Cowboys Cheerleaders Score 400% Pay Raise | NFL

The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders' pay raise is making headlines, and for good reason. In the final moments of America’s Sweethearts Season 2 on Netflix, fans witnessed a long-overdue victory for one of the NFL’s most iconic squads. 

After years of juggling multiple jobs and struggling to make ends meet, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are finally getting a 400% cheerleader salary increase that could change their lives.

Let’s take a look at how this moment came to be, who helped make it happen, and why it matters far beyond the sidelines.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Secure Massive 400% Raise

The Netflix docuseries America’s Sweethearts doesn't just show sparkle, spray tans, and perfectly synchronized high kicks. Season 2 dives deeper into the pressure, competition, and financial realities behind the glam. 

Through candid interviews and off-duty conversations, it becomes painfully clear that many cheerleaders – despite performing for a franchise worth over $10 billion – were barely scraping by.

Veterans Megan McElaney and Jada McLean emerged as leaders pushing for wage equity. In one especially powerful moment, Megan calls the new deal “life-changing,” and Jada explains how the show itself created a platform to amplify their voices. 

And fans of the show weren’t just watching; they were rallying behind them. Turns out, the end result is a 400% cheerleader salary increase and higher rates for appearances outside of game days. The Megan McElaney Jada McLean raise is something we can all cheer to. 

The Fight for NFL Cheerleader Wage Equity

While the cheerleaders’ exact salaries haven’t been disclosed publicly, earlier reports estimated they made between $15–$20 an hour, coming in at about $500 per game. That math doesn’t add up for the time, training, and energy they put in, not to mention how many of them held down extra jobs just to stay afloat.

In one diner scene from the show, the cheerleaders lay it all out: “We’re over it,” Jada says, speaking on behalf of the entire team. The ladies wanted more than pretty perks like free hair styling and spray tans. They wanted real compensation, something that demonstrated respect for their time, talent, and athleticism.

The Dallas Cowboys franchise has made modest pay bumps before, but this season is different. There was real momentum behind the change, and the conversation around NFL cheerleader wage equity finally hit mainstream attention.

“If There’s Any Time to Do It, It’s Now”

The tipping point was a combination of internal determination and external visibility. While the cameras were rolling, McLean and her teammates quietly began organizing. 

They started talking to family members in the legal field, holding private meetings with the Cowboys’ HR department, and even tossing around the idea of a walkout. While they ultimately decided not to strike (for fear of letting fans down), the mere discussion shows how serious and united they were.

Even their choreographers, like Judy Trammell, acknowledged the need for change. “People have to fight for certain things to make changes,” she says in the series, with both empathy and concern.

One particularly moving scene captures Amanda, one of the cheerleaders, opening up to team leaders: “We work extremely hard, and I think all of these girls would quit their full-time jobs in order to be Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders – if they could afford to.” Her message hit home.

Legacy Beyond the Sidelines

For McLean, who’s stepping away from the team, the fight wasn’t just about money. It was about dignity and lasting impact. “Our legacy will be the money,” she declares in the show. Her leadership in pushing for the America’s Sweethearts pay bump isn’t just a win for her squad. It’s a win for women in sports and entertainment across the board.

The show peels back the curtain on what it really means to wear that iconic uniform. These women aren’t just performing routines. They’re managing full-time jobs, navigating student loans, and representing one of the NFL’s most profitable franchises. It’s only fair they get paid accordingly.

More Than Pom Poms and Pretty Faces

With the cameras capturing every hurdle and hard-earned victory, America’s Sweethearts makes one thing clear: these women are athletes, artists, and advocates all at once. And the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders' pay raise is just the beginning.

This bold step toward a Dallas Cowboys franchise pay equity shows what can happen when visibility meets courage. It’s a reminder that, sometimes, the biggest plays happen off the field and, when women support each other and speak up, the game truly changes.

As McLean says, “You don’t know what’s going to come from it, but it might be something that benefits you, or the people who come after you.”

Here’s to making their cheers louder – and better paid – than ever before. Well done, ladies.