» RELATED: Super Bowl prep underway in Atlanta

Folks across social media echoed his sentiments, some even offering up lists of iconic Atlanta artists the league could have picked instead.

Maroon 5? With all the artists from Atlanta that are 100 times better? Somebody on the Super Bowl entertainment booking staff needs to be relieved of all duties, pronto. — PoeticGenius916 (@CMont916) September 20, 2018

Atlanta, home of Outkast, T.I., Future, Ludacris, Usher, etc., gets Maroon 5 to play the damn Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/KHpGNRsJGX — Jake Reuse (@ReuseRecruiting) September 19, 2018

Or Migos or Gucci or 2 Chainz or about half a dozen other rappers. I bet Maroon 5 brings out Atlanta adjacent rapper Cardi B for a feature though. — Andrew Tuegel (@ATuegel) September 19, 2018

When the NFL picks Maroon 5 to perform at halftime of the Super Bowl.



In.



Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/2CG1IxVtS5 — Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 19, 2018

A brief list of musicians more fitting for Atlanta's Super Bowl than Maroon 5 pic.twitter.com/TF8oTEkADa — Jason Kirk (@JasonKirkSBN) September 19, 2018

» RELATED: 12 hip-hop landmarks to visit in metro Atlanta

Even the Ludameister aka Ludacris chimed in with a little shade of his own.

And it’s true, Atlanta is indeed the birthplace of legendary artists and groups, including Outkast, T.I., Ludacris, Gucci Mane, Childish Gambino, Migos — the list goes on.

But, as Billboard.com pointed out after the Variety reveal, there are some reasons why the NFL's decision to pick Maroon 5 makes a bit of sense. There's the fact that the band has several smash hits to its name, a celebrity frontliner Adam Levine leading the gig and plenty of songs featuring famous names like Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar and SZA.

» RELATED: 5 Atlanta hip-hop albums you should listen to before watching 'Atlanta'



Waka Flocka Flame told TMZ he believes the league's views on the Colin Kaepernick-led movement to kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial inequality may have influenced the halftime show decision.

And again, he wasn’t alone in feeling that.



"I'm confused at the surprise over Maroon 5," Twitter user @_AWat_ said. "Colin K is still out. Why would the NFL be fumbling around getting rejected by major hip hop acts that want to take a stand like Jay did last year?" referring to Jay-Z's refusal to perform at last year's Super Bowl in Minnesota. There was speculation that the rapper said no to the league as a way to show support for Kaepernick.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently reported that entertainment surrounding and leading up to the Feb. 3 game won't be unveiled until late September or early October, with an official halftime show notice in November. In response to the speculation, a spokesman for the Pepsi Halftime Show told the AJC "we do not have any announcements to make on what will be another epic show."

Super Bowl LIII will be held on Feb. 3, 2019, at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

This will be Atlanta’s third Super Bowl after the Georgia Dome hosted Super Bowl XXVIII on Jan. 30, 1994 (Dallas Cowboys vs. Buffalo Bills) and Super Bowl XXXIV on Jan. 30, 2000 (St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans.)

All things Super Bowl 53 at ajc.com.