Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has entered the ongoing debate over the role of male cheerleaders in the NFL, warning that the league’s move toward gender inclusivity could have significant consequences for its fanbase and financial health. During an appearance on OutKick’s ‘Hot Mic’ program on Tuesday, Tuberville openly criticized the NFL’s leadership for what he described as an overreach in promoting diversity and inclusion within sports. He questioned the league’s management, asking, “What the hell are you doing?” as a way of highlighting his concern that the NFL is losing its cultural and traditional appeal by allowing male cheerleaders into what has traditionally been a male-dominated space.
Tuberville argued that the NFL’s push for gender inclusivity is a misguided attempt to reshape the culture of men’s sports, which he believes is rooted in masculinity. He warned that by prioritizing gender over the core identity of sports, the league risks alienating its most loyal fans, particularly in Southern states where traditionalist values may not align with the new narrative. “You can see Minnesota doing it,” he said, referring to the Vikings’ male cheerleaders, who have become a flashpoint in the national debate. “They’re one of the blue states. We’ve lost them. They’re more about socialism and all the things that go on with that and it’s about 150 genders. At the end of the day, I hope to God it doesn’t come south to Atlanta or to Texas or to some of our NFL teams because you’ll lose it.”
While Tuberville’s comments reflect a conservative and traditionalist viewpoint, the Vikings themselves have defended the presence of male cheerleaders, emphasizing that they are part of the team’s history and have long been associated with collegiate and professional cheerleading. In a statement released last week, the Vikings expressed their support for all cheerleaders, stating, “We support all our cheerleaders and are proud of the role they play as ambassadors of the organization.” However, the team’s comments were met with mixed reactions online, with some fans expressing support while others remained critical.
The debate over male cheerleaders has intensified in recent months as the NFL continues to expand its efforts to embrace inclusivity and diversity. For Tuberville, the issue is not just about the gender of the cheerleaders but about the broader cultural shift he believes is taking place within the league. He warned that if the NFL continues down this path, it could ultimately lead to a decline in fan engagement and ticket sales. “People will actually quit buying tickets because this is the narrative they’re trying to push,” he said. “This is not just about a couple of people being men cheerleaders. It is about pushing a narrative that you want to put gender into sports and let everyone know we’re trying to show, ‘Hey, we’re going to take the masculinity out of it a little bit.’ And that’s not going to happen in the south.”