Men are joining the NFL, not as players but as the first male cheerleaders to do so. Quinton Peron and Napolean Jinnie are the two California natives who are making history as NFL’s first male cheerleaders.
The two classically trained dancers surpassed a strenuous auditioning process and made it to the 2018 squad for the Los Angeles Rams. They were chosen from 76 finalists. On Wednesday, they joined the Good Morning America table to share the news. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When discussing their journey, Peron shared that he should be able to participate like anyone else. “I thought, ‘Why not me? Why can’t I do this?’ And called my friend and I asked her when auditions were for the Rams and she told me Sunday [March 11] and I showed up,” Peron said. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
LA Rams cheer captain Emily Leibert said the two simply fit in. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
“They really just fit the bill to be a Los Angeles Rams cheerleader. They are intelligent, they are eloquent, they are more than qualified to be ambassadors out in the community. They bring so much energy and there’s something so magnetic about their performance, you really can’t take your eyes off them.”
While the Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts have stuntmen, this will be the first time males have ever danced alongside females on a professional NFL cheerleading team. This should be interesting. Check out the boys in new team cheer squad below. You just witnessed history.
Congratulations to our 2018 Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders! pic.twitter.com/gYlXtC0BOd
— Rams Cheerleaders (@LARamsCheer) March 26, 2018