Men in cheerleading outfits shouldn't be a shock. Honestly, they were the ones who started the whole thing. Most people don't realize that for the first few decades of the sport, women weren't even allowed on the field. It was an all-male power move.
Fast forward to 2026 and the aesthetic has changed. It's morphed. It’s gotten more athletic. But even with the NFL finally embracing male dancers and stunters on the sidelines, there’s still this weird, lingering social friction when a guy puts on the uniform. Why?
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It’s about the outfit.
The History Nobody Mentions
Look back at the 1890s. Thomas Peebles brought the idea of organized "yelling" to the University of Minnesota. It was basically a bunch of guys in wool sweaters and megaphones looking very serious about football. You didn't see a woman in a cheerleading role until about 1923 at the same university. Even then, it was rare.
When you see men in cheerleading outfits today, they aren't "invading" a female space. They're reclaiming a historical one. But the gear has changed. We went from heavy sweaters to spandex, and that’s where the conversation gets thorny for some folks.
The uniform serves a function. You can’t toss a 110-pound flyer 20 feet into the air if you're wearing a bulky hoodie. You need range of motion. You need grip.
What the Uniform Actually Looks Like Now
There isn't just one "look." In the competitive world—think Varsity Spirit or the NCA—men’s uniforms are built for raw utility. Usually, it’s a high-performance polyester-spandex blend.
- The Traditional Top: Usually a short-sleeved or sleeveless athletic shirt. It’s tight. It has to be, so it doesn't get snagged during a basket toss.
- The Bottoms: Often straight-leg athletic pants or occasionally shorts, depending on the squad’s vibe.
- The NFL Variation: This is where it gets interesting. When the Los Angeles Rams added Quinton Peron and Napoleon Jinnies in 2018, the world saw a hybrid. It was a vest-and-pant combo that mirrored the female dancers' colors but kept a masculine silhouette.
It’s all about the "pop." If the squad is wearing blue and gold, everyone is wearing blue and gold. The uniformity is the point.
The Physical Reality of the Sideline
Cheerleading is brutal. It’s one of the most dangerous sports for catastrophic head injuries in the United States. When men are in those outfits, they aren't just there for decoration. They are the structural engineers of the stunt.
Imagine holding another human being’s entire weight on your palms while your own arms are fully extended. Now imagine doing that while smiling and keeping a beat. That’s the job. The outfit has to breathe. It has to wick sweat. If a guy’s shirt is too loose, a flyer’s foot can get caught. That leads to a trip to the ER.
Why the Stigma Persists (and Why It’s Fading)
Let’s be real. Pop culture spent decades using men in cheerleading outfits as a punchline. Think of the SNL skits from the 90s. It was always "the guy who couldn't play real sports."
That’s changing because of visibility.
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When you watch "Cheer" on Netflix, you see the blood. You see the broken ribs. You see guys like Gabi Butler’s teammates at Navarro College working harder than the average D1 linebacker. The outfit stops being a joke when you see the person wearing it bench-pressing a human being for three minutes straight.
It’s also a business move. Professional teams in the NBA and NFL realized that high-energy, acrobatic male performers add a layer of "wow" factor that traditional dance doesn't always hit. The entertainment value is just higher.
The Fashion vs. Function Debate
Some high schools still struggle with what the guys should wear. I’ve seen some teams try to force "masculine" versions of the female kit that just look... off.
The most successful designs are the ones that lean into the "power athlete" look. Think Olympic gymnasts. Nobody questions what a male gymnast wears because his body is doing things 99% of the population can't do. Cheerleading is finally catching up to that mindset.
When a guy puts on that shell top or that coordinated warmup, he’s signalling he’s part of a unit. In a team sport, the "outfit" is a badge of belonging.
Actionable Steps for Aspiring Male Cheerleaders
If you're a guy thinking about joining a squad, or a coach trying to integrate men into your team, don't overcomplicate the wardrobe. Focus on the mechanics.
1. Prioritize Fit Over Style
Go for the compression gear. Baggy clothes are a safety hazard in stunting. Make sure the armholes aren't so low that they catch a flyer's fingers during a transition.
2. Shoes Matter More Than the Shirt
Get actual cheer shoes. They have specific finger-grip notches on the soles and heels so you can hold your flyer securely. Standard Nikes won't cut it.
3. Embrace the Branding
The most confident male cheerleaders are the ones who lean into the team colors. If the school color is hot pink, wear the hot pink. Confidence is what makes the uniform work, not the specific cut of the fabric.
4. Check the Regulations
Different governing bodies have different rules about what men can wear. The USASF (U.S. All Star Federation) has specific guidelines on midriffs and lengths. Read the handbook before you drop $300 on a custom kit.
The landscape is different now. Men in cheerleading outfits are no longer a curiosity; they are a necessity for any team that wants to win a national title. The power, the height, and the sheer athleticism they bring have redefined what happens on the sidelines. It’s not about "dressing up." It’s about gearing up for one of the most physically demanding roles in modern sports.