Super Bowl

Jim Harbaugh and the L.A. Chargers' first year together is going better than many were expecting ... and Shawne Merriman's thrilled about it -- 'cause he told everyone who would listen before the season he knew they'd be good!

The ex-pass rusher sat down with TMZ Sports just prior to the Bolts' 2024 kickoff -- and he was adamant back then that his former team had a real chance to make a run to the AFC Championship game.

This week, when we caught back up with him -- he gloated about his preseason forecast -- telling us that after being around the team in the summer, he just had a real feeling this Chargers team could be a Super Bowl contender.

Lil Wayne was "devastated" when he wasn't given the chance to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in his hometown ... but if Todd Graves gets his way, he can be a part of the first-ever Super Bowl parade in New Orleans!!!

TMZ Sports caught up with the Raising Cane's founder -- the newly crowned "King" of the Super Bowl host committee parade going down Feb. 8 -- and he says while he doesn't make the decisions regarding the halftime show, Tunechi has an open invite to the parade.

"Lil Wayne," he said. "I would love it, and I will ask him, if Lil Wayne wants to be a part of the parade with me. That'd be quite an honor. He's a New Orleans, Louisiana legend. We love him."

Even Big Freedia admitted their bounce lost some of its spring when Lil Wayne was snubbed and denied the headline halftime spot in his hometown New Orleans Super Bowl ... and turns out the entire city is feeling the burn!!!

We interviewed Big Freedia on 'The TMZ Podcast' and word in the 504 streets is that everyone in New Orleans is sad for Wayne -- especially since he attempted to put things into existence months ago ... but ended up gutted when Kendrick Lamar got the nod.

Big Freedia told hosts Charlie Neff and Wyld Young there's still hope ... Kendrick could easily share stage time with Wayne in February and all would be right in the world ... and wards.

Saints star Demario Davis is pumped the Super Bowl's coming to New Orleans, but the 5x All-Pro wholeheartedly believes Lil Wayne should be part of the halftime show!

TMZ Sports asked 35-year-old Davis about the controversial SB situation -- which has the internet/music world in a frenzy -- in the wake of the NFL announcing Kendrick Lamar as the halftime show performer, despite Weezy, a legend in the city, wanting the gig.

While DD makes it clear he's not disrespecting K-Dot -- in fact, he called Kendrick and Taylor Swift the hottest acts in all music -- he also talked about the importance of having someone from Louisiana, given the rich music history, be part of the halftime show.

Grammy-winning jazz musician Robert Glasper knows a thing or two about jamming with Kendrick Lamar ... and he says his schedule will miraculously be free should he get the call to join him on that Super Bowl 59 halftime stage!!!

We linked with Rob at LAX Friday, and he tells us the chances may be slim, but if K. Dot needs him to key up any tracks from his 2015 monster album "To Pimp A Butterfly," he's the guy -- because he was the guy when it was recorded!!!

Rob worked on smooth songs such as "These Walls" and "The Blacker The Berry" with his homies Terrace Martin and Thundercat ... amazing compositions -- but thinks K. Dot will crank up the energy for the Big Dance and drop "Not Like Us."

Kendrick Lamar has plenty of hits to choose from when he hits the Super Bowl 59 halftime stage next year -- and has plenty of options with several of his fellow rappers as well!!!

We caught up with Rich The Kid at LAX this week and he tells TMZ Hip Hop that K. Dot can easily dominate the performance on his own ... but Rich wouldn't scoff at the opportunity to perform their 2017 double-platinum collab "New Freezer."

That said ... RTK admits he would immediately turn around and give that hypothetical slot to Lil Wayne, who was pitted into the Super Bowl convo when Kendrick got picked in Wayne's hometown.

Lil Wayne is speaking out after not being selected to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show ... and he's not mincing words -- the snub has left him devastated.

Wayne took to IG on Friday morning ... where he spoke directly to his fans in an earnest video, thanking them for their support over the past several days and explaining how disappointed he is not to be chosen to take the stage in New Orleans.

LW says he's been building the strength to address the situation "without breaking." He makes his feelings clear ... when he wasn't selected, it hurt -- a whole lot.

Kendrick Lamar's viral new song validated Dee-1's unyielding message that hip hop culture has sunk into Hades -- and the New Orleans-bred rapper is etching it as a career-changing moment!!!

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Dee on Thursday, just hours after Kendrick shouted him out on the song being dubbed, "Watch The Party Die."

Kendrick seemingly mutes himself with the somewhat cryptic bars, "I want to be empathetic, my heart like Dee-1 but I would ___" ... and Dee thinks the Compton lyricist was metaphorically saying he would blacken his soul to combat the evils of the world, and decided that silence would be the best punchline to end the rhyme.

Kendrick Lamar's not gonna kill Roger Goodell's vibe at Super Bowl LIX ... 'cause the NFL commish says he's "absolutely" a fan of this year's halftime performer.

Goodell was out in the Big Apple with his wife, Jane, on Wednesday ... when photogs asked for his thoughts on the 17-time Grammy winner getting picked to take the stage in New Orleans in February.

"Feeling great [about it]!!" Goodell told a camera person ... while adding he's an enthusiast of the Compton MC's discography.

Jennifer Lopez is getting deep with Matt Damon, Lil Wayne fans are upset at a snub, and Joey Chestnut is pounding brats ... all this on today's TMZ TV Hot Takes.

First up on "TMZ Live," Harvey and Charles break down J Lo's emotional moment with estranged husband Ben Affleck's good friend.

Big Boy is baffled Kendrick Lamar was chosen to perform the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show over Lil Wayne ... saying there was an obvious decision here that was not made.

We caught up with the radio host on "TMZ Live" Monday, where BB shared his unfiltered opinion on Kendrick scoring the coveted halftime spot for Super Bowl LIX ... set to take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana in February.

According to Big Boy, ahead of Sunday's announcement he would've bet big money that Lil Wayne would be tapped for the huge honor ... since NOLA is his hometown and all.

Charlamagne Tha God thinks people need to lay off Jay-Z and Roc Nation for selecting Kendrick Lamar over Lil Wayne for the Super Bowl 59 halftime show in New Orleans ... and start congratulating them for keeping Taylor Swift off the stage!!!

The controversy over K. Dot surpassing Wayne in his hometown continued, with that choice frowned upon by the likes of Master P and DJ Akademiks -- but on Monday's 'Breakfast Club' segment, Charlamagne said Taylor's omission was cause to ceeelebrate-good-times-c'mon!!!

Taylor's record sales have been shattering the atmosphere the last few years, but Charlamagne applauded Roc Nation's clear push of Hip Hop/R&B acts as of late ... and the performers just happen to be Black!!!

Nicki Minaj won't have to go at Jay-Z all by her lonesome ... Birdman has entered the Super Bowl LIX chat, and he has some tough talk toward the Roc Nation boss!!!

Much fuss has been made about Kendrick Lamar performing at the upcoming halftime show in New Orleans -- the home base of arguably the biggest rap label ever -- Cash Money Records.

After Nicki took swipes at Jay and Roc Nation in defense of Lil Wayne on Monday, Birdman backed her up and promised revenge ... "These n***** P**** @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these n***** respek us on Gladys," a nod to his deceased mother.

Kendrick Lamar's taking the stage at the next Super Bowl, but not everyone's stoked about it -- 'cause some wanted hometown favorite Lil Wayne in New Orleans next year.

Here's the deal ... this morning, the NFL announced K. Dot as the headliner for the biggest gig in sports -- not exactly a surprise given the success of his Drake diss track "Not Like Us."

While many people are excited Kendrick's getting his own show after appearing alongside other rap legends like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent back at SB LVI, others are pointing out New Orleans has its own star rapper who should've got the top spot.

Kendrick Lamar will perform the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, the NFL and hip hop superstar announced Sunday morning ... one of the highest profile gigs in the world!

The pick makes a ton of sense. Kendrick, a 17x Grammy winner, had arguably the song of the summer in "Not Like Us," and with Drake, was part of the biggest rap beef in at least a decade.

"What’s the deal everybody, my name is Kendrick Lamar and I’ll be performing at Super Bowl 59," K. Dot said in the announcement video, as he stood on a football field, in front of a giant American flag, and fired balls from a Jugs machine.