Cade York is a lucky man. He finally gets a chance to kick the ball in front of his girlfriend. Following star kicker, Evan McPherson’s groin injury, the Bengals signed York six days ago to their practice squad, giving him another shot to prove his worth as an NFL kicker.
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It looks like his debut for Cincinnati couldn’t have been at a better place. They took on the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium where his girlfriend, Zoe Dale, is a cheerleader for Dallas.
Many noticed Zoe cheering for York when he stepped in to kick his first extra point of the night. Being a cheerleader for the home team, they didn’t expect her to root for the player of the other team.
Patriots Insider Jerry Thornton was especially incensed and called out Zoe for rooting for a player on the other team. He harshly urged her to “sort” the situation, pointing out that her behavior makes her unworthy of wearing the Cowboys cheerleader uniform. He tweeted:
“Zoe Dale is rooting for her boyfriend to make kicks against her own team? She better sort that out right now or she’s not worthy to wear the star.”
She had earlier admitted that she would be rooting for Cade. When Fox reporter for Cincinnati, Joe Danneman, ran into Zoe before the game, asked her if she would be pulling for her boyfriend, to which she laughingly expressed her support of the Bengals kicker.
Bengals kicker Cade York was signed just in time to kick in front of his girlfriend, who is a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader #CINvsDAL | ABC, ESPN pic.twitter.com/bw1WY0CPUj
— ESPN (@espn) December 10, 2024
While she didn’t burst into celebration, she was happy when he made the first kick.
Fans, however, had a more positive take on the moment than Thornton, calling it an exciting milestone for the couple. Some noted that York stepping into the spotlight and delivering under pressure was a great way to make a lasting impression. One user joked that the Cowboys might “fire her soon,” while another quipped that the Cade better show some accuracy—otherwise, the story wouldn’t hold much weight.
It’s an exciting moment for her!
— Maryam Ghafoor (@GhafoorMaryam) December 10, 2024
Another chimed in and added,
Talk about timing… Cade York showing up under the spotlight and in front of his girl. No better way to make a first impression than with some clutch kicks.
— Life Echoes Psychology Facts (@lifeechoes4real) December 10, 2024
A fan quipped,
Her severance package is ready.
— Terrill ©️ (@TerrillCharming) December 10, 2024
Others said,
Seems like the Bengals signed more for romance than reliability. Let’s hope love boosts accuracy on the field!
— GodMode (@godmodemessiah) December 10, 2024
Cade York ended up making all his kicks which included three extra points and 2 Field goals as the Bengals got one over the Cowboys. They won 27-20, thanks to a 40-yard TD from Ja’Marr Chase in the final two minutes, leaving not much time for Dallas to mount a comeback and take it to OT.
However, both teams are now 5-8 and pretty much out of playoff contention.
