A Broncos cheerleader has become the latest to bring the realities of an NFL cheerleading job to the forefront.<\/p>\n
And it has caused more football fans to demand higher pay for the squads throughout the league. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cSunday mornings vs. Monday mornings look a little different \ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\u2695\ufe0f\ud83d\udce3\u2728\u2615\ufe0f,\u201d she wrote on Instagram<\/a>. <\/p>\n Some fans took to the comments admiring Muscarello and pitching for higher pay for NFL cheerleaders.<\/p>\n Broncos cheerleader Ann-Marie Muscarello. @annmarie.mm, \/ TikTok<\/p>\n \u201ca nurse and NFL cheerleader? damn girl u killing it,\u201d a user wrote on TikTok<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cWith the money the NFL makes, they should pay you more,\u201d another chimed in.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you keep up with it all?!\u201d a third said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s sad.They should pay these cheerleaders enough money they work hard too,\u201d another user added.<\/p>\n \u201cDang bet you\u2019re way too busy \ud83d\ude02\u201d someone added on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u201cLove your double life! You are inspiring and motivating to young women everywhere!!\u201d another commented.<\/p>\n Broncos cheerleader Ann-Marie Muscarello. @annmarie.mm, \/ TikTok<\/p>\n The rate of pay for NFL cheerleaders hasn\u2019t been a secret. In 2015, the Associated Press reported the squads made less than fast food workers.<\/a> In 2014, a Jets cheerleader sued the team <\/a>over the measly\u00a0rate of $3.77 an hour.<\/p>\n More recently it has been in the spotlight after the Netflix documentary series \u201cAmerica\u2019s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders\u201d debuted in June 2024. <\/p>\n The doc highlights the women\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n For some, the exposure has led to bigger and better things. <\/p>\n Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Friday, August 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n Fan favorite Reece Weaver is set to make her Broadway debut this fall as Roxie Hart in the musical \u201cChicago\u201d after cheering for the franchise for three seasons. <\/p>\n The success of the documentary series pushed for the Dallas cheerleaders to get a 400% raise in 2025. Aakash Gupta, who writes the \u201cProduct Growth\u201d Substack newsletter, reported veterans on the squad can currently make $75 an hour.<\/a><\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n That comes out to about $22,500 a year while an average registered nurse takes in $97,550 a year.<\/p>\n Cheerleaders are independent contractors employed by the specific franchise, not the NFL itself. <\/p>\n Thus, more teams will have to follow the Cowboys\u2019 path for wages to improve.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t