The NFL chose Machine Gun Kelly for their halftime show in Munich, Germany. The New York Giants vs. the Carolina Panthers is the last game of this year’s NFL’s international games.
However, fans were surprised to find MGK performing in Munich, especially since the rapper/actor chose to honor the memory of John Denver through his songs.
NFL Fans React to Machine Gun Kelly
The late acoustic guitarist and singer John Denver’s songs have a special following in Germany. However, MGK performing his take on ‘Country Roads’ titled ‘Lonely Road’ along with the original song was a surprise.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to not only air their grievances with this choice but also to pop their jokes off. Apart from taking shots at MGK, fans also ridiculed the choice of the matchup in general.
“Machine Gun Kelly at halftime of the Panthers x Giants game? Really? That’s the best the NFL could do? John Denver is rolling in his grave smh,” wrote one fan.
Machine Gun Kelly at halftime of the @Panthers x @Giants game? Really? That's the best the NFL could do? John Denver is rolling in his grave smh #NFL #KeepPounding #Giants100 #NYGvsCAR
— Flawless (@xMCZBx) November 10, 2024
“Having Machine Gun Kelly perform at halftime in Germany is just too on the nose,” another fan added.
“Daniel Jones and Machine Gun Kelly??? The NFL really doesn’t like Germany, does it???” tweeted a fan.
Daniel Jones and Machine Gun Kelly??? The NFL really doesn’t like Germany, does it???
— Seemingly, Donald F (@faceman802) November 10, 2024
“What did Germany do to deserve a Giants vs Panthers matchup and a Machine Gun Kelly halftime show???” one fan added.
“We really are still punishing Germany for World War 2. We’re forcing them to listen to Machine Gun Kelly sing Country Roads at halftime of a game with Daniel Jones at QB,” one fan tweeted.
Ultimately, the Germany game ended up being somewhat exciting, even if it didn’t start off that way. The Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Giants 20-17 in overtime. The biggest element of this game was the inefficiencies and mistakes of Giants’ QB Daniel Jones.
He posted his worst QB+ rating of the season (F grade) and had the fourth-worst performance of any QB this season. That being said, on the other side of the ball, Bryce Young continued to turn things around in his young career, notching his second win in a row, something he has never done since entering the NFL.
The NFL to Increase International Games
Since 2022, the NFL has been playing five games of the regular season away from the USA, a trend that started in 2007 with only one game. However, before the game in Germany kicked off, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that more games would be played from next year onwards.
“Roger Goodell just announced on NFL Network that the league plans to play eight international games next season, with games set for London, Spain, Brazil, Mexico City, Germany, and possibly Ireland,” NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe reported.
Here’s Roger Goodell with @ColleenWolfe on the goal for eight international games for 2025, with Ireland being a potential site but not definitive yet. pic.twitter.com/V7Rgr4Wl2q https://t.co/esNJc53Xjm
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 10, 2024
“We are definitely going to Spain,” Goodell said on Sunday. “We expect to return to Mexico City. We expect to return to Brazil. We will certainly be back in the U.K. And we’re also looking at the potential of another game … in Ireland possibly … And we’ll certainly be back here in Germany.”