Two male cheerleaders for the Minnesota Vikings have delivered the perfect response to a wave of online criticism, proving once again that inclusivity and athleticism go hand in hand in the NFL.
Athletes Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn made the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders (MVC) 2025 roster in May. While male cheerleaders have been a regular part of NFL squads since 2018, the Vikings’ announcement recently sparked backlash from some right-wing fans who claimed men “shouldn’t be allowed” to cheer.
Rather than engage with the negativity, Shiek posted a photo of himself and Conn in uniform with the witty caption:
“Wait… Did someone say our name?”
Former NFL wide receiver Torrey Smith also threw his support behind the duo, posting:
“If he wants to cheer, let him cheer.”
Vikings stand with their cheerleaders
The Vikings organisation firmly backed their cheerleaders, releasing a statement:
“Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders program has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process. We support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organisation.”
The official MVC audition requirements make no mention of gender. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, have prior dance training, and demonstrate athleticism, technique, showmanship and teamwork.
Ahead of the 2025 auditions, the team announced they were looking for “dynamic dance athletes with unmatched energy and talent to represent the Minnesota Vikings.”
A growing tradition of inclusivity
Despite claims of “wokeness” from critics, male cheerleaders are not new to the NFL. In 2018, Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies joined the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the first men to perform on an NFL cheer squad.
Progress continued in 2022, when the Carolina Panthers welcomed Justine Lindsay, the NFL’s first out transgender cheerleader. Lindsay has since returned for another season.
Today, men are increasingly part of cheerleading both professionally and collegiately. A UCLA Centre study shows that nearly half of U.S. college cheer teams include male athletes, and by last season, seven NFL teams featured a combined 18 male cheerleaders.
Shiek and Conn now join those ranks — and they’re proving that talent, energy and dedication to the sport are what really count.
