Pittsburgh Steelerettes facts for kids
| Formation | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1969 |
| Affiliations | Pittsburgh Steelers |
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Formerly called
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Pittsburgh Steelerettes (1961-1969) |
The Pittsburgh Steelerettes were the very first cheerleading squad in the National Football League (NFL). They cheered for the Pittsburgh Steelers football team during the 1960s. The group eventually stopped performing. Even today, the Steelers are one of the few NFL teams that do not have cheerleaders.
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How the Steelerettes Started
The Steelerettes began in 1961. They cheered for the Steelers until 1969. All the Steelerettes were full-time students at Robert Morris Junior College. This college is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Robert Morris was a small college that did not have its own football team. So, they unofficially supported the Steelers as "their team." An administrator at the college, William Day, also helped organize entertainment for the Steelers. He thought of holding tryouts at the college. His idea was to pick young women to perform on the field. He hoped this would help sell more tickets to Steelers games.
Becoming a Steelerette
To become a Steelerette, candidates had to try out. They were judged on how well they moved, their personality, gymnastics skills, and appearance. The young women also took a basic football test. This was to make sure they knew when to cheer during a game. They also needed to keep a 2.0 GPA (grade point average) in their studies.
At games, the Steelerettes performed jazz dance routines. Live jazz music was played by Harold Betters and bandleader Benny Benack. The squad practiced in the school cafeteria or outside their dorm. Steelerettes received one free ticket to each game as their payment.
The Ingots: Male Cheerleaders
During the 1962 season, the Steelerettes had a special addition. They were joined by the NFL's first male cheerleaders! These men were also students from Robert Morris. They were called the Ingots.
The Ingots wore black pants, white or gold shirts, and hard hats. When the Steelers scored, they would fire a cannon. This cannon was filled with special blanks that made a loud noise. The male cheerleading group only lasted for one season.
Why the Steelerettes Ended
By the late 1960s, Robert Morris College had grown much larger. The school now had its own football team. The decision to end the Steelerettes was made together by the Rooney family (who own the Steelers) and Robert Morris College.
The cheerleaders wanted to wear more "modern" and "daring" uniforms. Because of this, the team decided to stop having cheerleaders. The last Steelerettes squad performed after the 1969 season. This was also the first year for Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Noll and famous defensive tackle "Mean Joe" Greene. About 60 different women were part of the Steelerettes over their eight seasons.
The Steelers have not had another cheerleading squad since the Steelerettes stopped. In 2007, the team introduced its new mascot, Steely McBeam.
