The role of NFL cheerleaders has long been a subject of debate, but a recent opinion piece in the American Thinker takes a pointed stance: beyond a few high-profile teams, are they really necessary?
The Cheerleader Debate
Noel S. Williams, the article’s author, contrasts the spirited tradition of high school and college cheerleading with what he sees as the increasingly hollow role of NFL squads. While he acknowledges nostalgic appreciation for cheerleaders—recalling their presence in American sports culture—he questions their relevance in today’s NFL, where fan energy often dwarfs anything a sideline squad can muster.
Who Actually Needs Them?
Notable teams like the Steelers, Browns, Giants, Chargers, and Packers don’t even field official squads, relying instead on local or college groups for occasional appearances. Even the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks’ “Sea Gals” barely register during games, Williams argues, with Seattle’s famously deafening “12th Man” fanbase leading chants on their own.
So what’s their purpose? Williams suggests it’s less about fan engagement and more about corporate appeasement—cheerleaders trotted out for sponsors or community events rather than integral game-day excitement.
The Camera Conundrum
Williams critiques TV broadcasts for what he sees as prudish reluctance to showcase cheerleaders, claiming directors cut away too quickly from squad routines to focus on less glamorous field action. “These are lovely ladies who have cultivated their voluptuous assets,” he writes, arguing they deserve more screen time.
Yet even this argument circles back to aesthetics over function—cheerleaders as visual spectacle rather than dynamic contributors to the game atmosphere.
A Dated Tradition?
The piece leaves readers wondering: in an era where fan noise, Jumbotron theatrics, and in-stadium entertainment dominate, do cheerleaders still serve a real purpose beyond nostalgia? Or are they simply vestigial, surviving out of tradition rather than necessity?
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/11/what-s-the-point-of-nfl-cheerleaders/