Dalton Walsh, James LeGette, and Alex Fan—cheerleaders for the Philadelphia Eagles—are challenging that. They’re teaming up with Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn from the Minnesota Vikings to fend off criticism that they’ve faced for being male members of NFL cheerleading teams. Today, about a third of all NFL teams have male cheerleaders. These athletes are committed to driving acceptance and understanding while sharing their love for dance.
In recent years, the addition of male cheerleaders has made notable strides in the NFL. It isn’t just in football—through their policy changes, the Rams became the first team to hire male cheerleaders in 2018. Since then, teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Baltimore Ravens have followed suit, showcasing a commitment to diversity within their cheerleading programs.
Shiek and Conn recently shared a photo on Instagram in their Vikings uniforms, but their post was met with backlash on social media. As one of our Recess creators wrote, “How embarrassing,” bringing to light the extreme prejudice male cheerleaders still experience today. After getting disinvited, Shiek and Conn went on Instagram to shame gender-critics. They did release a joint statement, boasting to be the first agents of change.
As Charlotte Panthers James LeGette told us being a member of an NFL Cheerleader squad is a “life-changing experience”! He commented that through this opportunity they are able to encourage young boys who would like to dance.
“We never know when we have that little boy who also loves to dance, and we have that amazing opportunity to show them that they can do anything that they put their minds to,” – James LeGette
Despite understanding the backlash that Shiek and Conn have received, Alex Fan was quick to point out that this kind of criticism isn’t surprising. During the discussion, he reflected on the unique experiences of male cheerleaders, and the community and support they can gain from each other.
“All of us have had experiences like this since the time we started dancing, growing up, far before we became NFL cheerleaders,” – Alex Fan
Walsh had positive words not only for his cheerleading counterparts, but for male cheerleaders who will be subjected to these sorts of attacks. He encouraged the viewers of “Good Morning America” to “stay on dancing,” and reiterated the theme of shutting out the haters.
“You’re already doing what you love, and you were selected through this rigorous process, and you deserve to continue to tune the noise out,” – Dalton Walsh
The inclusion of male cheerleaders is an important move towards creating a more inclusive and accepting environment in sports culture. Teams such as the Rams, Vikings, Eagles and Ravens are at the forefront. These athletes are hoping to provide hope to others and advocate for greater inclusivity in the NFL.
