U2 understood the assignment

There was only U2 around at the time that knew how to handle a show like this. Only U2 could handle the pressure of the superbowl half time show after 9/11.

They played MSG at the end of 2001 and brought the New York fire department on stage with them.

Only U2 have the power and soul to do this

To this day, since the modern era of half time shows, NO artists have avoided the cliche tropes of obligatory Pyrotechnics, dances, colloaborators/guest appearances, medleys, and over-the-top theatrics. NO ONE, except U2 dared or cared to just go out an play and unadorned as possible. Note that ALL focus was on the names. There was NOTHING to distract from this. U2 also demanded that all the advertisement during this song were shut off. There wasn't even a "U2" logo on the drum kit. The flag was also only inside his jacket, opened at the end of the song (a fan brought it the one flag you can see in the crowd, that was not part of the planned production). Note that usually, scrolling direction is downward, here all the people were lifted upward. The directive and focus is unwavering.

Sidenote: The idea, and the work of compiling all the names were all U2... They were doing this on tour before the Super Bowl.

It makes me very emotional seeing all those names 😢😢😢

The best Band in My entire life, they are the soundtrack of My life...U2 Forever and for me the Best performance in the history of the súper bowl most epic .....🤟🏻😎🖤⚡♨️🇲🇽

No Super Bowl halftime show, before or since, will ever equal this. Not Micheal, JT, The Stones, The Boss, Prince, Lady Gaga or whoever else has ever come close. U2 take every second they're given and make every last one count.

Bono opening his jacket to reveal the American flag has to be one of the most powerful live concert moments ever

U2 were the first major act to play in NYC (not counting tribute shows) post-9/11.  Execs from the NFL were in attendance at one of the shows, which was how the Halftime performance came to fruition.  They announced the Halftime Show around Thanksgiving, and the league went the full nine yards with promotion, using songs like Until the End of the World and Bad in their TV spots.

Saw them in Atlanta right after 9/11 (October something) and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house

I think this song by U2 is the most important and powerful song ever at a Super Bowl Halftime Show because of what it represents at the moment in time. The last time the USA was united was when Bono opened his leather jacket posing with the custom made USA flag inner liner.

I saw an early version of this concept a few weeks before this epic event. This performance completely overshadowed  the Super Bow and cemented U2 as the greatest live act of all time. When we saw the early version of this as an arena show there was not a dry eye in the house. The main difference as the song "Walk On" was used. At one point the projections on the crowd turned into suitcases with little hearts in the center on each section of the arena. My friend who did not really want to go came away with the quote "The was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced from a band". So true.

The best half time performance by far & will never be topped. Prince #2, also excellent but U2's performance, the tribute to the 911 victims & Bono opening his jacket to reveal the American flag  is one of the most stunning performances in Rock history. Epic.

One of best  iconic performances in history, to me it felt like the beginning of healing from trauma it was only 5 or 6 months after the events

New York forgot within 25 years 💔 but history remembers

I saw them on this tour 30 days after 9/11 in Providence RI. They had already started scrolling the names during the show. About as emotional show close as you can get. They actually did a show at MSG in NY a week after 9/11 just for f
NYFD and NYPD.
Years later, (2015?) they had to cancel a show in Paris b/c the day before the terrorist gunmen massacred all of those ppl. They came back a couple weeks later and brought the band, who was playing when the terrorists attacked, out on stage and did a couple songs with them. Another powerful moment.

I saw them just 3 months before 9/11 in NJ. When i saw this i bawled my eyes out and i feel teary right now. This performance was so healing and cathartic. The whole country became  U2 fans that day

"One thing the band care deeply about, is that people are not statistics. So, our idea is let us just present these people their names. There was a lot of hostility from our management and circle around the band to that idea (projecting the names). "no, no, you cannot do that in New York. It's too much". I said No. No. We MUST do that.  That's how you honour people. No relative want's to believe they just lost a statistic" - Bono

I don’t tend to cry at Super Bowl halftime shows but this one hit the feels. Emotions were still so raw at the time and this was absolutely the right band at the right time.

Was brutal to get through at the time. 😢

Every year ESPN ranks the halftime shows best to worst, and U2’s is always 1 or 2. The top 3 spots are always U2, Prince and Michael Jackson( not always in that particular order)