In August, the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders experienced backlash for including two male cheerleaders to their roster, sparking a league-wide dialog concerning the presence of males on skilled dance groups. Male cheerleaders have been a part of the NFL since 2018, when Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies joined the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders. Since then, the ranks have grown—within the 2025–26 season, 11 teams have each female and male performers.
Nonetheless, girls far outnumber males in NFL cheer. And whereas male cheerleaders face a singular set of obstacles, they’re additionally carving a path for themselves in skilled dance. Dance Spirit spoke to 2 of these cheer pioneers about discovering neighborhood, coping with negativity, and breaking obstacles.
Making the Crew
Sean Agustin, a rookie on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders, began his dance coaching at age 5. He competed in dance all through his teenagers and attended the College of South Florida, the place he was the primary male dancer on the USF SunDolls (he was nicknamed a “SunDude”).
After faculty, Agustin auditioned for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders and made the group on his first strive. He says he was motivated by the skilled dance world’s shift towards inclusivity. “Auditioning was about greater than making the group itself. It was about being a part of the change that’s taking place proper now,” he says.
Visibility Issues
Agustin emphasizes the significance of his visibility as a male NFL cheerleader. “Each time I step out on the sphere, I signify one thing a lot larger than myself,” he says. “I’ve the chance to signify and encourage a younger male dancer who needs to pursue NFL sooner or later.” He provides that the traits present in nice performers aren’t restricted to individuals of 1 gender expression. “Expertise, onerous work, and keenness will not be outlined by gender. They’re outlined by the person.”
5-time L.A. Rams cheerleader and three-time captain Jose Capetillo was on the Purdue Dance Team in 2018 when he watched Peron and Jinnies be a part of the Rams Cheerleaders. “After I noticed Quinton and Napoleon make the group, I additionally noticed myself of their sneakers,” remembers Capetillo. Now, he says he’s proud to function illustration for different dancers like him.
Energy in Numbers
Though their numbers are rising, male cheerleaders stay a rarity within the NFL. The small- but-mighty group of dancers has created a tight-knit neighborhood throughout the league to attach and uplift one another. “After I first made the group, I had such sturdy help from guys not solely on my group however from different groups throughout the league, who’ve turn into nice pals of mine,” says Capetillo. “Every time one other man joins a brand new group or makes a group for the primary time, I attempt to be their largest cheerleader as a result of I understand how far that help actually goes.”
Dealing With Backlash
Capetillo acknowledges that being a male cheerleader comes with a darker aspect, one thing that he’s adjusted to over time. “Whereas I don’t really feel significantly affected by unfavorable feedback anymore, I did must construct as much as that,” he says. But it surely takes time, and people feedback have their results. “For some guys throughout the league, this can be a new expertise. Simply because I’m okay doesn’t imply that everyone’s okay.”
He urges supporters to make use of their voices to uplift male cheerleaders and add positivity to the dialog. “It might be nice if individuals could be extra vocally supportive of us,” he says.
The Street Forward
Trying towards the way forward for skilled dance, Capetillo would really like for all professional cheerleaders to be appreciated for his or her athleticism and craft. “Lots of people could be shocked on the quantity of athleticism that truly goes into the job that we do.”
Agustin is worked up concerning the course the business is taking, and he encourages aspiring non-female dancers to blaze their very own paths within the dance world. “Don’t await permission or for another person to interrupt the mildew. Be the primary if you need to,” he says, including: “In the event you love to bounce and also you like to carry out, simply belief and know that there’s a spot for you.”
