Why the Pittsburgh Steelers don't have cheerleaders: History, tradition and the reason behind it

Throughout their history, the Steelers have embraced the identity of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has always emphasized an old-school, blue-collar work ethic and toughness, especially on the defensive end.

While other franchises have mixed in elements of show business to their presentations on game days, the Steelers never want to take the attention away from the product on the field. Pittsburgh is one of just seven NFL teams without any cheerleaders, joining the Bears, Bills, Browns, Chargers, Giants and Jets.

That’s why younger fans may be shocked to learn that the Steelers were actually way ahead of the curve when they created a cheerleading squad in 1961.

How did Pittsburgh establish the group known as the Steelerettes? And why does the squad no longer exist?

The History of the Steelerettes

Back in 1961, William Day was not only the Steelers’ entertainment coordinator, but also the vice president of Robert Morris Junior College (now Robert Morris University). Day was looking to sell tickets to games at Forbes Field, and he saw an opportunity.

“Here we are, an institution without a football team, and here’s an institution without cheerleaders,” Day said. “So why not?

Tryouts for the Steelerettes were held in 1961, and cheerleaders, who had to be enrolled at Robert Morris, were select based on “appearance, coordination, gymnastic ability and personality.” They also had to maintain a 2.0 GPA, take a football test and follow a strict dress code. Only single women could be Steelerettes.

“It was a mutual understanding between us and management that we did not sign on to become showgirls,” said Patricia Tanner, a Steelerette from 1965 to 1968. “It was definitely not like what would come with squads like the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders.”

In addition to the Steelerettes, Pittsburgh also briefly added male cheerleaders, calling them the Ingots in a nod to the steel industry. However, the Steelerettes and Ingots didn’t represent the franchise for a long period of time.

Why the Steelers disbanded their cheerleaders

The Steelerettes supported the squad from 1961 to 1969, but former Steelers owner Art Rooney didn’t bring cheerleaders into the next decade. He refused to budge on his traditional values as other teams pushed the envelope with more revealing outfits and provocative dances.

“Other teams started bringing in cheerleaders, and it was very different from the kind of wholesome group that we were,” Tanner said. “It seemed like our era had passed, and Pittsburgh’s a very traditional town, so I don’t think we would have gone that direction.”

Steelers tradition and identity without cheerleaders

The move to Three Rivers Stadium in 1970 marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Rooney wanted to put the entire focus of the game presentation on the team itself without any unnecessary gimmicks.

“The thinking… was we wanted the emphasis to be on the team — and that doesn’t sound like a momentous decision, but that was what the idea was for all the times that I was with the Steelers,” Day said.

Pittsburgh became a powerhouse in the 1970s, winning four Super Bowls in a six-year span. The Steelers’ dynasty captured the attention of fans in Western Pennsylvania and around the country, ensuring that the team would see Terrible Towels at every venue and never need support from a cheerleading squad.

Will the Steelers ever bring back cheerleaders?

It seems highly unlikely that the Steelers would bring back cheerleaders unless the NFL enforced a new rule that impacted every team in the league.

While some have argued for the addition of a cheerleading squad, there hasn’t been enough interest surrounding the issue to push management to create a new version of the Steelerettes.