Why Are People So Mad About Male Cheerleaders in the NFL?
The Minnesota Vikings probably didn’t expect a simple roster announcement to light up the internet. But when they introduced cheerleaders Louie Conn and Blaize Shiek in an Instagram video earlier this month, all it took was one backflip and a pom-pom shake to send football fans into a frenzy.
There were a lot of mixed reactions, and even a few politicians and ex-players weighed in. Suddenly, male cheerleaders in the NFL went from the sidelines to the center stage. So why does this topic stir up such strong feelings?
A Growing Trend in the NFL
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Kenneth C. Zirkel
The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints added male cheerleaders to their squads in 2018, and their numbers have steadily grown since then. As of 2025, about a third of NFL teams have men on their cheer rosters, including big names like the Eagles, Patriots, Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens, Panthers, Colts, Buccaneers, and Titans. Conn and Shiek now join that group by earning their spots through the same tough audition process as their teammates.
The NFL’s official stance is simple. These men aren’t publicity stunts. Every performer goes through grueling tryouts, has a strong dance background, and is expected to bring energy to game day like anyone else. Still, for some fans, the sight of men front and center in routines has been harder to accept than expected.
The Backlash and the Big Voices
Social media lit up as soon as the Vikings dropped their cheer video. Users called it embarrassing and claimed they’d lost respect for the team. The criticism quickly snowballed into political talking points. Senator Tommy Tuberville questioned whether men should be part of cheer squads, saying sports should stay divided by gender. Former NFL player Antonio Brown joined the backlash online by posting a homophobic slur.
On the other side, Fox Sports’ Joy Taylor rolled her eyes at the uproar, calling it “outrage over nothing.” Support also poured in from fellow NFL cheerleaders. Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders Dalton Walsh, James LeGette, and Alex Fan encouraged Conn and Shiek to ignore the noise and keep dancing while reminding them that their spots were earned.
Challenging Football Culture
@cnnNapoleon Jinnies, one the NFL’s first male cheerleaders, joined CNN’s Boris Sanchez to discuss the backlash the Minnesota Vikings are facing after the team announced this year’s cheer squad which included two male cheerleaders. Since the announcement, the two cheerleaders have been receiving hateful comments online.♬ original sound – CNN
Football has always been packaged as a sport of toughness. Giant men collide on the field while ultra-feminine cheerleaders smile from the sidelines. Throwing men into that carefully curated image is bound to shake things up.
Tiffany Beveridge, president of The Canadian Football Cheerleaders Alumni Organization, explained, “Cheerleading is such a blend of athleticism and performance, and it’s not something that should be defined by gender.” People are used to seeing men lift, toss, or do stunts, but watching them perform the same moves as women messes with expectations of masculinity.
Napoleon Jinnies, one of the first male cheerleaders in NFL history with the Rams, said it feels different for some fans because men aren’t just accessories anymore. They’re fully integrated, front and center, doing the same choreography as their female teammates. That flips the old football image on its head, and not everyone is ready for it.
More Than Just Pom-Poms
Former NFL player RK Russel wrote that the outrage is about trying to police masculinity. Some people are still clinging to rigid ideas of what a man should look like, especially in the hyper-masculine world of football. Conn and Shiek represent a different kind of athleticism, one that’s strong, graceful, and unapologetically joyful.
And not all fans are upset. Scroll through the Vikings’ Instagram and you’ll find plenty of positive messages. Supporters praised the team for taking an inclusive step and even promised new loyalty to the Vikings because of their cheer squad. Conn added his own perspective with a childhood photo of him in the splits, captioned “I’m right where I was meant to be.”
The Future of NFL Cheer
Image via Getty Images/danp68
The backlash shows no signs of disappearing, but the support is growing just as fast. Male cheerleaders are likely to become even more common as teams continue to diversify their rosters. For kids watching at home who love to dance but feel pressured to quit, Conn, Shiek, and their peers might be game-changers.