It’s the early 1970s. The NFL is loud, gritty, and overwhelmingly focused on brute strength. Helmets crash. Crowds roar. The sidelines? Pretty quiet.
Then suddenly… something changes.
Pom-poms appear. Choreography sharpens. The energy shifts. And without realizing it, the NFL sideline is about to become part sports, part showtime.
So the big trivia question is: Which NFL team hired the first professional cheerleading squad?
In the early days of football, cheerleaders were mostly:
They weren’t paid.
They weren’t trained like performers.
And they definitely weren’t a brand.
NFL teams focused on the field. Entertainment was an afterthought.
Until one team thought… what if it wasn’t?
Image: Dallas-cowboys-NFL-Team-Cheerleaders
The Dallas Cowboys is the first NFL team to hire a professional cheerleading squad.
In 1972, the Cowboys introduced something the league had never seen before: a fully professional cheerleading squad, complete with auditions, contracts, training, and media presence.
They weren’t just cheering. They were performing. And the NFL would never look the same again.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders quickly became:
This wasn’t accidental. The Cowboys wanted:
It worked. Almost too well.
Once cameras caught on, everything escalated.
The cheerleaders began appearing in:
They weren’t just part of the team. They became part of American pop culture.
Soon, other NFL teams started paying attention.
After Dallas proved the concept, the rest of the league followed.
Teams began creating:
By the late 1970s and 1980s, professional cheerleading was officially an NFL tradition.
But Dallas always held the “first” title.
Another surprise layer?
The iconic NFL cheerleader look didn’t evolve slowly.
It arrived fully formed.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders introduced:
Love them or debate them, they became instantly recognizable.
Here’s the reality check.
Despite being professional performers:
Professional? Yes.
Highly paid celebrities? Usually no.
And yet… auditions remain fiercely competitive.
The Cowboys didn’t just hire cheerleaders. They introduced a sports entertainment strategy.
That one decision:
All from a sideline idea that seemed small at the time.
Now you’ll find:
But it all traces back to one moment in 1972.
One team. One decision.
Many fans point to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but teams like the Raiderettes and Miami Dolphins are also highly praised.
“Best” is subjective, often based on performance skill, popularity, and legacy.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are widely considered the most competitive to join.
Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Philadelphia Eagles are frequently ranked high.
NFL cheerleader pay varies, often ranging from per-game payments to annual contracts depending on the team.
Most earn a few hundred dollars per game, with additional pay for appearances.
They are team-branded outfits designed for performance, visibility, and tradition.
No. Each team designs its own uniforms to match branding and culture.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders remain the most globally recognized.
Yes. They audition, train, perform, and represent their teams professionally.
Now when someone asks which NFL team hired the first professional cheerleading squad, you know the answer — and the story behind it.
It wasn’t just cheerleading.
It was the birth of a whole new sideline era.
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