NFL Introduces Celebrity Guest Cheerleaders: On the Sidelines With Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka and the L.A. Rams (EXCLUSIVE)

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka became the NFL’s first Celebrity Guest Cheerleader, performing with the Los Angeles Rams during their game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. The appearance brought her former high-school cheerleading experience back into the spotlight and extended the league’s effort to connect football with wider cultural audiences.

Okatsuka’s roughly 45-second routine included a cartwheel and drew on skills she had not used for nearly 20 years. The idea followed a cheerleading bit in her 2025 Hulu special, “Father”; the Rams said her performance video drew more than 4 million views and 200,000 engagements, while the announcement received over 1 million views. The initiative builds on the NFL’s Celebrity Guest series, which has previously featured public figures as sideline photographers.