The Jimmy Kimmel Live! star bowed out of the competition after his salsa to Bad Bunny’s “Tití Me Preguntó” landed the pair at the bottom of the leaderboard. Rodriguez and Witney Carson finished the night with a total score of 22/40 from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, Bruno Tonioli, and guest judge Joe Buck. Reflecting on his departure, Rodriguez stated he had a lot of fun during his time on the show and thanked Carson for teaching him how to dance throughout the season.
This elimination marks a pivotal moment for the remaining contestants competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. For the audience and the remaining stars, the result underscores the intense pressure of Super Bowl Night, where routines were judged against the high-energy standards of iconic halftime performances. The episode, which served as a preview for the upcoming broadcast of Super Bowl LXI in February 2027, highlighted both the technical demands of the dance floor and the emotional stakes for those in danger of leaving the ballroom.
While Rodriguez exited, other couples found success under the spotlight of the first-ever Super Bowl Night. Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov climbed to the top of the leaderboard with a score of 34/40 for their samba to “Mi Gente.” Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas, along with Harry and Jenna Johnson, both secured strong scores of 33/40. Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess avoided elimination despite being in danger earlier in the night, ultimately earning a 30/40 for their jazz routine to “The Time (Dirty Bit).”
Following this elimination, the remaining celebrities, including Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan, Ezra Frech, Amber Glenn, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson, Harry Shum Jr., Julia Stiles, and Connor Wood, will continue to compete in season 35 to stay in the running for the trophy.