 Detroit Lions Cheerleaders in 2024 | |
| Formation | 2016 |
|---|---|
Director | Rebecca Girard-Smoker [1] |
| Affiliations | Detroit Lions |
| Website | detroitlions |
The Detroit Lions Cheerleaders are the National Football League cheerleading squad representing the Detroit Lions.
| Detroit Lions Cheerleaders in 2024 | |
| Formation | 2016 |
|---|---|
Director | Rebecca Girard-Smoker [1] |
| Affiliations | Detroit Lions |
| Website | detroitlions |
The Detroit Lions Cheerleaders are the National Football League cheerleading squad representing the Detroit Lions.
Since moving to Detroit from Portsmouth, Ohio in 1934, the Detroit Lion's have only had one official cheerleading squad before the current one. The Detroit Lions original cheerleading squad formed in 1963 and continued until 1974. [2] Promoters of cheer squads had contacted the team's front office several times only to be rejected, as then owner William Clay Ford Sr. opposed the idea. In August 2010, a group formed the Detroit Pride, which became the unofficial cheerleaders for the team. [3]
On June 12, 2016, the Lions announced their decision to add official cheerleaders to the Lions organization. [1] The team also announced that Rebecca Girard-Smoker, formerly the director of the Detroit Pistons dance team, would be the coach of the cheerleading squad. It marked the first time in over 40 years the team had an official cheerleading squad. The cheerleading squad will be a part of the entertainment during football games, active at community events, and even act as mentors to young girls in the Detroit area. [4]
Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity. It can be performed to motivate sports teams, to entertain the audience, or for competition. Cheerleading routines typically range anywhere from one to three minutes, and contain components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting. Cheerleading originated in the United States, where it has become a tradition. It is less prevalent in the rest of the world, except via its association with American sports or organized cheerleading contests.
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The team plays their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are the National Football League cheerleading squad representing the Dallas Cowboys team.
The Pittsburgh Steelerettes were the first cheerleading squad in the National Football League, serving as the cheerleaders for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1960s. The squad eventually disbanded, and the Steelers to this day are among the few NFL teams that do not have cheerleaders.
NFL Cheerleader Playoffs is a television show that debuted in 2006 on the NFL Network. The official channel of the National Football League premiered each episode on Saturdays at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
The Buffalo Jills were the cheerleading squad for the Buffalo Bills professional American football team.
National Football League Cheerleading or simply NFL Cheerleading, is a group of professional cheerleading organizations in the United States. 20 of the 32 NFL teams include a cheerleading squad in their franchise. In 1954, the Baltimore Colts became the first NFL team to have cheerleaders. They were part of Baltimore's Marching Colts.
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Spirit Squads comprise the cheerleading organization at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. Being the first program ever to form worldwide, the University of Minnesota is consequently considered the "Birthplace of Cheerleading". Today, the Gopher Spirit Squads consist of four separate squads: a cheer squad, a dance team, a hockey cheer squad, and the school's mascot, Goldy Gopher. The squads consistently perform well at national competitions including 21 national championships in dance since 2003, a 2nd-place finish for All-Girl in 2013, a fifth-place finish in 2017, and four-time national champion Goldy Gopher in 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2018. The current head coach is Sam Owens.
Several Green Bay Packers cheerleading squads have performed in Green Bay Packers' history. The Packers became one of the first professional football teams to have a cheerleading squad, having first used cheerleaders in 1931. The squad performed for 57 years under three separate names. In 1988, it was decided that the team would cease having a professional squad cheer for them. Since 1988, the team uses collegiate squads in a limited role to cheer during home games.
The New York Jets Flight Crew, recognized as the official cheerleading squad for the New York Jets, a prominent team in the National Football League (NFL). This dynamic group was originally founded in 2006 under the name New York Jets Flag Crew, featuring a small ensemble of six talented female flag carriers. Among them was Gina G., a standout from Kings Park, New York, whose exceptional performance skills and leadership were instrumental in driving the crew to immediate success and popularity.
Silsbee High School is a public high school in Silsbee, Hardin County, Texas. It is the only high school in the Silsbee Independent School District. Their mascot is the Tiger.
The Chicago Honey Bears were a cheerleading squad for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The group performed at Bears games at Soldier Field. After Super Bowl XX, the squad was disbanded, and currently, the Bears are one of the eight NFL teams that do not have cheerleaders, along with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders are the official cheer squad for the Minnesota Vikings. The squad performs at every home game at the U.S. Bank Stadium, the home stadium of Minnesota. Before the squad's introduction in 1984, The Vi-Queens (1961–63) and the St. Louis Park High School Parkettes performed Edina High School Hornettes and Minneapolis Roosevelt High School Rockettes in 1966. In 1984, the MVC were started. The group currently has 35 members. The squad, like other groups in the league, releases a swimsuit calendar annually since 2001. The squad also makes off-field appearances at parades, schools, and charity events. Like other NFL cheerleading squads, the MVC also has a "Junior Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders" program, which has various divisions: Junior Angel Division is for girls aged 3–5, and Junior Cheerleader Division is for girls aged 6–14. The MVC also helps mentor the Junior Cheerleaders by enriching their interests. In April, the MVC hosts tryouts at Winter Park. From when the division was founded in 2002 to 2016, when the Detroit Lions Cheerleaders were re established, the Vikings were the only team in the NFC North with a cheerleading squad.
Michael Williams is an American former professional football tight end. He was selected the Detroit Lions in the seventh round in the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football at Alabama.
Corey Alexander Fuller is a former American football wide receiver. He is currently a college scout for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He was also a member of the New Orleans Saints.
Dan Skipper is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas. At 6 feet 10 inches tall, Skipper is currently the tallest active player in the NFL.
Tom Kennedy is an American professional football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He is also a former professional lacrosse player. He played college football at Bryant.
Rashod Berry is an American football linebacker for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for Ohio State.
Shane Zylstra is an American professional football tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota State.
Maurice Alexander Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver. He was selected with the eighth pick in the 17th round of the 2022 USFL draft. He played college football at the Florida International University. After college, he went unsigned as an undrafted free agent in the 2020 NFL draft.