When you think of a National Football League (NFL) cheerleader, what comes to mind? For many, it might not be a guy who can bench press nearly 100 kilograms. Meet Randolph Rivera, a veteran cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is entering his ninth season on the professional sidelines.
At 31, Rivera has established a long career in a demanding field. He began with the Baltimore Ravens on their coed stunt squad before joining the Tampa Bay team in 2021, where he is now one of nine men on the roster. His fifth season with the Bucs is set to begin on September 21 against the New York Jets.
The physical demands of the role are serious. As both a dancer and a stunt performer, Rivera needs a combination of agility and power. His ability to bench press 215 pounds (97.5 kg) is a clear indicator of the strength required, especially when compared to the 225-pound bench press test prospective players face at the NFL Combine.
While his professional life is spent on the field, Rivera’s biggest win happened away from the stadium when he married his husband, Rene Alonso. In a public Instagram post, he shared a heartfelt message about his relationship. “
There’s no place in the world I’d rather be than in your arms,” Rivera wrote. “I discovered that love is not sought, it finds you when you least expect it.”
Alex Fan, a cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles, told Good Morning America about this shared experience. “All of us have had experiences like this since the time we started dancing… it’s been really a pleasure to be on a team that has multiple boys, where we can fall back on each other.”
Rivera is part of a growing number of men on NFL cheer squads. Male stunt team members have been part of the league for some time, but men who also perform dance routines alongside women have become more common since 2018. This has, at times, drawn negative attention online. However, the men on these teams have found support in each other.
Rivera’s story is not about being the first, but about being a visible and successful example of an out gay man thriving in a high-profile athletic environment. He is strong, he is in love, and he is excelling at his job. And we love to see it.
