In a landmark moment for equity in professional sports, the Tennessee Titans cheerleaders are set to receive a staggering 400% pay raise for the upcoming 2025 NFL season. Their hourly wages are jumping from a modest $15 to over $75—one of the largest wage increases for cheerleaders in NFL history.
This isn’t just a headline about bigger paychecks. It’s a long-overdue correction to the undervaluation of professional cheerleaders across American sports.
For decades, NFL cheerleaders have operated at the intersection of athleticism, artistry, and entertainment, often training and performing at elite levels while earning wages far below what their contributions merit. Despite the grueling rehearsal schedules, public appearances, and gameday demands, cheerleaders in many markets have historically been paid barely above minimum wage—if that.
The Titans’ decision to substantially boost compensation marks a shift in how organizations recognize the work of these athletes—not just as decorative figures on the sidelines, but as essential contributors to the team’s brand, community engagement, and gameday experience.
While the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) have long set the standard for NFL cheer programs, this move by Tennessee puts direct financial weight behind the rhetoric of “valuing women in sports.” It acknowledges the cheerleaders as skilled professionals deserving of fair compensation—not just applause.
It’s worth noting that this development follows a broader wave of athletes and performers demanding equity, from women’s soccer pay disputes to WNBA players fighting for better travel and facilities. The Titans’ cheer squad just joined that movement—with receipts.
The ripple effects of this raise could reverberate across the NFL. Other franchises will now face public scrutiny over their own cheer pay structures. Why should a squad in Los Angeles or Dallas be paid pennies on the dollar while Nashville sets a new bar?
For too long, the NFL has been a league of billion-dollar franchises paying their cheerleaders like part-time help. The Tennessee Titans just issued a new playbook—and this one’s worth cheering for.
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