PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Eagles' season is starting with a bit of history on the sidelines.
With three men on the cheer squad, it's the largest contingent of male cheerleaders the team has ever had. It comes as another team is getting criticized for its male cheerleaders.
"Just having the opportunity to do this is life-changing for all of us," said James LeGette, an Eagles cheerleader who is in his fifth season with the team.
MORE | Male NFL cheerleaders share support following criticism of Vikings cheerleaders
As he and his teammates take the field to cheer on the Eagles, they have each other's support. The other two male cheerleaders on this year's squad are Alex Fan and Dalton Walsh, who are both rookies.
"It's really been a pleasure to be on a team that has multiple boys where we can fall back on each other," said Fan.
It's support that's needed as male cheerleaders face criticism. Two members of the Minnesota Vikings cheer squad have faced negative online comments after the team posted a video this week showing the squad doing a cheer routine.
Some online commenters wrote things like: "I just lost all of my respect for the Vikings."
"If a male cheerleader presents in a masculine way, as opposed to a feminine way, then the criticism is different," said Temple University sociology professor Dustin Kidd.
Kidd says that male cheerleaders in the NFL are viewed differently from college male cheerleaders. He also says men's cheerleading is a challenge to traditional gender roles.
"There are young feminine boys who are going to see these cheerleaders and say that's an opportunity for me in the future," he said, "and that terrifies some people."
Kidd added that the recent backlash could also be a reflection of the current political climate.
"The political realities of our moment have opened up the faucet for critiquing diversity, critiquing identity," he said.
About a third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders, and it's nothing new. The Eagles had four male cheerleaders between 1980 and 2021.
The three male members of the current Eagles squad are now cheering on members of the Vikings squad.
"I would say to keep on dancing," said Dalton, "you're already doing what you love."
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