2025 NFL Season Recap: Super Bowl LX, Bad Bunny Halftime Show, and Controversy

Picture of an american football

The 2025 NFL season delivered everything football fans could ask for and more. From stunning upsets to breakout performances, controversial halftime shows to historic comebacks, this season will be remembered as one of the most dramatic in league history.

The Seattle Seahawks emerged victorious in Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 in a defensive masterclass that silenced doubters and established a new championship dynasty. But the story of this season goes far beyond the final score.

Preseason Predictions: The Ravens That Never Arrived

Before the season kicked off in September 2025, ESPN analysts overwhelmingly picked the Baltimore Ravens to win Super Bowl LX. Sound familiar? For the fifth consecutive year, the Ravens were the consensus favorite, and for the fifth consecutive year, they failed to reach the championship game.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills continued to be overlooked despite consistently making deeper playoff runs than Baltimore. The NFC appeared wide open with the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers leading most predictions, especially after the Eagles captured Super Bowl LIX.

The Kansas City Chiefs faced widespread skepticism for the first time in years, with many analysts predicting they would miss the playoffs entirely. They were right. Patrick Mahomes and company watched the postseason from home for the first time since 2020.

The Season's Biggest Storylines

Seattle's Silent Ascension

Under first-year head coach Mike McDonald, the Seattle Seahawks quietly dominated the NFC West and established one of the league's most feared defenses. Dubbed "The Dark Side," Seattle's defense was the story nobody saw coming until it was too late.

Quarterback Sam Darnold, the journeyman who had bounced between teams for years, finally found his home in Seattle. His remarkable playoff run included zero interceptions in the postseason, drawing comparisons to Tom Brady and earning him redemption after years of criticism from analysts like Stephen A. Smith.

New England's Remarkable Turnaround

After a dismal 4-13 season in 2024, the New England Patriots executed one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NFL history. New head coach Mike Vrabel and rookie quarterback Drake May led the team to a 14-3 record and their 12th Super Bowl appearance.

May, in just his second year, nearly became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. The Patriots fielded one of the youngest rosters in the league, suggesting their Super Bowl loss may have been more about inexperience under the bright lights than lack of talent.

Matthew Stafford's MVP Season

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback silenced retirement rumors with a career year, leading the league with 4,777 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. Stafford captured MVP honors and led the Rams to the only 500-plus point season in the NFL, though they fell just short in the NFC Championship game against Seattle, losing 31-27.

Jacksonville's Surprising Run

The Jacksonville Jaguars returned to playoff relevance behind quarterback Trevor Lawrence and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. Many counted Jacksonville out when they lost a key receiver to injury midseason, but the Jaguars proved resilient, winning the AFC South and making a legitimate playoff push.

Super Bowl LX: A Defensive Masterpiece

The championship game was a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX from 2015, bringing the Patriots and Seahawks full circle. This time, Seattle left no doubt about the outcome.

Seattle's defense absolutely dominated New England's young offense, holding the Patriots scoreless through the first three quarters. The performance set a new Super Bowl record, as no team had ever been shut out through three quarters in championship game history.

Running back Kenneth Walker III earned Super Bowl MVP honors with 135 rushing yards, becoming the first running back to win the award since 1998. The Seahawks' balanced attack and suffocating defense proved too much for New England's inexperienced roster.

The game also marked the latest chapter in the "Stefon Diggs curse." The veteran receiver, who joined New England in the offseason, had more baby mamas than receiving yards in the Super Bowl. Reports surfaced that Diggs and rapper Cardi B broke up immediately after the game, and the receiver was allegedly arrested on outstanding charges that a judge had postponed until after the championship.

Picture of Bad Bunny

The Halftime Show That Divided America

While the game itself was one-sided, the real controversy erupted during halftime. The NFL selected Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny as the first solo Spanish-language artist to headline a Super Bowl halftime show. The performance featured high-energy music, cultural imagery celebrating Latino identity, and a message of unity.

However, Bad Bunny's selection sparked immediate backlash from conservative groups. Critics pointed to his Grammy speech criticizing ICE agents, videos of him burning American flags at concerts, and performances wearing dresses. President Trump publicly denounced the performance.

The FCC announced it would fine Bad Bunny $100 million for using vulgar language and not editing explicit content from his songs as required for live television broadcasts.

The Alternative: Turning Point USA's All-American Show

In response, Turning Point USA organized an alternative halftime show featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. Billed as a "patriotic alternative," the event streamed online simultaneously with Bad Bunny's performance and emphasized themes of faith, family, and freedom.

The Turning Point show peaked at 6.1 million concurrent viewers and has surpassed 20 million total views across platforms. While significantly lower than Bad Bunny's reported 135 million viewers, the numbers revealed a significant cultural divide.

However, viewership data became contested. Samba TV, which tracks nationwide viewing habits through smart TVs, reported that Bad Bunny's halftime show had the highest rate of viewers turning off their TVs during a Super Bowl halftime performance in the past decade. The company also reported that overall Super Bowl viewership dropped 13% from the previous year, with halftime viewership down 50%.

These conflicting numbers raised questions about how the NFL calculates viewership, particularly their decision to count stadium ticket holders who may have actually streamed Turning Point's show on their phones instead of watching the field.

The Kid Rock Controversy

Kid Rock faced his own backlash when critics resurfaced lyrics from his 1997 song that appeared to glorify statutory rape. Legal efforts attempted to remove him from Turning Point's lineup.

Kid Rock addressed the controversy directly, acknowledging his past while emphasizing personal growth. His Turning Point performance included a redemption arc, transitioning from his signature "Bawitdaba" into gospel music. He was reintroduced by his real name, Robert Richie, before covering Cody Jinks' song with added verses about how Jesus saved him and offered second chances to others.

Critics also accused Kid Rock of lip-syncing, but he later released a video explanation. For 20 years, Kid Rock had performed with the same DJ who sang backup vocals during live performances. Turning Point USA required him to use their band instead, throwing off his entire routine and leaving gaps where his DJ's vocals should have been.

Super Bowl Commercials: A Disappointing Crop

Fans and commentators widely agreed that Super Bowl LX commercials failed to live up to expectations. Unlike previous years featuring iconic ads and viral moments, the 2026 collection was described as forgettable and uneven.

A few bright spots emerged. Pepsi delivered what many considered a knockout punch in their ongoing rivalry with Coca-Cola. DoorDash capitalized on controversy with a 50 Cent commercial making Diddy jokes, followed by a post-game ad offering Patriots fans 50% off orders to soften the blow of defeat.

Sabrina Carpenter appeared in a Pringles commercial, while Ben Affleck, Tom Brady, and Jennifer Aniston teamed up for a memorable spot. Budweiser's traditional Clydesdale commercial earned positive reviews, particularly among viewers seeking classic Americana imagery.

Disney disappointed fans with the trailers for The Mandalorian and Toy Story 5 that failed to generate excitement. Many viewers expected glimpses of upcoming Marvel projects like Avengers: Doomsday or Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but received none.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As the confetti settles, several storylines will define the upcoming season. The Seattle Seahawks face the daunting challenge of defending their title. Historically, back-to-back championships are extremely rare, and Seattle will have a target on their back.

The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott after another playoff disappointment, despite Josh Allen's MVP-caliber regular season. Allen's tendency to make critical mistakes in big games raises questions about whether coaching changes are enough or if the Bills need to consider more drastic roster moves.

The New York Giants landed one of the hottest coaching candidates by hiring John Harbaugh away from the Baltimore Ravens. With Jackson Dart at quarterback and standout running back Scatterboo, the Giants appear positioned for a resurgence.

The Los Angeles Chargers hired Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator, a move that inspires both hope and trepidation given McDaniels' checkered history as a play-caller outside New England.

The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked the football world by firing Mike Tomlin, ending his 19-seasons as head coach, and hiring Mike McCarthy away from the Dallas Cowboys.

Free agency will be dominated by speculation about Max Crosby. Rumors suggest the Raiders’ defensive end may finally be traded, and wherever he lands will receive a massive upgrade.

Patrick Mahomes continues rehabbing from his injury, insisting he'll be ready for Week 1 despite doctors’ urging caution. The Kansas City Chiefs face significant offensive turnover after five years with offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Conclusion

The 2025 NFL season delivered everything fans could hope for: surprising playoff runs, breakout stars, controversial entertainment, and a dominant championship performance. The Seahawks' victory represents a new chapter in franchise history, while the Patriots' remarkable turnaround suggests they'll be contenders for years to come.

Beyond the games themselves, this season highlighted the NFL's role as a cultural touchstone. The halftime show controversy revealed deep divisions about representation, patriotism, and whose version of America should take center stage. Whether you watched Bad Bunny or Turning Point USA, the conversation about what the Super Bowl represents continues to evolve.

As we look toward the 2026 season, one thing remains certain: football continues to captivate, divide, and unite us in ways few cultural events can match.

What were your favorite moments from the 2025 season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!