NFL Cheerleading National Football League Cheerleading , or simply NFL Cheerleading , is a professional cheerleading league in the United States . Twenty six of the 32 NFL teams include a cheerleading squad in their franchise . Cheerleaders are a popular attraction that can give a team more coverage / airtime , popular local support and increased media image . In 1954 the Baltimore Colts became the first NFL team to have cheerleaders . They were part of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band . Most NFL cherleading squads are a part - time job . Often , cheerleaders have completed or are attending a university , and continue on to other careers after cheering for one to four seasons . The members participate in practice , training camp , games , appearances , photo shoots , and charity events . Apart from their main duties of cheering during the football games , the cheerleaders have many other responsibilities . Nearly every team member is available for appearances at schools , events , conferences , etc . , for a set fee . An anticipated annual event is the release of each squad ' s calendar , featuring members for each month in swimsuits , lingerie , or uniforms . As well as being a mainstay of American football culture , the cheerleaders are one of the biggest entertainment groups to regularly perform for the United States Armed Forces overseas with performances and tours being enlisted by the USO . Teams send their variety show , an elite group of their best members , to perform combination shows of dance , music , baton twirling , acrobatics , gymnastics , and more . In February 2007 , the Buffalo Bills even sent a squad of eight along with their choreographer into the war zone of Iraq . In 1996 , the San Francisco 49ers Cheerleaders and their director Angela King - Twitero helicoptered into the war inflicted country of Bosnia with the USO and the U . S . Army . The U . S . troops in Korea have been entertained during the holiday season with the USO ' s Bob Hope Tour . Over the years , the tour has featured NFL cheerleaders from the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers . Cheerleader competitions . The first " Battle of the NFL Cheerleaders " was held in 1979 in Hollywood , Florida . Two cheerleaders from each cheerleading team compete against other mini - teams in various athletic events . This includes kayaking , 100 yard dash , obstacle courses , and other events . The Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders took home the title in 1979 . In 1980 it was held in Atlantic City , New Jersey and the Washington Redskinettes were the champions . The winners were Shiona Baum and Jeannie Fritz and each received a car as the grand prize . The competition was resurrected in 2006 by the The NFL Network , and was called " NFL Cheerleader Playoffs " . The playoffs were taped between July 17 and July 21 , 2006 at Six Flags New England in Agawam , Massachusetts . Two - person teams of cheerleaders from 25 of the NFL ' s 32 teams participated in a four - event series of competitions . The first two events tested the cheerleaders ' athletic abilities in events like the 100 - yard dash , kayaking , tandem cycling , and the obstacle course . The third event was a trivia challenge called " Know Your NFL " . The final competition was a one - minute dance routine , similar to what they normally perform on NFL sidelines . San Diego Chargers team ( Casie and Shantel ) defeated the Atlanta Falcons and St . Louis Rams squads to win the overall championship . The 3 teams finished in a three - way tie , with 210 points . The Chargers were declared the winners based on winning the dance competition . Teams . Listed by name , with corresponding NFL football team . < nowiki > * < / nowiki > Ravens Cheerleading Squad is technically a Co - ed Stunt and All - Female Dance squad . Teams without cheerleaders . As of 2011 , the only teams without cheerleaders are the Chicago Bears , Cleveland Browns , New York Giants , Detroit Lions , Green Bay Packers , and the Pittsburgh Steelers . The February 2011 meeting of the Packers and Steelers at Super Bowl XLV was the first time a Super Bowl featured no cheerleaders . The Packers do however use a collegiate squad from time to time in a limited role to cheer at home games . Teams of " unofficial " cheerleaders began emerging in 2010 for NFL teams that don ' t have their own dance squad . These unofficial cheerleaders aren ' t sanctioned by the NFL or any franchise in the NFL and therefore are not allowed to perform at games , represent the football team at any outside functions , or use any of the team ' s branding or trademarked colors on their uniforms . The teams are sponsored by local businesses , and the cheerleaders perform prior to the game , at tailgate parties , and other local events . Some also attend the local NFL games in uniform , and sit together in their block of season ticket seats . Their audition process , costuming , and choreography are very simiar to official NFL cheer teams . Some also produce an annual swimsuit calendar , just like the legitimate cheerleaders . All of the independent teams hope at some point to be embraced by the NFL as " offical " cheerleaders of their local teams . Pro Bowl . A top honor for an NFL Cheerleader is to be selected as Pro Bowl Cheerleader . The group is composed of an all - star cheerleader ( one from each NFL cheer team ) that represents her NFL team at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii . The Pro Bowl Cheerleaders were founded in 1992 and directed by Jay Howarth and Angela King - Twitero . Each year , one squad member from every NFL team is chosen to participate in the collective Pro Bowl cheerleading squad . Team websites