Quick rundown
Short version: the NFL isn’t backing away from naming Bad Bunny as a Super Bowl halftime headliner. Commissioner Roger Goodell says the pick was deliberate, the league expects a big show, and they’re not rethinking it despite some public grumbling.
Why Bad Bunny?
Goodell explained the decision came down to popularity — the guy is one of the planet’s most streamed artists right now. The announcement even sparked a bump in people playing his music. The league thinks that kind of draw fits the Super Bowl stage.
Context on the artist
Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio) is a 31-year-old Puerto Rican superstar who mostly sings in Spanish. He’s been politically outspoken, skipped a U.S. tour to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico and has been public about concerns over immigration policies. Expect a Spanish-language performance at the game.
The political noise
As you’ve probably noticed, selecting a big-name performer sometimes creates side debates — and this one stirred comments from politicians and pundits. Some public figures criticized the choice, and former President Trump publicly questioned who Bad Bunny even is. The league, though, is sticking with its pick.
What Goodell said
Goodell told reporters the pick was thoughtfully made and that backlash is kind of par for the course when you’re putting anyone in front of hundreds of millions of viewers. He also hinted that the halftime slot might feature other performers alongside Bad Bunny to round out the production.
Game logistics and other NFL headlines
Aside from halftime drama, the league touched on a few football-y topics: the so-called “tush push” quarterback sneak, replay review times and kickoffs. League officials said they’re keeping an eye on the tricky sneak play — it’s hard to officiate and might evolve over time, but there’s no active rule proposal right now.
On replay reviews, Goodell pointed out game lengths are actually slightly shorter through the season’s first seven weeks compared with last year, despite more kickoffs after changes to kickoff rules. More kickoffs mean more foul possibilities and some extra clock time, but overall the numbers aren’t ballooning.
Labor and the long view
Goodell said he had a recent breakfast with the interim players’ union leader, David White, but major bargaining talks — like any discussion about moving to an 18-game season — are on hold until the union finalizes its long-term leadership. The current collective bargaining agreement runs through 2031, and the commissioner emphasized that future negotiations will cover a lot more than just season length.
Where and when
The Super Bowl itself will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, with the San Francisco 49ers hosting. The league is also working on selecting host sites for the 2028 and 2029 Super Bowls and expects to announce those choices next year.
Bottom line
Expect Bad Bunny to headline, expect the NFL to stand by its entertainment pick, and expect a little political buzz around the production — because nothing says Sunday night like pop culture, football and a generous serving of public debate.
