The Newsweek piece by Marni Rose McFall reports that the Minnesota Vikings are catching heat online after unveiling male cheerleaders for the 2025–26 squad. In response to the backlash, the Vikings told Newsweek that “approximately one third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders” this season and that everyone on the squad passed the same rigorous audition standards.
The fury ramped up after an Instagram clip announced, “The next generation of cheer has arrived,” featuring a young male cheerleader front and center. Another new member, Blaize Shiek, posted that he had joined the squad and hoped to “make a little history.” As the video spread, critics vowed to boycott, while others clapped back that male cheerleaders have existed in college and pros for years, including past Vikings teams.
The Bullet Point Brief
- The spark: Vikings debut male cheerleaders in a hype reel. Internet melts, as scheduled.
- The blowback: Posts rack up hundreds of thousands of views, with promises to ditch the team over “men on the squad.” Culture war, assemble.
- The pushback: Users point out men have cheered in college forever and in prior Vikings eras. History says hi.
- The team line: About one third of NFL teams now have male cheerleaders; selections based on talent and auditions, not hashtags.
- The maybe‑trend: A viral list claims 12 NFL teams will field male cheerleaders this season, but Newsweek notes it is unconfirmed. Grain of salt required.
My Bottom Line
My rule is simple enough to fit on a rally towel: if a man is cheering as a man, go nuts. Hit the toe‑touch, light up the crowd, enjoy the gig. If a man is cheering as a woman, do not demand the world salute the performance as reality. That is not “hate.” That is refusing to outsource common sense to peer pressure. The Vikings can sell whatever brand they want; fans get a vote with their eyeballs and their wallets. Cheer all you want, but do not bully the public into pretending categories do not exist. Football first. Pom‑poms second. Ideology somewhere way downfield.
