A Broncos cheerleader has become the latest to bring the realities of an NFL cheerleading job to the forefront.
And it has caused more football fans to demand higher pay for the squads throughout the league.
Last week, Ann-Marie Muscarello shared a video on social media that detailed her life on the weekend vs. life during the week. Off the NFL field, she is an ortho nurse similar to many professional cheerleaders who work in healthcare.
“Sunday mornings vs. Monday mornings look a little different 👩🏽⚕️📣✨☕️,” she wrote on Instagram.
Some fans took to the comments admiring Muscarello and pitching for higher pay for NFL cheerleaders.
“a nurse and NFL cheerleader? damn girl u killing it,” a user wrote on TikTok.
“With the money the NFL makes, they should pay you more,” another chimed in.
“How do you keep up with it all?!” a third said.
“That’s sad.They should pay these cheerleaders enough money they work hard too,” another user added.
“Dang bet you’re way too busy 😂” someone added on Instagram.
“Love your double life! You are inspiring and motivating to young women everywhere!!” another commented.
The rate of pay for NFL cheerleaders hasn’t been a secret. In 2015, the Associated Press reported the squads made less than fast food workers. In 2014, a Jets cheerleader sued the team over the measly rate of $3.77 an hour.
More recently it has been in the spotlight after the Netflix documentary series “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” debuted in June 2024.
The doc highlights the women’s doubles lives as they pursue school and full-time jobs while making time for a passion and dream of theirs to perform for the historic cheerleading squad.
For some, the exposure has led to bigger and better things.
Fan favorite Reece Weaver is set to make her Broadway debut this fall as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago” after cheering for the franchise for three seasons.
The success of the documentary series pushed for the Dallas cheerleaders to get a 400% raise in 2025. Aakash Gupta, who writes the “Product Growth” Substack newsletter, reported veterans on the squad can currently make $75 an hour.
He added on X that cheerleaders are paid an hourly rate for practice and a flate fee on game days, which is an average of $150 per game.
That comes out to about $22,500 a year while an average registered nurse takes in $97,550 a year.
Cheerleaders are independent contractors employed by the specific franchise, not the NFL itself.
Thus, more teams will have to follow the Cowboys’ path for wages to improve.
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