There’s just something magical about the sight of pom-poms sparkling under stadium lights. The music, the smiles, the high kicks, cheerleaders bring energy that turns football from a game into a full-blown spectacle. But in the National Football League, not every team is waving spirit fingers.

Out of 32 NFL teams, 25 have official cheerleading squads. The other seven, the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers, have chosen a different kind of sideline strategy. Some never jumped into the cheerleading game at all, while others hung up their pom-poms decades ago.

And honestly? It’s kind of fascinating.

Let’s be real, when most people picture NFL Sundays, they imagine roaring crowds, touchdowns, and a flurry of glitter and sequins on the sidelines. Cheerleaders have been a part of that visual since the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders danced their way into pop culture in the 1970s. They brought glam, grace, and a signature high-kick that inspired hundreds of squads to follow.

But not every team bought into the sparkle.

Which NFL Teams Have Cheerleaders, and Which Don’t – Full Tally

The Giants: Too Serious for Spirit?

The New York Giants have never had cheerleaders, not once, not even during the glitter-soaked ’80s when hair spray was a lifestyle. The Giants, one of the NFL’s oldest and proudest franchises, have always taken a more traditional route. Their leadership has long maintained that the game itself should be the main event.

There’s a certain charm to that, honestly, a kind of old-school, no-frills approach that fits a team named the Giants. Still, as someone who loves a little extra flair with her football, it’s easy to wish the Meadowlands had a bit more sparkle between drives.

The Steelers: Steel and Tradition

Then there are the Pittsburgh Steelers, the black-and-gold standard-bearers of grit and glory. Once upon a time, they did have a cheerleading squad, the Steelerettes, who danced during the 1960s. But they were disbanded after the 1969 season, and the team has never looked back.

Today, Heinz Field (sorry, Acrisure Stadium, but we all still call it Heinz) roars with energy from the fans alone. Pittsburgh doesn’t need pom-poms when the entire city basically is a cheer squad. Between the Terrible Towels and the booming chants of “Here we go, Steelers,” there’s no shortage of enthusiasm.

Still, it’s kind of a bummer that the only choreography you’ll see in Pittsburgh these days involves fans trying not to spill their beers during touchdown dances.

The Cardinals and Bears: Flying Solo for Decades

The Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears are two more teams that have long operated without official cheerleaders. The Cardinals haven’t had them in decades, opting instead for a more stripped-down game-day experience. The Bears, who haven’t featured official cheerleaders since the early 1980s, are another example of a franchise that prioritizes the gridiron over the glamour.

It’s almost endearing, like your no-nonsense uncle who shows up to Thanksgiving in the same flannel every year and still gets all the attention. But part of me wonders, wouldn’t the Monsters of the Midway look even more fearsome with a squad hyping them up in sequins?

The Browns: The Ghosts of Cheerleaders Past

Cleveland’s Browns once had cheerleaders, too, but not since the 1970s. The team has gone through more identity shifts than a reality show cast, relocations, rebuilds, rebranding, but never brought the cheer squad back.

Their fans, the infamous Dawg Pound, pretty much fill that role now. Loud, loyal, and occasionally covered in body paint, they don’t need choreography to make their presence known. Still, there’s a nostalgic part of me that would love to see some synchronized spirit alongside those barking fans.

The Bills: The Buffalo Jills (and Their Bill)

Ah, the Buffalo Bills, once home to one of the most beloved squads in NFL history, the Buffalo Jills. The Jills were iconic, with a mix of charm, athleticism, and those classic red, white, and blue uniforms that matched Buffalo’s frozen passion.

But in 2014, the Jills were sidelined for good, following lawsuits over pay and treatment. It was a messy ending for what had been a bright spot in Buffalo’s football tradition. The decision wasn’t purely financial, it was about fairness and modernizing how teams treat performers.

Still, it left a hole in the heart of Bills Mafia, who now make up for it with table-smashing energy that no pom-pom could ever match.

The Packers: Borrowed Spirit

Green Bay is perhaps the most unique case. Technically, the Packers do have cheerleaders, they just don’t have their own. For decades, the team has partnered with local colleges, inviting university cheer squads from Wisconsin and the surrounding area to perform at Lambeau Field.

It’s wholesome, it’s local, and it’s got that small-town charm that fits Green Bay perfectly. The Packers might not have their own branded squad, but when you’re the only publicly owned team in the NFL, your fans already bring all the spirit anyone could need.

The Other 25: Glitter, Glam, and Game-Day Energy

For the rest of the league, cheerleaders are alive and thriving, from the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders’ world tours to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, who remain the gold standard of sideline stardom. These squads are athletes, dancers, and ambassadors who put in serious work year-round.

The modern NFL cheerleader isn’t just about smiles and sequins, she’s an icon of athleticism and professionalism. And yes, they still know how to throw a wink and a hair flip that could melt an entire stadium.

So Why Do Some Teams Still Say No?

Some franchises see cheerleaders as essential to the entertainment package, part of what makes an NFL Sunday feel like an event. Others see football as sacred turf, where the only dancing should happen in the end zone.

Both sides have a point. Cheerleaders, in all their glittery, hard-working glory, have always embodied that spirit.

So whether your team has a full dance troupe or just a few fans waving towels in the stands, one thing’s certain, the game wouldn’t be the same without a little passion, a little rhythm, and maybe just a touch of hairspray.

Check out Alternative Fix’s guide to “Every NFL Team’s Bye Week for 2025” here.