Tue, August 19, 2025
Male NFL cheerleaders cause a stir and highlight bigotry within sport
With around one-third of National Football League (NFL) teams embracing male cheerleaders, the league has faced backlash, which has also highlighted the bigotry within sport. The Los Angeles Rams made history back in 2018 by allowing two males, Quinton Peron and Napolean Jinnies, to cheer. They went on to perform at the Super Bowl in 2019.
Since then, the number of male cheerleaders has steadily grown. New Orleans Saints will reportedly include 12 men among 47 performers in their 2025 cheer team.
The Minnesota Vikings are also embracing male cheerleaders and issued the following statement:
“While many fans may be seeing male cheerleaders for the first time at Vikings games, male cheerleaders have been part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading…
In 2025, approximately one third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders. Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders programme has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process. Individuals were selected because of their talent, passion for dance and dedication to elevating the game-day experience. We support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organisation.”
RK Russell, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, highlighted, whilst expressing his support for the male cheerleaders, that in the mid-19th century, cheerleading was considered a masculine sport, which presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush all participated in.
However, the NFL is now facing backlash for allowing the growth of male cheerleaders. Republican congressman, Clay Higgins, voiced: “I don’t think the NFL actually wants conservatives to watch their football games. And I must say if that’s the NFL business model, they’re doing very, very well.”
Additionally, former Miami Dolphins and New York Giants placekicker, Jay Feely, stated: “Why are we trying to have men replace women in sports? It’s not safe and it’s unfair…
We have to continually find ways to protect women and women’s sports, and when I’m in Congress, I will be a fearless defender of girls’ sports.”
Russell also highlighted that in the heat of the backlash, “a homophobic slur [was] wielded by a former NFL player whose name deserves no mention in this or any other reputable publication.”
In response to such statements that were homophobic or advocated traditional forms of masculinity within sport, Russell expressed: “Just as Christian nationalism has long been weaponised to marginalise queer people, so too has sport. Sport is used to draw lines around what’s “American” and “man enough.” But those lines were never drawn for protection; they were drawn for power.”
He also suggested that the energy used on berating male cheerleaders should be turned towards managing the serious concussions faced by NFL players, scandals which plague sport, and dwindling youth interest.
Women’s rights campaigner and former British swimmer, Sharron Davies, said: “I’m all for this. Us females cannot have it every which way, if we want equality it must go both ways.”
Presenter, Joy Taylor, stated: “So teaching kids slavery was not a big deal is acceptable but male cheerleaders is where ‘conservatives’ draw the line. Also, this isn’t new so as usual, outrage over nothing.”
