Don’t expect to see Steely McBeam patrolling the Steelers sideline this season.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the league will not permit cheerleaders and mascots on the field in 2020, part of their new list of protocols released Wednesday.
Cheerleaders and mascots will not be allowed on the field during the 2020 season, according to updated NFL-NFLPA protocols sent to clubs.
Yet another way the NFL will look different in the COVID-19 world.— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 19, 2020
While the Steeler are one of the few franchises to not have cheerleaders to begin with, Steely McBeam has been the team’s mascot since 2007.
Still, the jobs of mascots and cheer squads are becoming increasingly redundant anyways, as more organization make the difficult decision to play without fans in attendance this season. The Steelers have not yet ruled out having fans this year, but numerous teams have opted to play in empty stadiums for their home openers, while the Bears, Giants, Jets and Washington have scratched fans entirely.