Zeros

Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders: From Friday Night Lights to NFL Sidelines Football season is back, baby, and along with it, the iconic cheerleaders who energize stadiums across the country. In Minnesota, the Vikings cheerleaders hold a special place — but their story connects to something much bigger than the NFL . From small-town competitions to Title IX , cheerleading is more than pom-poms and sidelines. It’s a reflection of American culture itself. Rural Roots : Cheer Competitions in Small-Town America If you’ve ever driven through rural Minnesota on a Friday night, you’ve seen how big cheerleading is outside the professional spotlight. Competitions fill high school gyms, with entire communities showing up to watch routines that rival what you’d see on TV. It’s easy to imagine buses of talented young cheerleaders from around the state making the trip to U.S. Bank Stadium , not only to see the Vikings play but also to watch the pros who represent the pi...