Twenty-five of the thirty-two National Football League (NFL) teams have cheerleading squads who perform on the sideline during games. In 1954, the Baltimore Colts became the first NFL team to have cheerleaders. Apart from the New York Giants, every current NFL franchise has had cheerleaders at some point in its history.
Cheerleading in the NFL is a part-time job. In addition to their main duties of cheering during football games, cheerleaders may have other responsibilities related to marketing the team for which they cheer, such as paid appearances, photoshoots, and charity events.
As well as being a mainstay of American football culture, 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 United Service Organizations (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 1996, the San Francisco 49ers Cheerleaders and their director helicoptered into Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War with the USO and the U.S. Army. In February 2007, the Buffalo Bills sent a squad of eight along with their choreographer into the warzone of Iraq. 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, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders.
In addition to USO tours, Armed Forces Entertainment (A.F.E) was established in 1951 and sent off their first ProBlitz Tour in 2019. These ProBlitz Tours include Super Bowl celebrations, kids' cheer clinics, and meet & greet opportunities at military bases around the world. The 2026 ProBlitz Tours included traveling to bases in Diego Garcia, Japan, Guam, Korea, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and many more.
Teams with cheerleaders NFL team Current Squad NameYears activeFormer Squad Names Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders1994–presentSt. Louis Cardinals Cheerleaders (1964–1987)Phoenix Cardinals Cheerleaders (1988–1993) Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders1976–presentFalconettes (1969–1976) Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders1998–presentNone Carolina Panthers Carolina Topcats1995–presentNone Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Ben-Gals1976–presentNone Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders1972–presentDallas Cheerleaders History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. CowBelles and Beaux (1961–1971) Denver Broncos Denver Broncos Cheerleaders1993–presentBronco Belles (1971-1976)Pony Express (1977–1985) Detroit Lions Detroit Lions Cheerleaders1963–19742016-presentNoneGreen Bay PackersUniversity of Wisconsin–Green Bay cheerleadersSt. Norbert College cheerleaders1987–present (UWGB)2007–present (SNC)Packerettes (1957–1961)Golden Girls (1961–1972)Packerettes (1973–1977)Green Bay Packerettes, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Retrieved September 21, 2007Ex-Packers cheerleader writes winning slogan for fence , September 9, 2007, Retrieved September 21, 2007Sideliners (1977–1986)Legends on Parade to highlight Packers' Glory Years , Green Bay Press-Gazette, August 24, 2007, Retrieved September 21, 2007 Houston Texans Houston Texans Cheerleaders2002–presentNone Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders1984–presentBaltimore Colts Cheerleaders (1954–1983) Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Roar1995–presentNone Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders1986–presentKansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.Chiefs Cheerleaders (1964)Chiefettes (1971–1985) Las Vegas Raiders Las Vegas Raiderettes1961–presentOakland Raiderettes History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. Oakland Raiderettes (1961–1982, 1995–2019) Los Angeles Raiderettes (1982–1995) Los Angeles Rams Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders2016–presentEmbraceable Ewes (1974–1994)St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders (1995–2015) Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Retrieved February 10, 2010.1984–presentDolphin Dolls (1966–1977)Dolphins Starbrites (1978–1983) Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders1984–presentVi-Queens (1961–1963)The Parkettes (St. Louis Park High School cheerleaders) (1964–1965, 1967–1983)Edina High School and Roosevelt High School cheerleaders (1966) New England Patriots New England Patriots Cheerleaders1977–presentNone New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints Cheer Krewe2021–presentLouisiannes/Saints Dancers (1967)Mademoiselles (1968)Mam’selles (1971)Bonnies Amies (1975–78)Angels (1978)Saintsations (1987–2021) Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders1986–presentEaglettes (1948–1970s)Liberty Belles (1970s) San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush1979–presentGold Rush History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.None Seattle Seahawks Seahawks Dancers2019–presentSea Gals (1976–2019)Sea Gals History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders1999–presentSwashBucklers (1976–1998) Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders1998–presentThe Derrick Dolls (Houston/Tennessee Oilers) (1975–1997)Washington CommandersCommand Force2022–presentRedskinettes (1962–1997)Washington Redskins Cheerleaders "First Ladies of Football" (1998–2020)Washington Entertainment Team (Washington Football Team) (2021)
Teams without cheerleaders
NFL teamFormer Squad Names Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills Cheerleaders (1960–1965)Buffalo Jills (1966–2013)Chicago BearsChicago Honey Bears (1976–1985)Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns Cheerleaders (1960s, 1971) Los Angeles ChargersChargettes (1960s–70s)San Diego Charger Girls (1990–2016)Los Angeles Charger Girls (2017–2021)Charger Girls History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. New York GiantsNone (never had cheerleaders) New York JetsJet Set Rockettes (1966–1969)Jets Flag Crew (2006)Jets Flight Crew (2007–2022) Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelerettes (1960–1969)Steelerettes History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.
As of 2025, seven teams do not have cheerleading squads: the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Giants are the only existing NFL franchise that has never had cheerleaders.
The Buffalo Bills endorsed the officially independent Buffalo Jills from 1966 to 2013; when several cheerleaders sued both the Bills and the Jills organizations, the Jills suspended operations.
Because the Packers' cheerleading squads only perform at home games, Super Bowl XLV between the Steelers and the Packers was the first Super Bowl to not feature cheerleaders.
Teams of "unofficial" cheerleaders began emerging in 2010 for NFL teams that did not have their own dance squad. These unofficial cheerleaders are not 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 at 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 official 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 or 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 and transgender cheerleaders
Glenn Welt was the first male to try out as an NFL cheerleader, doing so on May 20, 1978. The Miami Dolphins would not let him compete when he arrived at the Orange Bowl in Miami. The incident later became a nationwide news story, led to a federal anti-discrimination case,U.S. District Court in Florida Case #78-5647 and was spoofed on a November 1979 episode of Mork & Mindy. The episode caused plans for a CBS made-for-TV movie starring Robin Williams as Welt to be scrapped, while also misrepresenting Welt and male cheerleaders in general when Williams pranced onto a football field dressed in a female outfit.TV Guide 11-24-1979Washington Post 6-23-1979Newsweek 11-26-1979Cheerleader story 5-27-1978 The Free Lance-StarThe Miami News 7-29-1980Gadsden Times 2-1-1979The Evening Independent 7-30-1980
Male NFL cheerleaders as dancers for the past few decades have been rare due to social norms and marketability. However, in 1998 the Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders were the first squad to start using male stuntmen.
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 2009, the first male dancers were added to the National Football League by the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys introduced the Rhythm & Blue Dancers, founded by Charlotte Jones and directed by Jenny Durbin Smith, becoming the first co-ed dance team in NFL history. They perform at every home game on stage, at halftime, and on the sidelines, with their dynamic hip-hop dancing, stunting, freestyle, and tumbling. They are also responsible for the first NFL drum corps and in 2017 created a 7–16 year old co-ed hip-hop dance team called the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Squad. In 2018, the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints adopted male dancers to their dance teams as well.
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. In 2021, for the first time, the Panthers TopCats had multiple (three) men make the final team, with the Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders also adding a man to their team. Most of the squads' male cheerleaders are involved in stunts.
In March 2022, Justine Lindsay, a transgender woman, made the Carolina Topcats, becoming the first openly transgender person to cheer in the NFL.
In August 2025, during the 2025 preseason, the Vikings introduced two male cheerleaders, which led to national backlash on social media. The Vikings defended the two in an official statement, saying, "[M]ale cheerleaders have been a part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional 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, swimming 100-yard dash, obstacle courses, and jet skiing. 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.