Jets' Kyle Connor goes full KFC Colonel
Source: winnipegfreepress.com
TL;DR
- Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor shot a fun KFC commercial playing on his "Kyle Freakin’ Connor" nickname.
- He wore a white suit, arrived in a sports car, and featured in a new "Kyle F#*@in’ Connor meal" with chicken sandwich, wings, fries, and drink.
- The lighthearted promo builds on last year's playoff bucket hat campaign and highlights Connor's rising off-ice appeal.
The story at a glance
Winnipeg Jets left-winger Kyle Connor recently filmed a KFC ad in Chicago, fully embracing his "Kyle Freakin’ Connor" nickname with a Colonel Sanders look-alike and rink scenes. Teammate Jonathan Toews praised it during pre-game talks before facing the Blackhawks. It's reported now amid the late-season playoff push, following a 2025 KFC playoff tie-in with bucket hats for Jets-Blues games.
Key points
- Connor arrived at the rink in a white sports car, dressed in a white suit and bow tie, then switched to his No. 81 jersey with "KFC" on the nameplate.
- A Colonel Sanders impersonator called his suit "finger lickin’ good" while rink staff ate fried chicken; Connor had minimal lines in the simple 30-second spot.
- Ties to 2025 playoffs when KFC ran a bucket hat promo during Jets' series against St. Louis Blues.
- New "Kyle F#*@in’ Connor meal" includes a chicken sandwich, two wings, fries, and a drink in a custom box.
- Full production crew involved, but Connor called it an easy, lighthearted experience and not a pivot to acting like Peyton Manning or Charles Barkley.
- Toews joked some of Connor's lines got cut but said he's "very deserving" of such fun off-ice recognition.
Details and context
The piece comes from pre-game availability in Chicago on March 31, 2026, by Jets beat writer Ken Wiebe. Connor hinted he might wear the suit and bow tie to a game, adding to the playful vibe.
It notes Toews' separate team outing, throwing a ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field, and his tribute to late former Jet/Blackhawk Troy Murray.
No broader business details on the KFC deal, but it positions Connor as a star comfortable with fan-favourite nicknames without chasing endorsement overload.
Key quotes
- Connor: “I don’t think I’m getting any (lead) roles anytime soon... But it’s fun to be able to do something like that.”[[1]](https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/03/31/thats-colonel-connor-to-you)[[2]](https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets)
- Toews: “Pretty good. Apparently, he had a couple of lines and those got cut... Obviously, he’s very deserving.”[[1]](https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/03/31/thats-colonel-connor-to-you)
Why it matters
This fun endorsement cements Connor's status as a Jets fan icon, blending his on-ice prowess with off-ice personality in Winnipeg's hockey-mad market. Fans get a branded meal tie-in, while it boosts KFC's local visibility through NHL playoffs nostalgia. Watch if Connor suits up for a game or if the promo extends into postseason pushes.