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Dan Marino just got a brand-new “what if?” moment, and it comes with a real cardboard chase attached.
Topps launched its latest creative spot, titled “Mari-Knows,” built around an alternate-universe premise where the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback becomes the premier two-sport star of the 1980s. The campaign ties directly to 2025 Bowman Draft Baseball, which includes Marino’s first-ever Bowman baseball card as a Kansas City Royals draftee.
That part isn’t totally fictional: Marino was drafted by the Royals in the 4th round of the 1979 MLB Draft, but chose football instead.
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“Mari-Knows” imagines Marino as an ‘80s everywhere superstar
In the 90-second ad (credit: Fanatics Collectibles), the setup begins in a boardroom pitch, where an ad executive tries to sell Marino on a mega-campaign as “football’s hottest star” heads to the diamond.
From there, the spot leans hard into comedy and scale, using AI visuals to place Marino in a long list of “Marino can do anything” scenarios; not just football and baseball, but hockey, volleyball, chess, falconry, ping pong, grilling, racing, hand modeling, infomercial acting, shampoo commercials, aerobics, fencing, lawn care, horse racing, tire sales, weightlifting, cycling, tennis, and even skydiving.
The punchline lands with Marino waking up from the dream, lounging poolside, smiling, and then noticing his Bowman Royals card sitting nearby.
What collectors should know about Marino’s Bowman Draft card
Topps has been using Bowman Draft to play with “cross-sport legend” what-if stories for a couple years now. A Tom Brady baseball-card push helped spotlight 2023 Bowman Draft, and John Elway got the treatment the following year as part of the Bowman Draft “Dream Draft” concept.
For Marino, Topps’ own Bowman Draft guide notes collectors can chase a “Dream Draft Pick” Dan Marino card inside the 2025 product.
And Topps is adding a fun twist for the Marino drop: three special inscription variations tied to the campaign, including:
- “Mari-Knows Baseball”
- “Laces Out”
- “There is no defense against my perfect swing” (a nod to Marino’s famous “perfect pass” line)
Dan Marino’s Career
His peak remains one of the most famous quarterback seasons ever: in 1984, Marino became the first QB to throw for 5,000 yards (5,084) and tossed 48 TDs, earning NFL MVP honors and taking Miami to Super Bowl XIX that season. Overall, he was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a multiple-time All-Pro, later entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Since retiring, Marino has stayed visible. He joined CBS as a studio analyst on “The NFL Today” beginning in 2002, and later returned to the Dolphins’ orbit as a special advisor starting in 2014. Off the field, he and his wife Claire founded the Dan Marino Foundation in 1992 to support individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Key details (quick hit)
- Product: 2025 Bowman Draft Baseball
- Marino hook: “Dream Draft Pick” insert + inscription variants
- Why Royals: Marino was drafted by Kansas City in 1979 (did not sign
