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NFL Star Gets Very Honest About Kendrick Lamar's Halftime Show

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Feb 9, 2025 9:08 PM ET

There was a ton of hype surrounding this year's Super Bowl halftime show simply because Kendrick Lamar was headlining it. You can make an argument that no artist has been more successful than him over the past few months.

Before the halftime show even kicked off, NFL head of music Seth Dudowsky raved about Lamar's impact on the music industry. He claims his unique talent is why the league targeted him for the halftime show.

"Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar," Dudowsky said. "Time and time again, Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop. We're excited to collaborate with Kendrick, Roc Nation, and Apple Music to deliver another unforgettable Halftime Show."

Lamar has been a household name for several years, but his beef with Drake really elevated his status over the past year. That being said, the Grammy Award winner didn't exactly light up the Caesars Superdome on Sunday night. If anything, he set himself up for some criticism.

Despite having an incredible amount of songs at his disposal, fans believe Lamar did a poor job of getting the crowd on their feet from the jump. In fact, an NFL star criticized Lamar for his performance.

During the end of Lamar's halftime show, Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward referred to the rapper's performance as "very mid." He voice his opinion on social media for the whole world to see.

"Honestly this Half Time Performance is very mid to me," Ward wrote on X. "What y’all think about it?"

Ward didn't just offer a brutally honest review of Lamar's performance, he revealed what he would've done differently.

"If I was him I would’ve opened up with 'They not like us' song," the four-time Pro Bowler said.

Judging by some of the comments being made on social media, Ward isn't the only person who gave Lamar's performance a thumbs down.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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