NFL Players Raise Objections to Bad Bunny Being Super Bowl 60 Halftime Show Performer: ‘I Do Not Like It’

Bad Bunny’s appointment as the Super Bowl 60 halftime headliner has already stirred reaction in political and media circles, and a new anonymous NFL player poll shows that sentiment is just as divided inside locker rooms.

In The Athletic’s annual survey, players were asked how they feel about the Puerto Rican star leading the show at Levi’s Stadium, with responses ranging from outright opposition on cultural, personal, and moral grounds to enthusiasm about what his global profile and sound could bring to the stage.

NFL Players Divided Over Bad Bunny as Super Bowl Halftime Show Performer

The Athletic’s poll asked players across the league for their views on Bad Bunny’s selection, and several objected sharply to the choice. One NFC offensive player admitted he was not familiar with the artist and tied his opposition to the idea that the halftime stage should be reserved for a certain type of performer.

“I don’t even know who Bad Bunny is,” said an NFC offensive player. “I always think it should be an American. I think they’re trying too hard with this international stuff.”

Another NFC offensive player said the decision did not fit his idea of who should represent the league in that spotlight, arguing that Super Bowl performers should be more directly linked to the sport and its fan base.

“I do not like it. (I’d prefer) Anyone who’s synonymous with football and football culture. I feel like there’s tons of artists out there who are fans of the game,” said a different NFC offensive player.”

A separate objection focused on Bad Bunny’s public image. An AFC offensive player framed the choice as a question of values rather than style or football relevance, saying, “I think there are better examples of character and morality than Bad Bunny.”

Those comments echoed parts of the broader culture debate that followed the league’s announcement, including criticism from political figures who opposed the pick.

In 2016, Bad Bunny worked at a grocery store as a bagger.
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>10 years later, his album ‘Debí Tiras Más Fotos’ won Album Of The Year at the #GRAMMYs.
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>Chase your dreams, kid. pic.twitter.com/llv5SKDmwI

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) February 2, 2026

The survey also captured players who said they simply do not connect with Bad Bunny’s music or would have preferred a different genre entirely, including those who pushed for country acts or artists they view as “synonymous with football.”

That group saw the decision as a missed opportunity to lean into what they perceive as traditional NFL culture, even as they acknowledged the league’s interest in global reach.

At the same time, the poll showed that not all player reactions were negative. Some respondents said they are not devoted fans but still view the selection as exciting and in step with the league’s push toward broader cultural representation. “I think it’s pretty awesome,” said an NFC offensive player. “Some of his music is really good, man. When I was training, I heard it in Florida. I heard his music all the time. And it’s a bop, man.”

Others welcomed the variety and the chance to showcase a different sound on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Added another NFC offensive player: “Heck yeah. It’s going to be a good time. The girls like Bad Bunny, so of course, we’re going to like it.”

An AFC defensive player framed his support in terms of openness to new styles, saying, “It’s a little different, but I’m a fan of changing things up, exploring different musical genres.”

Overall, The Athletic’s anonymous survey portrays a league split between those who question whether Bad Bunny fits their idea of a Super Bowl act and those who see his selection as a reflection of the NFL’s evolving audience.

The responses underline how the halftime stage, long treated as a cultural barometer as much as an entertainment slot, continues to provoke strong opinions even before a note is played.