports Clios, and a Grand Prix Cannes Lion for her work on Cheetos, Doritos, and Tostitos brands. In 2021, Marissa was recognized by Adweek as one of the Most Powerful Women in Sports for elevating the football-watching occasion with the NFL and Frito-Lay partnership. In 2023, Marissa and her team won a Sports Emmy for the “She Runs It” Super Bowl campaign featuring star flag football player Diana Flores. Marissa currently serves on the Board of Directors of Consolidated Communications, a leading broadband and business communications provider. She is a new member of the Board of Directors of AIMM (Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing). She also serves as a board member on the North Texas Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Melville Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of minority children in Dallas. She has a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and resides in McKinney, Texas, with her husband, Juan, and 18-year-old daughter Gabriela. Connect with Marissa Solis Marissa’s LinkedIn:   / marissa-solis-2566a3b   NFL Website: https://www.nfl.com/ Connect with John Kiker LinkedIn:   / johnkiker   Giant Stories is a production of Medium Giant and our parent company, the Dallas News Corporation. Interested in learning more about how your brand’s story can be better told and sold? Visit https://MediumGiant.co or send an email to hello@mediumgiant.co Follow Medium Giant Instagram:   / mediumgiant_   LinkedIn:   / mediumgiant