SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The clock is ticking. We are less than 120 hours away from kickoff. On Sunday, Levi’s Stadium will erupt as the New England Patriots clash with the Seattle Seahawks for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LX. But while the Patriots look to secure their seventh ring and Seattle hunts for its second, a different battle is brewing in the locker rooms: the fight for the aux cord.
Grammy winner Bad Bunny is locked in to headline the Apple Music Halftime Show. The global superstar promises a high-energy set to shake the Bay Area. Yet, if it were up to the guys taking the hits on the field, the stage would look very different.
In a raw, anonymous survey conducted by The Athletic, NFL players ignored contracts and logic to name their “dream” performer. The results? A mix of nostalgia, regional pride, and one massive hip-hop controversy.
The King Still Reigns (and Drake is Knocking)
Even in 2026, he remains untouchable. Michael Jackson secured the No. 1 spot in the player voting. The late icon’s 1993 performance at the Rose Bowl created the modern spectacle we know today, and today’s generation still studies the tape.
Sitting right behind him at No. 2 is Drake. But this choice carries baggage. Fans haven’t forgotten the sonic warfare of 2024, nor have they forgotten Kendrick Lamar standing on the Super Bowl LIX stage just last year, effectively taking a victory lap in New Orleans. Picking Drake now? That’s a statement.
Locker Room Talk: “Let Her Do It Every Year”
The survey responses weren’t just names; they were demands. The players want legends, and they want them now.
“Beyonce. They should just let her do it every year.” — Anonymous AFC Offensive Player
Another faction of the locker room is pushing for a honky-tonk takeover. After Chris Stapleton’s tear-jerking anthem in 2023, the appetite for country on the world’s biggest stage has exploded.
“I’ve gotta get George Strait in there, followed by a close Chris Stapleton. His national anthem was awesome, so let’s give him halftime.” — Anonymous NFC Offensive Player
The Bay Area Bias
With the game sitting in Santa Clara, the local vibe is heavy. While Bad Bunny brings global heat, some players feel the NFL missed a layup by ignoring the local legends who built the West Coast sound.
One NFC defensive player didn’t hold back: “I feel like we should have had E-40 or somebody from the Bay do it. A collective of artists from the Bay Area, similar to the L.A. halftime show.”
It’s a fair point. The Dr. Dre-led showcase at SoFi Stadium set a new bar for regional representation. A Bay Area collective featuring E-40, Too Short, and perhaps a surprise Green Day appearance would have shattered the internet.
The Verdict
Come Sunday, Bad Bunny has the impossible job of following Kendrick’s cultural earthquake from last year. He has the hits. He has the energy. But he’s playing to a crowd that secretly wants the Moonwalker, the King of Country, or a Bay Area block party.
When the lights go down at halftime, we’ll see if Benito can win them over.
