Justin Herbert Names Super Bowl Halftime Show Favorite

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, fresh off a strong showing against the Kansas City Chiefs, has made headlines again with his Super Bowl halftime show prediction. During an appearance on Mark Sanchez's "Rearview" podcast, Herbert was asked to choose between three artists for the coveted performance slot in February 2026.

In a surprising twist, Herbert selected Post Malone over Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. While Swift is the fiancée of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Herbert's choice reflects a different perspective on who might take the stage during the NFL's biggest event.

Post Malone, who has previously performed at the Super Bowl but never during halftime, sang "America the Beautiful" in 2024 before the Chiefs clinched their fourth championship against the San Francisco 49ers. His experience could lend itself well to a halftime performance.

Despite Herbert's pick, many fans are still holding out hope for Swift. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stoked the speculation during a recent interview, stating, "We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent." His comments hinted at the possibility of her involvement, though he remained vague about any ongoing negotiations.

Swift's own hints have not gone unnoticed. During her appearance on Kelce's "New Heights" podcast in August, she mentioned watching every Super Bowl halftime show and made intriguing references that some fans interpreted as clues. For instance, she noted thinking about sourdough bread "60 percent of the time," coinciding with the 60th Super Bowl and the San Francisco 49ers' mascot.

Additionally, she expressed gratitude to Jason Kelce for "screaming for 47 seconds," a nod to Levi's Stadium being the 47th stop on her Era's Tour. Although Swift has yet to perform at the Super Bowl, she has attended the last two games to support Kelce, raising further speculation about her potential appearance.

Swift has previously stated she would not accept a Super Bowl gig until she regained ownership of her music. With her recent acquisition of the masters for her first six albums, that barrier has been lifted. Regardless of whether she performs at the Super Bowl, Swift is set for a busy schedule with her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, releasing on October 3.