The NFL’s decision to make Bad Bunny the halftime performer at Super Bowl 60 has been a controversial one among some politicians and fans. It also seems to be divisive among NFL players.
The Super Bowl is the most-watched event of any kind in the United States each year. It has turned into one of the rare moments — not linked to a holiday — that brings large groups of people around the country together for a good time with drinks, food, and football.
While the NFL is the most popular sport in the U.S., a major reason why the Super Bowl has become an event that draws in fans and non-fans alike is the halftime show. The half hour between the second and third quarter often features some of the biggest music acts in the world, and the 2026 edition will be no different.
This weekend, Puerto Rican rapper/singer Bad Bunny will be the man performing as over 100 million watch on. While the Spanish-speaking artist is an unconventional choice, his resume is undeniable. He is often one of the most downloaded artists in the world, and he made history over the weekend when his album, Debí Tirar Mas Fotos, was the first non-English Grammy winner for Album of the Year.
On a business level, Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl makes sense. However, it has been a controversial choice among many conservative, America-first politicians and citizens. Despite Bad Bunny being an American citizen as a native of Puerto Rico. It has also received mixed opinions among NFL players as well.
NFL players divided over Bad Bunny performing at Super Bowl 60
This week, The Athletic released a survey of player opinions on the Puerto Rican being the star of the halftime show. On the question of whether they liked the choice of Bad Bunny performing at halftime, some of the 58 athletes questioned had a strong rebuke of the decision.
“I don’t even know who Bad Bunny is. I always think it should be an American,” a player from the NFC told the outlet. “I think they’re trying too hard with this international stuff.”
“I do not like it,” another player answered. “(I’d prefer) anyone who’s synonymous with football and football culture. I feel like there are tons of artists out there who are fans of the game.”
Of the 58 votes, 41.4% said they did not like the league’s choice. However, the majority of players had no issue with the decision. With some saying they appreciated the NFL showing the courage to think outside the box.
“I don’t speak Spanish, so I’m not a big fan,” a defensive player from the NFC responded. “But I do think it’s cool to have him, because America is based on diversity. America was built on immigration. So I feel like having him just furthers that American dream. I like it.”
“I don’t know who he is and never listened to his music. But I saw on the year-end data that he’s the global leader in music streams. It makes sense to want to make this a global performance. Good for ratings,” another player said.
