With the 2024 Super Bowl being the new most-watched telecast in human history, it is not surprising that the event is estimated to have brought in over one billion dollars in revenue. Yet, it is incredibly shocking to learn that the National Football League (NFL) cheerleaders are barely taking home minimum wage for their time spent on the field.
How much money does NFL + Super Bowl bring in?
Super Bowl LVIII’s MVP Patrick Mahomes is estimated to have made over 52 million dollars this year alone, bringing up the average salary of an NFL player to around $860,000 each year. Such a high salary makes sense when put into perspective — the NFL easily brings in over 18 billion dollars of pure revenue each year.
What is the Average Income of an NFL Cheerleader?
So, while an average football player will bring in around $47,000 per game throughout the season, the cheerleaders on the sidelines of the same game are only earning approximately $75 to $150 per game. In terms of hourly wage, this means that the cheerleaders are bringing in an estimated $12 to $20 an hour. Naturally, this pay differs depending on experience and position levels, but the sentiment remains the same — these women are grossly underpaid.
Furthermore, while many NFL teams are sponsored by various companies and get issued a great number of uniforms and team gear, this same issue serves as a detriment to some cheerleaders. Back in 2014, five Buffalo Bills cheerleaders sued the team for the improper treatment they experienced. Amongst the numerous allegations, it was revealed that the cheerleaders had to pay for their uniforms and other gear completely out of their own pockets.
What are the conditions of NFL Cheerleaders?
While many NFL cheerleaders spend well over 30-40 hours each week at both practice and games throughout the year, this is not anyone’s full-time job. In fact, it is widely recognized that this gig is only considered a part-time job. Almost all of the cheerleaders are either full-time students or are maintaining a full-time job in addition to the grueling training schedule that comes with being an NFL cheerleader.
Almost unsurprisingly, the working conditions of these women are often toxic. Even when these women are not on the field cheering, they are required to present themselves in a certain way. A leaked version of the rule document mentions that cheerleaders are meant to strictly stay within their “goal weight,” and in the instance that a player or executive enters a restaurant a cheerleader is at, they are meant to promptly leave.
Many of these women also experience sexual harassment during their time on the team. In the Buffalo Bills court case, many of the Buffalo Bills cheerleaders revealed they were subjected to a “jiggle test,” where they would move around and be judged by how much any part of their body did in fact jiggle. “Failure” of this test would cause the cheerleader to be benched.
The Inherent, Yet Unsurprising Reality
NFL cheerleaders are treated extremely unfairly in comparison to the other athletes sharing the same field. Perhaps such issues stem from the fact that even though cheering is a physically challenging and demanding activity, many refuse to acknowledge it as a sport. Such is the reality for many sports teams that are dominated by women.
In Conclusion
While the pay of male NFL players continues to skyrocket with each passing season, the salary and respect towards the NFL cheerleaders remain stagnant. Since minimum wage is barely enough for most people to survive, it is shocking that these professional athletes are paid so little. It is time that the discussion surrounding inclusion takes place and that the sexism in this male-led organization is recognized and addressed.
