The Minnesota Vikings have found themselves at the heart of a heated national debate after announcing the inclusion of two male cheerleaders, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, on their 2025 roster. While the move has been celebrated by many as a step toward greater inclusivity in the National Football League, it has also sparked a wave of criticism—most notably from U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), a former college football coach and passionate sports commentator. The senator’s remarks, delivered during a fiery appearance on the “Outkick Hot Mic” podcast and echoed across major news outlets, have ignited conversations about gender, tradition, and the evolving face of American football fandom.
On August 9, 2025, the Vikings introduced their new cheerleading squad with an upbeat Instagram video, proudly announcing, “The next generation of cheer has arrived!” The message was clear: the team was embracing change, with Shiek and Conn joining the ranks in full uniform. However, the announcement quickly became a lightning rod for controversy. As the roster reveal gained traction online, both Shiek and Conn were subjected to derogatory slurs and a barrage of negative commentary, thrusting them into the center of a wider debate about masculinity and gender roles in professional sports.
Senator Tuberville wasted no time in voicing his disapproval. On August 20, during his appearance on the "Hot Mic" podcast, he didn’t mince words: “I would like to ask the ownership of the NFL and the commissioner, what the hell are you doing? If you’re going to be woke and you’re going to try to, you know, take the men out of men’s sports … then you’re going to have a huge problem.” Tuberville’s concerns didn’t stop at the Vikings. He warned that if southern teams—specifically those in Atlanta, Texas, or Dallas—followed suit, there would be significant backlash. “I hope to God it doesn’t come south to Atlanta or to Texas or to Dallas, or some of our NFL teams, because you’ll lose it. I mean, people will actually quit buying tickets and going because this is the narrative they’re trying to push,” he said. The senator’s comments, peppered with references to “wokeness” and “taking the masculinity out” of football, quickly drew national attention—and plenty of pushback.
Tuberville, who recently announced intentions to leave the Senate to run for governor of Alabama, has deep roots in football culture as a former head coach. His critique wasn’t just about the Vikings’ decision; it was, in his view, about a broader narrative. “This is not about just a couple of people being men cheerleaders,” he argued. “It’s about pushing a narrative that you want to put gender into sports and let everybody know that we’re trying to show that, ‘Hey, we’re going to take the masculinity out of it a little bit,’ and that’s not going to happen in the South.”
But the facts on the ground tell a more nuanced story. Despite Tuberville’s warnings, male cheerleaders are hardly a new phenomenon in the NFL. Since 2018, when Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies broke barriers by joining the Los Angeles Rams’ cheer squad and later performing at the Super Bowl, the presence of men on the sidelines has grown steadily. In 2025, about one third of NFL teams—spanning both northern and southern markets—feature male cheerleaders. Notably, at least three teams in the South, the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tennessee Titans, already include men in their cheer squads. This reality undercuts the notion that southern fans would universally reject such a development.
The Vikings, for their part, have stood firm in the face of criticism. In a statement provided to NBC News and echoed in other outlets, the team emphasized its commitment to talent and inclusivity: “While many fans may be seeing male cheerleaders for the first time at Vikings games, male cheerleaders have been part of previous Vikings teams and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading. In 2025, approximately one third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders. Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders program has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process. Individuals were selected because of their talent, passion for dance and dedication to elevating the game day experience.” The organization also addressed rumors that fans were canceling season tickets in protest, stating unequivocally that no such cancellations had occurred.
The debate has attracted voices from across the sports world. Former NFL defensive end R.K. Russell, who came out as bisexual in 2019, penned an op-ed in The Guardian dismissing the outrage as misplaced. “This isn’t about performance at all. It’s about presence. It’s about the mere existence and visibility of men on NFL cheer squads who don’t conform to the rigid, outdated ideas of masculinity that so many use sport, and football in particular, to defend,” Russell wrote. “The outrage over male cheerleaders isn’t about sports. It’s about control: over masculinity, over image, and over who gets to be seen and celebrated in public spaces or on the global stage of the NFL.”
Prominent Republican figures have also weighed in, sometimes in surprising ways. It’s worth noting that former presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan both served as cheerleaders in their youth, a fact that complicates the current narrative. Meanwhile, former FOX Sports host Joy Taylor took to social media to highlight what she saw as misplaced priorities: “So teaching kids (that) slavery was not a big deal is acceptable but male cheerleaders is where 'conservatives' draw the line. Also this isn't new so as usual, OUTRAGE over nothing.”
As for Shiek and Conn, the pair have responded to the controversy with good humor and resilience. On August 16, they shared a joint Instagram post in their cheer uniforms, cheekily captioned: “wait…did someone say our name?” Their lighthearted approach has garnered support from fans and fellow performers alike, many of whom see their presence as a positive step forward.
Media coverage of the controversy has been extensive, with Fox News dedicating segments to Tuberville’s remarks and the broader debate. The story has also sparked discussions about the intersection of sports, politics, and cultural change, raising questions about who gets to define tradition and whose voices are heard in the evolving landscape of professional football.
While the debate over male cheerleaders in the NFL rages on, one thing is clear: the Minnesota Vikings are not backing down. Their commitment to inclusivity and excellence remains unwavering, and for Shiek and Conn, the 2025 season promises to be memorable—on and off the field. As the NFL continues to evolve, the conversation about gender, tradition, and fandom is far from over. For now, all eyes are on the Vikings’ sidelines, where the next generation of cheer is already making history.
