The upcoming Super Bowl halftime show is already stirring up some serious buzz, and not just the good kind. While many fans are excited, some big names are speaking out. The latest voice to join the chorus of critics is NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, and he did not hold back his thoughts.
Dickerson, who is 65, took aim at both the NFL and the Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny. He questioned the league’s choice for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer. His strong opinions came out in a video shared by TMZ on Tuesday, October 7.
"I don’t even know who the heck that guy is," Dickerson admitted. "I’ve honestly never heard of him. I’m not really into that kind of music. What’s his name? What in the world does Bad Bunny sing? I couldn’t name a single one of his songs."
The former Los Angeles Rams running back went further, suggesting the artist might be anti-American. "If Bad Bunny doesn’t like the United States, he should just stay where he is," Dickerson stated. "He shouldn’t come here to sing. Honestly, I’m not surprised the NFL would do something like this."
Dickerson believes the NFL’s choice is tied to what he calls the league’s focus on "political things." When he was told that Bad Bunny is from Puerto Rico, the legendary player kept going with his rant.
"He should just stay in Puerto Rico," Dickerson said firmly. "If he doesn’t like the United States, then he needs to stay there." Even when it was pointed out that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, Dickerson remained unfazed. "I know that," he responded. "But still, if he doesn’t like the United States, he shouldn’t come here to perform."
Dickerson mentioned he had "heard some things" the artist supposedly said about the U.S. He did admit he wasn’t sure if these claims were true. He was likely talking about an i-D Magazine interview from September 10. In that piece, Bad Bunny explained why he had recently chosen not to perform in the United States.
"I don’t know if it’s true — if Bad Bunny said something negative about the United States — but if he did, don’t come here to perform," Dickerson insisted. "Just don’t come. Stay in your own country." He added, "I understand Puerto Rico is part of the U.S., but it’s not the U.S. That’s how I see it, that’s how I feel. They bring in these artists who say all these controversial things about the United States, about hating this country. If you hate the U.S., then don’t come here."
Throughout the video, Dickerson also took the chance to criticize the NFL itself. He was an amazing running back in the 1980s, playing in six Pro Bowls. In 1983, he set a record for rushing yards in a single season with an incredible 2,105 yards.
"The NFL is even more corrupt than the government," Dickerson claimed. "It’s much more corrupt than the U.S. government will ever be. They simply don’t care about the players, and don’t even get me started on that topic."
Dickerson’s comments are part of a larger wave of negative reactions to the NFL’s announcement. Bad Bunny is set to headline Super Bowl LX in Las Vegas next February. The 31-year-old global superstar has faced criticism from many people, including former President Donald Trump. Trump told Newsmax on Monday, October 6, that the decision was "absolutely ridiculous."
"I had never heard of him," Trump said. "I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s truly crazy."
For his part, Bad Bunny lightly touched on the controversy during his appearance on Saturday Night Live last weekend. He jokingly told anyone bothered by his performance that they had "four months to learn."