National Football League Cheerleading
National Football League Cheerleading, or simply NFL Cheerleading, is a professional cheerleading organization in the United States. 26 of the 32 NFL teams include a cheerleading squad in their franchise. Cheerleaders are a popular attraction that can give a team more coverage/airtime, popular local support, and increased media image. In 1954, the Baltimore Colts became the first NFL team to have cheerleaders. They were part of the Baltimore's Marching Ravens
Most NFL cheerleading squads are a part-time job. Often, cheerleaders have completed or are attending a university, and continue on to other careers after cheering for one to four seasons. The members participate in practice, training camp, games, appearances, photo shoots, and charity events. Apart from their main duties of cheering during the football games, the cheerleaders have many other responsibilities, the main one is marketing the team they cheer for. Nearly every team member is available for appearances at schools, events, conferences, etc., for a set fee.
An anticipated annual event is the release of each squad's calendar, featuring members for each month in swimsuits or uniforms.
Also many cheerleading squads have "Junior Cheerleading" programs, in which they teach children, usually in the 6-12 year age range, on how to dance, perform on selected gamedays with the main squad, and often NFL cheerleaders act as mentors and role models to the children.
As well as being a mainstay of American football culture, the cheerleaders are one of the biggest entertainment groups to regularly perform for the United States Armed Forces overseas with performances and tours being enlisted by the USO. Teams send their variety show, an elite group of their best members, to perform combination shows of dance, music, baton twirling, acrobatics, gymnastics, and more. In February 2007, the Buffalo Bills even sent a squad of eight along with their choreographer into the war zone of Iraq. In 1996, the San Francisco 49ers Cheerleaders and their director helicoptered into the war inflicted country of Bosnia with the USO and the U.S. Army. The U.S. troops in Korea have been entertained during the holiday season with the USO's Bob Hope Tour. Over the years, the tour has featured NFL cheerleaders from the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers.
In 2018, the first male dancers were added to National Football League Cheerleading.
Cheerleader competitions
The first "Battle of the NFL Cheerleaders" was held in 1979 in Hollywood, Florida. Two cheerleaders from each cheerleading team compete against other mini-teams in various athletic events. The events include kayaking, 100 yard dash, obstacle courses, and other events. The Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders took home the title in 1979. In 1980, it was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey and the Washington Redskinettes were the champions. The winners were Shiona Baum and Jeannie Fritz, and each received a car as the grand prize. The competition was resurrected in 2006 by the NFL Network, and was called NFL Cheerleader Playoffs. The playoffs were taped between July 17 and July 21, 2006 at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts. Two-person teams of cheerleaders from 25 of the NFL's 32 teams participated in a four-event series of competitions. The first two events tested the cheerleaders' athletic abilities in events like the 100-yard dash, kayaking, tandem cycling, and the obstacle course. The third event was a trivia challenge called "Know Your NFL." The final competition was a one-minute dance routine, similar to what they normally perform on NFL sidelines. The San Diego Chargers team defeated the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams squads to win the overall championship. The 3 teams finished in a three-way tie, with 210 points. The Chargers were declared the winners based on winning the dance competition.Teams
Listed by name, with corresponding NFL football team.| Current or Most Recent Name | Year Established and Former Names | NFL Team |
| Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders | 1964–1987 St. Louis Cardinals Cheerleaders 1988–1993 Phoenix Cardinals Cheerleaders 1994–present Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders | Arizona Cardinals |
| Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders | 1969–1976 The Falconettes 1976–present Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders | Atlanta Falcons |
| Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders | 1998–present | Baltimore Ravens |
| Buffalo Jills | 1960–1965 Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders 1966–2013 Buffalo Jills | Buffalo Bills |
| Carolina Topcats | 1995–present | Carolina Panthers |
| Chicago Honey Bears | 1976–1985 | Chicago Bears |
| Cincinnati Ben–Gals | 1976–present | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders | 1962–1971 CowBelles & Beaux 1972–present Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders | Dallas Cowboys |
| Denver Broncos Cheerleaders | 1971–1976 Bronco Belles 1977–1980 Pony Express 1993–present Denver Broncos Cheerleaders | Denver Broncos |
| Detroit Lions Cheerleaders | 1963-1974 2016–present Detroit Lions Cheerleaders | Detroit Lions |
| Green Bay Packers Cheerleaders | 1957–1961 Packerettes 1961–1972 Golden Girls 1973–1977 Packerettes 1977–1986 Sideliners 1987–2006 University of Wisconsin–Green Bay cheerleaders 2007–present UWGB and St. Norbert College cheerleaders | Green Bay Packers |
| Houston Texans Cheerleaders | 2002–present | Houston Texans |
| Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders | 1954–1983 Baltimore Colts Cheerleaders 1984–present Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders | Indianapolis Colts |
| Jacksonville ROAR | 1995–present | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders | 1964 Chiefs Cheerleaders 1971-85 Chiefettes 1986–present Chiefs Cheerleaders | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Las Vegas Raiderettes | 1961–present | Las Vegas Raiders |
| Los Angeles Charger Girls | 1960s–70s Chargettes 1990–2016 San Diego Charger Girls 2017–present Los Angeles Charger Girls | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders | 1974–1994 Embraceable Ewes 1995–2015 St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders 2016–present Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders | Los Angeles Rams |
| Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders | 1966–1977 Dolphin Dolls 1978–1983 Dolphins Starbrites 1984–present Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders | Miami Dolphins |
| Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders | 1961–1963 Vi-Queens 1964-1965, 1967–1983 The Parkettes 1966 Edina High School and Mpls Roosevelt High School 1984–present Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders | Minnesota Vikings |
| New England Patriots Cheerleaders | 1977–present | New England Patriots |
| New Orleans Saintsations | 1967 Louisiannes/Saints Dancers 1968 Mademoiselles 1971 Mam’selles 1975–78 Bonnies Amies 1978 Angels 1987–present Saintsations | New Orleans Saints |
| New York Jets Flight Crew | 2006 Jets Flag Crew 2007–present Jets Flight Crew | New York Jets |
| Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders | 1948–1970s Eaglettes 1970s Liberty Belles 1986–present The Eagles Cheerleaders | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Pittsburgh Steelerettes | 1960–1969 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| San Francisco Gold Rush | 1979–present | San Francisco 49ers |
| Seahawks Dancers | Sea Gals 1976–2019 Seahawks Dancers 2019-Present | Seattle Seahawks |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders | 1976–1998 SwashBucklers 1999–present Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders | 1975–1997 The Derrick Dolls 1998–present Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders | Tennessee Titans |
| Washington First Ladies of Football | 1962 Redskinettes 1963–2019 Washington Redskins Cheerleaders 2020–present First Ladies of Football | Washington Football Team |
Teams without cheerleaders
As of 2020, six teams do not have cheerleading squads: Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers do, however, use a collegiate squad to cheer at home games. Super Bowl XLV between the Steelers and the Packers in February 2011 was the first time a Super Bowl featured no cheerleaders. The Browns and the Giants are the only NFL teams that have never had cheerleaders, while the other aforementioned teams have had cheer squads in the past. However, there are reports that the Browns did have cheerleaders in 1971, but no records exist.The Buffalo Bills endorsed the officially independent Buffalo Jills from 1966 to 2013; when several cheerleaders sued both the Bills and the Bills organizations, the Jills suspended operations.
Teams of "unofficial" cheerleaders began emerging in 2010 for NFL teams that don't have their own dance squad. These unofficial cheerleaders aren't sanctioned by the NFL or any franchise in the NFL and therefore are not allowed to perform at games, represent the football team at any outside functions, or use any of the team's branding or trademarked colors on their uniforms. The teams are sponsored by local businesses, and the cheerleaders perform prior to the game, at tailgate parties, and other local events. Some also attend the local NFL games in uniform, and sit together in their block of season ticket seats. Their audition process, costuming, and choreography are very similar to official NFL cheer teams. Some also produce an annual swimsuit calendar, just like the legitimate cheerleaders. All of the independent teams hope at some point to be embraced by the NFL as "official" cheerleaders of their local teams.
- The Detroit Pride Cheerleaders were the first independent professional team, put together in August 2010 to support the Lions. However, as the squad was not officially recognized by the Lions, it could not use the Lions' logos nor colors. In 2016, the Lions started an official cheerleading squad.
- The Gotham City Cheerleaders were organized in August 2011 to support all New York sports, but are most closely associated with the Giants. The team has also been known as the New York Unofficials, the Unofficial Dancers of the New York Giants, and the Gotham’s Team Blue Army Dancers.
- The Cleveland Spirit Cheerleaders were created in September 2012 to support the Browns as a test team to attract fan interest. This cheer team was created by the same people responsible for the Detroit Pride.
Male NFL Cheerleaders
Following trends in dance with popular summer dance series such as the Strictly Come Dancing franchise, So You Think You Can Dance, and World of Dance, where competitions are co-ed, in 2018, the first male dancers were added to National Football League Cheerleading to both the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.
In 2019, the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles added males to their squads, and the Seahawks cheerleaders became the second permanent co-ed squad after the Ravens. Most of the squads' male cheerleaders are involved in stunts.
In most situations, male cheerleaders are typically former college cheerleaders themselves, with a heavy emphasis on stunts and strength training.
Criticism and controversy
There have been criticisms that NFL cheerleading is sexist due to a notion that it is objectifying women, exploitative, and outdated.In addition, several cheerleaders have sued their respective teams for violating minimum wage laws, mistreatment from management, and exploitative rules and behaviors.
However defenders and proponents of NFL Cheerleading have stated that cheerleading helps young women engage with the NFL at the most visible and prominent level, provide the NFL with role models for its female fans, and are a cost-effective way of promoting a team at events.
NFL spokesperson David Tossell in 2013 defended NFL cheerleading by stating, "Cheerleading has a long tradition in the majority of American sports at both professional and amateur levels; Cheerleaders are part of American football culture from youth leagues to the NFL and are part of the game day experience for our fans."
Male NFL cheerleaders have increased in the 2010s to help offset changing societal attitudes and concerns that NFL cheerleading was sexist.