Bad Bunny performing at the 2026 Super Bowl has certainly stirred the pot online. While even the NFL players seemed split about the NFL's decision, Sam Darbold made his feelings clear.

At the Press Conference on February 2, a reporter asked the Seahawks' QB about the rapper performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

"Yeah, it's unbelievable. Just, you know, I love his music. So yeah, it's great to have him perform at the Super Bowl. And I wish that I could see it," Sam Darnold told reporters.

"But I'm afraid I'll be getting ready for the second half at that moment. But yeah, I know a lot of people are excited about him performing," he added.

Jay-Z-owned Roc Nation selected Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl 60 halftime show headliner after partnering with the NFL. Roc Nation has been working with the NFL and the sponsor (Apple Music) to evaluate artists who perform since 2019.

With a successful run of music, awards, and record-breaking streams, the NFL saw him as the right artist at the right moment despite the uproar.

Why Did the NFL Stick With Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl?

Not everybody is a fan of Bad Bunny. The Athletic reported that 58.6% of players voted in favor of the Puerto Rican performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, while 41.4% did not. One reason being the players are not very familiar with Bad Bunny’s music.

An anonymous NFL player speaking to The Athletic backed this up. "I don’t even know who Bad Bunny is," the player told the publication.

According to a high-ranking club executive who regularly attends NFL league meetings, some owners initially had reservations about Bad Bunny, citing his Spanish-language music and their limited familiarity. However, things changed.

"And then I think everybody was just kind of like, 'OK, we're going to get on board, because the goal is global reach,'" the executive said. "And this guy has a massive global reach," he added.

However, only time will tell if the NFL made the right choice, depending on how many people tune in to watch Bad Bunny perform.

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi