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The NFL has no plans to drop Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headliner, Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed on Wednesday. This reaffirms the decision to feature the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist, a move that drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters. Goodell addressed the Bad Bunny controversy during a news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. This was his first public comment on the decision announced in late September, which drew global attention and increased streams of Bad Bunny’s music, alongside some backlash. “It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell stated. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist without some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people watching.” Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, also known as Bad Bunny, has been outspoken against Trump and his policies. He opted for a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding performances in the mainland U.S., due to concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos. Bad Bunny performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl. “We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said, noting that more talent might be added to the lineup alongside Bad Bunny. “He understands the platform he’s on, and I think it’s going to be an exciting and united moment.” The San Francisco 49ers will host the Super Bowl on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if Trump plans to attend, though he has made appearances at major sporting events a significant part of his second term. In an interview with Newsmax, Trump said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny. “I don’t know who he is,” Trump remarked. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.” Goodell defended the selection, emphasising Bad Bunny’s immense popularity. “He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.” Echoing senior VP of football operations Troy Vincent, Goodell mentioned there has not been much discussion about the tush push quarterback sneak since an effort to ban it narrowly failed in the spring. Vincent noted that the primary concern is the difficulty in officiating the maneuver that the Philadelphia Eagles have successfully used. Although it was not on the formal agenda at this meeting, owners received updates on penalties and other football matters. “It’s something we will continue to monitor in all phases, just like every other aspect of the game,” Goodell stated. “We don’t have any proposals to bring it back up. It wouldn’t surprise me if something evolves. But it’s not something we’re really focused on during the season.” Goodell also addressed replay reviews and game times, noting that game durations are down through the first seven weeks compared to last season, despite an increase in kick returns after adjustments to the dynamic kickoff. “That’s quite remarkable when you add the number of kickoffs,” Goodell said. “You’re going to get more fouls. You’re going to get different sets of fouls. You’re going to have a little bit more length of the game.” Goodell had breakfast with interim Players Association executive director David White before one of the league’s international games this season. He expects discussions on moving to an 18-game regular season and other collective bargaining matters to wait until the union chooses its long-term leader. The current CBA runs through the 2031 league year. White told The Associated Press last month that an 18-game season was not inevitable. “The negotiations will involve much more than just the 18 and two exhibition games,” Goodell explained. “There are a lot of issues we will raise, and I’m certain the players will raise issues as well. That’s what collective bargaining is about. They need time to ensure they’re prepared and have their priorities straight before negotiations begin.” Goodell indicated that work is underway to select Super Bowl sites for the 2028 and 2029 seasons, with an announcement expected next year. With AP Inputs
