As NFL fans get ready for the big game on Sunday, something which may come as a surprise to many will be the lack of any images of cheerleaders on the sidelines. As it turns out, both teams in this year’s Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, are among six NFL teams which no longer have official cheerleaders.
This year will be the first time, since the first two Super Bowls, that the sidelines will not have the familiar sex appeal. While Green Bay did have cheerleaders during its earlier Super Bowl appearances, they currently only have local college cheerleaders on the sidelines during home games. As for Pittsburgh, the Steelers have not had an official squad since 1970.
Player reactions to the news have been mixed. Some players see the cheerleaders as a distraction from the game. Reactions of the fans are something that will have to wait until after the game to be determined.