The NFL is in turmoil once again after Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski dropped a cultural bombshell: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be present at the 2026 Super Bowl to deport undocumented immigrants during Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show. The claim, shocking in its own right, gained even more traction when San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and rising star quarterback Brock Purdy voiced public support for Lewandowski’s comments, fueling a firestorm of outrage, division, and political chaos.
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“A Slap in the Face to America”
Lewandowski didn’t hold back in his attack on the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny, one of the world’s biggest music stars, at the iconic Halftime stage.
“It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them at the Halftime Show,” Lewandowski declared.
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His remarks immediately went viral, sparking heated debates across sports networks, political talk shows, and social media. But the controversy escalated when Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy — leaders of one of the NFL’s most historic franchises — publicly endorsed the criticism.
49ers Icons Back the Statement
When asked about Lewandowski’s comments, Kyle Shanahan reportedly said, “He’s not wrong. Football is about America, tradition, and unity. Picking Bad Bunny sends the wrong message.”
Brock Purdy followed suit, surprising many with his blunt response:
“I stand by what Corey said. We need to protect the values of this game. Bad Bunny doesn’t represent the NFL I know.”
The endorsement by Shanahan and Purdy added gasoline to an already raging fire, turning what could have been a music controversy into a league-wide cultural battle.
Fans React: Explosive Division
NFL fans across the country erupted with mixed reactions. Supporters of Shanahan and Purdy praised them for “speaking the truth” and defending American tradition. Hashtags like #BoycottBadBunny and #ProtectTheGame surged to the top of Twitter.
On the other side, millions of Bad Bunny fans — many of whom don’t traditionally follow the NFL — fired back with equal intensity. “Bad Bunny is a global superstar,” one fan tweeted. “If the NFL can’t embrace diversity, it’s the NFL that’s outdated, not him.”
Meanwhile, immigrant rights groups condemned Lewandowski’s comments as “dangerous rhetoric” that could incite fear and violence. The possibility of ICE action during the world’s biggest sporting event has sparked outrage across civil rights organizations.
NFL Caught in a Cultural War
The NFL now finds itself trapped between political forces and entertainment expectations. The league has long used the Halftime Show to expand beyond traditional football audiences, but the choice of Bad Bunny — a Spanish-speaking artist who often challenges U.S. policies — has ignited a cultural flashpoint.
Sports analysts warn this could spiral into one of the most divisive crises in NFL history. “This isn’t just about a halftime show anymore,” one ESPN commentator said. “It’s about what the Super Bowl represents: is it football’s biggest stage, or America’s cultural battlefield?”
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The Road to Super Bowl 2026 — and Fallout for 2025
Perhaps most concerning is the ripple effect: reports suggest multiple players across the league are now considering a boycott of Super Bowl 2025 as a form of protest. Some stars feel the NFL has lost its focus on football, while others fear being caught in political crossfire.
Sponsors, too, are reportedly uneasy. Several major brands are quietly monitoring the situation, fearing that aligning with either side could alienate customers.
For the 49ers, the public stance of Shanahan and Purdy could prove polarizing. While many San Francisco fans back them, others fear this controversy could distract from the team’s quest to return to the Super Bowl.
Final Word
What started as a headline about a global pop star has spiraled into one of the NFL’s greatest cultural crises. With Corey Lewandowski warning of ICE raids, Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy supporting his criticism, and millions of fans split down the middle, the league faces an uncertain path forward.
As one analyst summed it up:
“The NFL wanted spectacle with Bad Bunny. What they got instead was chaos — and maybe even the risk of tearing the league apart.”