A new report claims the league’s halftime playbook misfired. The report alleges that Jay-Z never delivered a formal invitation for Taylor Swift to perform at the Super Bowl, despite weeks of hype. As per an insider cited in Rob Shuter’s Substack report dated October 9, 2025, “They look like amateurs.”
The item frames a Jay-Z Taylor Swift Super Bowl show as chatter, not a bid. It also suggests the Jay-Z NFL partnership blurred expectations and left executives “furious” about mixed signals.
Jay-Z let NFL ‘look like amateurs’ after not giving Taylor Swift formal Super Bowl invitation, source claims
As per a top insider quoted in the report, “Everyone inside the NFL thought Taylor was officially offered the gig.” The same insider added, “But there was never a real offer — just some light chatter.” That description undercuts rumors of a locked Jay-Z-Taylor Swift Super Bowl show. It also points to internal confusion around the Jay-Z NFL pipeline for halftime decisions.
Another source pushed a parallel track, stating, “Jay Z had Bad Bunny in mind all along.” The item says conversations with Swift’s camp were cordial. As per the report: “He was polite with Taylor’s team but never serious.” That stance would explain why a Taylor Swift Super Bowl performance never advanced beyond speculation.
The fallout, insiders claim, is reputational. As per Rob Shuter’s Substack report, the insider stated, “They look like amateurs.” League brass reportedly feel misled by assumptions baked into the Jay-Z NFL relationship. The message is that process, not personalities, created the optics problem. A Jay-Z Taylor Swift Super Bowl show, the piece argues, was never really on the table.
Swift’s side appears unfazed. The report notes ongoing album momentum and major life headlines. One executive put it cheekily: “Taylor doesn’t need the Super Bowl — the Super Bowl needs Taylor.” In that telling, a Taylor Swift Super Bowl performance would be additive, not essential. The league, meanwhile, resets its halftime calculus for the year ahead.
Originally reported by Santanu Das on RealityTea.
