For decades, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders have been America’s glamorized sideline icons — all fringe, flash, and high kicks under the Texas sun. But behind the sequins and smiles was a less sparkly truth: they weren’t getting paid much of anything. That’s finally changing.
After the first season of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders aired, the public got a rare inside look at what it actually means to wear the DCC uniform. The training is brutal, the scrutiny relentless, and the pay?
Embarrassingly low. Some cheerleaders were pulling double shifts — holding down day jobs and grinding through rehearsals by night, just to make ends meet.
Season two picks up where the first left off, but this time with a win. The cheerleaders are getting a raise. A big one. Netflix’s spotlight did what years of internal lobbying and even a lawsuit couldn’t — it forced the hand of the Cowboys organization.
According to reports tied to the show’s second season, the squad is set to receive a 400% pay increase ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
Until now, cheerleaders across the league were typically pulling in $150 to $200 per game — more if they were lucky enough to be part of a squad with name recognition.
The DCC, arguably the most famous in the country, were rumored to earn around $500 per game with an extra $50–$75 for appearances. None of that reflected the countless unpaid hours spent in training. It wasn’t just underpaid — it was exploitative.
Back in 2018, a former DCC member sued the team over unfair wages. Her rate? $7 an hour. Less than Rowdy, the team’s foam-headed mascot. The case was settled quietly, and nothing much changed. Until now.
Season two of America’s Sweethearts pulls back the curtain again — seven episodes of glitz, discipline, and the sometimes uncomfortable realities of being the face of America’s Team.
But this time, there’s a shift. A long-overdue correction. The cheerleaders are finally getting their bag.
You can stream both seasons now on Netflix.
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Last modified: June 19, 2025
