National Football League Cheerleading

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National Football League Cheerleading, or simply NFL Cheerleading, is a professional cheerleading league in the United States. Twenty six 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. For the NFL, the Baltimore Colts were the first team in the NFL to have cheerleaders in 1954. They were also a part of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band. Currently, six NFL teams have no cheerleaders.

According to most NFL cheerleading sites, cheerleading is classified as a part-time job that consists of time for practice, training camp, games, appearances, photo shoots, and charity events.

Most often, cheerleaders have completed or are attending a university, and continue on to other careers after cheering for an average of one to four seasons.

Apart from their main duties of cheering during the football games, the cheerleaders have many other responsibilities. 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, lingerie, or uniforms. 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. All performances and tours are 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 Angela King-Twitero 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.

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. This includes 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 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. San Diego Chargers team (Casie and Shantel) 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.

A top honor for an NFL Cheerleader is to be selected as Pro Bowl Cheerleader. The group is composed of an all-star cheerleader (one from each NFL cheer team) that represents her NFL team at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The Pro Bowl Cheerleaders were founded in 1992 and directed by Jay Howarth and Angela King-Twitero. Choreography by John Peters.

Contents

[edit] Teams

Listed by name, with corresponding NFL football team.

Current or Last Name Year Established and Former Names NFL Team
Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders 1977–1987 St Louis Cardinals Cheerleaders
1988–1993 Phoenix Cardinals Cheerleaders
1994–present Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders		 Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders 1960s The Falconettes
1976–present		 Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders* 1998 Baltimore Ravens
Buffalo Jills 1960–1965 Buffalo Bills Cheerleaders
1967–present		 Buffalo Bills
Carolina Topcats 1996 Carolina Panthers
Chicago Honey Bears[1] 1976–1985
1986–present none		 Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Ben-Gals[2] 1976 Cincinnati Bengals
none Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders 1960s–1971 CowBelles & Beaux,
1972–present [3]		 Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos Cheerleaders 1977 Denver Broncos
none Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers cheerleaders late 1950s–1961 Packerettes
1961–1972 Golden Girls
1973–1977 Packerettes [4][5]
1977–1986 Sideliners [6]
1987–2006 none
2007–present college cheerleaders		 Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans Cheerleaders 2002 Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders 1954–1983 Baltimore Colts Cheerleaders
1984–present		 Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville ROAR 1995 Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders 1960s Chiefs Cheerleaders
1970s Chiefettes
1980s – present Chiefs Cheerleaders[7]		 Kansas City Chiefs
Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders[8] 1966–1977 Dolphin Dolls
1978–early 1980s Dolphin Starbrites
early 1980s Dolfin Star Brites
1983–present Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders		 Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders 1961–1963 Vi-Queens
1964–1983 The Parkettes (St. Louis Park High School)
1984–present Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders		 Minnesota Vikings
Patriots Cheerleaders 1977 New England Patriots
New Orleans Saintsations Angels
Bonnes Amiees
Saints Dancers
Mam’selles
1977 Saintsations		 New Orleans Saints
none New York Giants
Jets Flight Crew 2006 Jets Flag Crew
2007–present Jets Flight Crew		 New York Jets
Oakland Raiderettes 1961[9] Oakland Raiders
Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders 1948–1960s Eaglettes
1970s Liberty Belles
1980s–present The Eagles Cheerleaders		 Philadelphia Eagles
none 1960–1969 Pittsburgh Steelerettes amateurs
1970–present none[10]		 Pittsburgh Steelers
St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders 1974–1994 Embraceable Ewes
1995–present St. Louis Rams Cheerleaders		 St. Louis Rams
San Diego Charger Girls 1990[11] San Diego Chargers
San Francisco Gold Rush 1979 (as a coed squad before becoming an all-girl squad in 1983[12] San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Sea Gals 1976[13] Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders
 1976–1998 SwashBucklers
1999–present Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders[14]		 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders 1975–1999 The Derrick Dolls
2000–present		 Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins Cheerleaders 1962 Redskinettes
currently: Washington Redskins Cheerleaders[15]		 Washington Redskins

* Ravens Cheerleading Squad is technically a Co-ed Stunt and All-Female Dance squad.

[edit] Teams without cheerleaders

As of 2011, the only teams without cheerleaders are the Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Detroit Lions,and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The February 2011 meeting of the Packers and Steelers at Super Bowl XLV was the first time a Super Bowl featured no cheerleaders. The Packers do however use a collegiate squad from time to time in a limited role to cheer at home games.[16]

[edit] Notable cheerleaders

Two New Orleans Saints cheerleaders stand with a member of the U.S. Air Force during a U.S.O. visit to Southwest Asia.

[edit] Arizona Cardinals

[edit] Atlanta Falcons

  • Mickey Crawford-Carnegie, President/Owner of Alumni Cheerleaders, LLC and creator of site www.AlumniCheerleaders.com (where former pro, college, high school cheerleaders/dancers reunite); Started the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders Alumni group and is the Director with over 350 members.
  • Nicole Duncan, Georgia State University Cheerleading Coach[18]
  • Laurie Flynn, wife of Matt Schaub
  • Whitney Frink, Hollywood TV Producer
  • Tiffany Fallon, Playboy Playmate of the Year 2005

[edit] Baltimore Ravens

[edit] Buffalo Bills

[edit] Carolina Panthers

[edit] Cincinnati Bengals

  • Brooke Griffin, (2005–2009), personal trainer, author, and fitness model.[19]
  • Laura Vikmanis, (2009-present), currently the oldest cheerleader in the NFL at 42.[20]

[edit] Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders onboard the USS Harry S. Truman on December 16, 2000

[edit] Denver Broncos

[edit] Houston Texans

Texans cheerleaders in August 2010

[edit] Indianapolis Colts

[edit] Jacksonville Jaguars

[edit] Kansas City Chiefs

[edit] Miami Dolphins

[edit] New England Patriots

The New England Patriots cheerleaders performing in 2004

[edit] Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

[edit] Philadelphia Eagles

[edit] St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams

[edit] San Diego Chargers

[edit] San Francisco 49ers

[edit] Seattle Seahawks

[edit] Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[edit] Tennessee Titans

[edit] Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins Cheerleaders perform for U.S. servicemen onboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain
2006 Pro Bowl cheerleaders

[edit] Pro Bowl

Each year, one squad member from every NFL team is chosen to participate in the collective Pro Bowl cheerleading squad. Traditionally, this is the highest honor of talent and popularity an NFL cheerleader can receive. The Pro Bowl Cheerleaders were founded in 1992 and directed by Jay Howarth and Angela King-Twitero, choreographed by John Peters.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.chicagohoneybears.net/history.htm
  2. ^ Cincinnati Ben-Gals
  3. ^ Dallas Cheerleaders History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.[dead link]
  4. ^ Green Bay Packerettes, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Retrieved September 21, 2007
  5. ^ Ex-Packers cheerleader writes winning slogan for fence, September 9, 2007, Retrieved September 21, 2007
  6. ^ Legends on Parade to highlight Packers' Glory Years, Green Bay Press-Gazette, August 24, 2007, Retrieved September 21, 2007
  7. ^ Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.[dead link]
  8. ^ Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders History (2010) Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  9. ^ Oakland Raiderettes History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.[dead link]
  10. ^ Steelerettes History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  11. ^ Charger Girls History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. Archived February 2, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ ) Gold Rush History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  13. ^ Sea Gals History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. Archived January 27, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ www.buccaneers.com Retrieved February 15, 2007.
  15. ^ Redskin Cheerleader History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. Archived January 26, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Plaschke, Bill (2011-01-27). "No Super Bowl cheerleaders? He says rah!". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/27/sports/la-sp-plaschke-20110128. Retrieved 2011-02-06. 
  17. ^ http://www.aubreyaquino.com/
  18. ^ Georgia State Cheerleading (2007) Retrieved February 9, 2007.
  19. ^ Brooke Griffin's official website
  20. ^ [1]
  21. ^ Sarah Shahi (2007) Retrieved February 9, 2007
  22. ^ Up & Down: It's good to be Hunter ... Mahan, that is Retrieved August 10, 2010
  23. ^ Tatiana Anderson (2007) Retrieved February 9, 2007.
  24. ^ Miss Florida USA (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007. Archived February 6, 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Brittany's Scrapbook". Miami Dolphins. http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/cheerleaders/cheerleaders_scrapbook.asp?cheer_id=99. Retrieved 2007-08-05. 
  26. ^ [2]
  27. ^ Pageant History (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  28. ^ http://www.aubreyaquino.com/
  29. ^ Jenilee Harrison (2007) Retrieved February 9, 2007.
  30. ^ Angela King (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  31. ^ Angela King Designs (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  32. ^ http://www.alidudek.com/home.html
  33. ^ Dr. Williams (2007) Retrieved February 8, 2007.
  34. ^ Debbie Barrigan (2007) Retrieved February 9, 2007.[dead link]
  35. ^ Miss Maryland USA (2007) Retrieved February 9, 2007.

[edit] External links

National Football League Cheerleaders
American Football Conference
National Football Conference
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