A former NFL quarterback just entered Alabama politics, invoking slain conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk while the league faces backlash over its choice of Super Bowl performer.
Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron announced his campaign for Alabama lieutenant governor in a video Thursday.
The former Crimson Tide standout credited his political awakening to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination rocked the nation.
“Today, Alabama’s conservative and cultural values are under attack from every direction. That’s why Charlie Kirk’s assassination affected so many of us so deeply,” McCarron said in the video.
Running as a Republican, McCarron reminded voters of his support for Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, declaring that Alabama “needs outsiders, not career politicians.”
McCarron rose to national prominence after leading the University of Alabama Crimson Tide to back-to-back national championships before being drafted by the Bengals in 2014.
His professional career later included brief stints with the Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons.
With 10 days until kickoff, a look back at No. 10 A.J. McCarron dropping a perfect touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. pic.twitter.com/CRUqndT8ts
— alabamavault (@alabamavault) August 22, 2018
“The Montgomery insiders and career politicians have had their chance,” McCarron said, calling for “newcomers and outsider candidates like me” to take the reins of state leadership.
McCarron will face Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, pastor Dean Odle, and Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate in what’s expected to be one of the state’s most closely watched races next year.
Story: XFL QB A.J. McCarron said he could’ve remained in NFL as a backup for better money but wanted to actually play in order to be able to create moments for his kids.
"My 6 year old loves watching me. That’s a big reason I chose to return this way.”pic.twitter.com/j2wSIN3Xsp
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 24, 2023
In his announcement, McCarron tied his candidacy to faith and patriotism, saying, “Alabama is my home — it’s made me who I am, and I feel led from above to give back to the state that has given me so much.”
The former NFL quarterback ended his message with a campaign slogan playing off his initials.
“If you’re ready for a new voice, a fresh perspective, and want Alabama to remain the nation’s conservative and moral leader, just remember one simple phrase — A.J. for L.G.”
While McCarron’s political bid made waves in Alabama, the NFL faced its own uproar this week over a decision to invite Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny to headline the next Super Bowl halftime show.
Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the move during a Wednesday press conference after a flood of criticism from fans angry about Bad Bunny’s anti-Trump remarks and controversial performances.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell commented. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism.”
Roger Goodell says he's not reconsidering Bad Bunny as the halftime performer for Super Bowl LX.
So, it's about bringing in money and not about the fans? Got it.
Can we just Bud Light the NFL already?pic.twitter.com/60ysbpYQn4
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) October 22, 2025
“It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching,” he added.
The 31-year-old performer, who’s real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has previously refused to perform on the U.S. mainland, citing concerns over President Trump’s border security and deportation policies. Instead, he has staged most of his concerts in his native Puerto Rico.
Criticism intensified after the rapper brushed off outrage on social media, writing that anyone upset about his act should “learn Spanish” if they wanted to understand it.
The response fueled accusations that the NFL was prioritizing political messaging over American cultural values.
Goodell defended the choice again, saying, “We’re confident it’s going to be a great show. He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”
He also cited Bad Bunny’s worldwide popularity as justification for the selection.
“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said.
“That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.”
President Trump himself weighed in on the controversy, telling reporters he had never heard of the performer.
“I don’t know who he is,” Trump previously said. “I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
The backlash has now taken the form of a grassroots movement. A petition circulating online demanding that country legend George Strait replace Bad Bunny as halftime performer has drawn tens of thousands of signatures.
Would you support George Strait replacing Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show?
A. YES, absolutely!
B. NO, not necessary! pic.twitter.com/Zz3OqrcgRj— USA NEWS 🇺🇸 (@usanewshq) October 23, 2025
The petition argues that the Super Bowl “should unite our country, honor American culture, and remain family-friendly, not be turned into a political stunt.”
It claims Bad Bunny “represents none of these values,” pointing to his drag-inspired performances as examples of “the opposite of what families expect on football’s biggest stage.”
Supporters urged the NFL to select Strait instead, calling him “a legend in the country music genre” whose songs “transcend generations” and celebrate timeless American tradition.
The petition, which had more than 80,000 signatures by Thursday, criticizes the NFL for leaning “increasingly toward modern pop and international artists” in recent years, arguing that the league should “remember the roots that have made American music what it is today.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also joined the criticism, suggesting that the halftime show should feature someone like Lee Greenwood instead.
“I didn’t even know who Bad Bunny was,” Johnson told reporters. “But it sounds like a terrible decision in my view from what I’m hearing.”
🚨 Mike Johnson says Bad Bunny is a “terrible” Super Bowl choice — suggests Lee Greenwood would be better.
This is how out of touch they are with America’s youth.
Bad Bunny is literally the most streamed artist in the world.
This isn’t about values. It’s about control. pic.twitter.com/ismnmUYUaO
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) October 8, 2025
“It sounds like he’s not someone who appeals to a broader audience, and there are so many eyes on the Super Bowl — a lot of young, impressionable children,” he noted.
“And, in my view, you would have Lee Greenwood or Role Models doing that. Not somebody like this.”
Greenwood, who recently appeared alongside President Trump at a memorial service honoring Charlie Kirk, has performed patriotic songs such as “God Bless the USA” at major sporting events across the nation.
Speaking to TMZ, Greenwood said he would love to perform in Bad Bunny’s place at next year’s Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, Turning Point USA, the conservative organization Kirk founded, announced it will host an alternative halftime show during Bad Bunny’s performance.