With Super Bowl Sunday fast approaching, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed a swirl of questions surrounding security at Levi’s Stadium - and the spotlight that’s landed on halftime headliner Bad Bunny.
The conversation came on the heels of Bad Bunny’s powerful speech at the Grammys, where the Puerto Rican superstar made a pointed comment about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), urging compassion and unity during a moment of national attention. That moment sparked speculation about whether ICE agents might be present at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, where the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots are set to square off.
Goodell, speaking Monday, didn’t wade into the political waters but emphasized the league’s long-standing approach to safety and coordination with federal and local agencies.
“Security is obviously one of the things we focus on the most,” Goodell said. “It’s a SEAR-1 level event that involves unique assets at the federal level, state level and the local level, all working together. I see no change in that.”
A SEAR-1 designation - short for Special Event Assessment Rating - marks the Super Bowl as a top-tier national security event. That means a full-court press from law enforcement and emergency services, from local police to federal agencies. According to Goodell, that collaboration has been a constant across multiple presidential administrations.
“We’re working with all three of those levels and doing everything we can to make sure it’s a safe environment,” he added. “And the federal government is a big part of that, including this administration and every other administration before that.”
While the NFL’s security protocols remain consistent, what’s changed this year is the cultural spotlight. Bad Bunny, who’s dominated global charts and just picked up three more Grammy awards, is set to take center stage at halftime - and his presence hasn’t come without pushback. Political groups have criticized the league’s decision to feature the Latin music icon, but Goodell hasn’t flinched.
“Bad Bunny, and I think that was demonstrated last night, is one of the great artists in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s one of the reasons we chose him.”
But beyond the music, Goodell pointed to something deeper - the ability of the halftime stage to bring people together.
“He understood the platform he was on,” Goodell said. “This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents and to be able to use this moment to do that.”
During his Grammy acceptance speech, Bad Bunny didn’t shy away from the moment. His message was clear and emotional - a call for empathy in a time of division.
“We are not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens,” he said. “We are humans and we are Americans.
I know it’s tough not to hate these days. The hate gets more powerful with more hate.
The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So please, we need to be different.
If we fight, we have to do it with love.”
It’s a statement that resonated far beyond the music world - and one that now echoes into the NFL’s biggest night of the year.
Whether it’s on the field between the Seahawks and Patriots or on the stage at halftime, the Super Bowl has always been more than just a game. And this year, with Bad Bunny at the heart of the entertainment and a nationwide conversation swirling around him, it’s clear that football’s biggest stage will once again reflect the culture and conversations of the moment.