Detroit Lions Finally Add Cheerleaders After Decades Of Holding Out

The Detroit Lions have made a huge change that’s unrelated to their roster or their front office.

For what is believed to be the first time in modern franchise history, the Lions will have cheerleaders. The cheerleaders will debut this season and be coached by Rebecca Girard-Smoker, according to an announcement made Monday.

“The Ford Family is unwavering in their commitment to improving the Detroit Lions fan experience on and off the field,” Detroit Lions team president Rod Wood said of the decision, according to a statement on DetroitLions.com. “After thorough consideration and receiving input from our fans through season ticket member surveys and focus groups, we believe that this is an opportunity to elevate our game day entertainment.”

There now are just six NFL teams — the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants — that don’t employ cheerleaders, according to ESPN.com. The Bills used to have cheerleaders, but the Buffalo Jills disbanded in 2014 after a lawsuit.

Auditions for the Lions’ 2016 cheerleading squad will begin Saturday, June 25 at Ford Field. The squad will be announced in early August and fully integrated into the game experience by Detroit’s regular-season opener Sept. 18, according to the team’s website.

Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images