NFL male cheerleading pioneer defends Vikings performers amid preseason outcry

Napoleon Jinnies, the NFL’s first male cheerleader, is defending Minnesota Vikings performers Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn amid preseason online backlash.

Jinnies broke ground with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018, becoming the league’s first male cheerleader, and he recently spoke with People magazine about the ongoing backlash surrounding male cheerleaders. He said the level of outrage and the type of criticism faced by current performers mirrors what he endured years ago. In the interview, he described receiving harsh messages on social media and hearing heckling at games, but he stressed that the negatives did not diminish what he was putting on the field as an artist. He also noted that he received substantial support from fans who appreciated his work.

Shiek and Conn have continued to perform for the Vikings despite the social-media backlash. They have taken the field in preseason games, including events at U.S. Bank Stadium, where the Vikings’ cheer squad has been a visible presence as the team prepared for the regular season. Minnesota opened the season with a 2-1 record, even as quarterback J.J. McCarthy missed several weeks with an injury that temporarily sidelined the offense. The on-field performances by Shiek and Conn during the preseason have been cited by supporters as evidence of the duo’s athleticism and artistry.

Jinnies said the controversy surrounding male cheerleaders is not unique to this moment. He described a familiar pattern in which critics latch onto the gender of the performers rather than their skill, while many fans and teammates celebrate the dance accuracy and showmanship Shiek and Conn display beat-for-beat and step-for-step. He emphasized that their work stands on its own merit and compared their performances to those of professional dance judges evaluating technique and timing.

The Vikings’ preseason story line has intersected with a broader conversation about the role of male cheerleaders in the NFL. The team’s on-field demonstrations have drawn attention not only from fans but also from commentators who view the presence of male cheerleaders as part of a broader evolution in NFL sideline entertainment. While the league’s teams have varied in how they approach cheer programs, Shiek and Conn’s continued appearances underscore that the Vikings are not isolated in using male performers on the sideline.

As the regular season progresses, the discussions surrounding gender norms and performance in NFL cheer squads are likely to continue. The focus for many observers remains on the athletes’ training, precision, and endurance on the field, rather than on the optics of who is performing. For Jinnies, the underlying message is clear: the art and athleticism of these performers should be the centerpiece of the conversation.