NFL

Known for his flair and candor, Shaquille O’Neal has never been one to ignore the spotlight.

Read more DRC Rolls Out Central Gambling Oversight System to Track Player Behaviour

If anything, the Basketball Hall of Famer bathes in the glow. He was a memorable presence on the floor. In retirement, he has proven similarly noteworthy, cementing his status as one of sport’s grandest personalities on «Inside the NBA.»

A pop culture icon, O’Neal will return to center stage on Sunday afternoon when the Saints take on the Raiders. It’s just not in the way one might initially expect.

With that, here’s what you need to know about O’Neal’s impending performance at New Orleans’ Week 2 halftime show (yes, seriously).

MORE: Why Tyler Shough’s game-winning TD vs. Ravens drew controversy

Why Shaq is headlining an NFL halftime show

O’Neal will take to New Orleans — a stone’s throw from his old stomping grounds in Baton Rouge — to soundtrack the Saints’ clash with the Raiders.

This Sunday, the #Saints will welcome fans back to the @CaesarsDome for the home opener vs. the Raiders with @DJDiesel headlining the halftime show! ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/bWiw8CIQgG

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 21, 2026

While O’Neal has flaunted his musicality before — he released four rap albums during the 1990s, including «Shaq Diesel,» which went platinum — he has transitioned to a new form of music. The Basketball Hall of Famer goes by DJ Diesel now, spurning his rap persona for electronic music.

O’Neal released his first album under the Diesel moniker in 2023. His songs teem with his musical influences; the 2023 tape, «Gorilla Warfare», featured hints of dubstep, house, trap and hip-hop. He’ll still occasionally bring the bars — O’Neal dropped a verse on Redman’s «Lite It Up» in 2024.

Read more Buenos Aires Bars Child-Support Debtors From Online Betting Platforms

But at this point in his career, O’Neal is most fluent with his turntables. He’ll be tasked with setting the mood as New Orleans attempts to push itself above .500 with a win over its much-maligned adversary.

MORE: How Jaxson Dart’s MCL injury compares to Jordan Love, T.J. Watt, others

Where is Shaquille O’Neal from?

O’Neal was born in New Jersey. He played high school ball in Texas, having moved there when his father, a member of the U.S. military, was transferred to a base in San Antonio. O’Neal also spent time in Georgia and Germany during his youth. Despite this, he still regards New Jersey — and more specifically, Newark — as his home.

 «Newark is really still home, where my relatives live,» O’Neal wrote in his autobiography. «I can always go back and see the people I grew up with.»

Despite his Newark roots, the state of Louisiana was quite consequential to his on-court success.

O’Neal attended LSU, shining on Dale Brown’s team alongside Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (born Chris Jackson). A two-time All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year recipient and the 1991 Adolph Rupp Trophy winner, O’Neal was inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame.

A 900-pound statue of him was erected in front of the Tigers’ practice facility in 2011.

Read more NBA