NFL Boss Says Bad Bunny Is ‘One of the Great Artists in the World’

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reaffirmed his support for Super Bowl halftime performer Bad Bunny, telling reporters at a press conference on Monday that the Puerto Rican superstar proved he is “one of the great artists in the world” after his commanding presence at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.

“Listen, Bad Bunny is, and I think that was demonstrated last night, one of the great artists in the world. That’s one of the reasons we chose him,” Goodell said (via Yahoo Sports). “But the other reason is he understood the platform he was on, and that this platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talent, and to be able to use this moment to do that. I think artists in the past have done that, I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he’ll have a great performance.”

Ever since Bad Bunny, an outspoken immigrants’ rights activist, was named the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer, he has been the target of much conservative ridicule. After winning the Grammy for best música urbana album with “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” on Sunday, he used his acceptance speech to uplift immigrant voices and condemn the actions of ICE.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans. Also, I will say to people, I know it’s tough to know not to hate on these days and I was thinking sometimes, we get contaminados [contaminated], I don’t know how to say that in English. The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.”

Back in October of 2025, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said during an episode of Benny Johnson’s podcast that federal agents will be “all over” the Super Bowl with every intention to “enforce the law.” When asked about ICE presence at Sunday’s Super Bowl, Goodell said the NFL is working with “assets at the federal level, the state level and the local level” as standard practice dictates, but did not directly address whether ICE would be at the game.