Former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Amanda Howard is reminiscing about her time on the squad after her abrupt and shocking exit on America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
“My journey unfolded exactly how it was meant to–and I think that’s the coolest part about DCC: no two panthers are the same,” Howard wrote via Instagram on Saturday, June 21, along with a video montage of her time on the squad. “I first auditioned in 2021, just shooting my shot. I made it to Training Camp–farther than I ever imagined. After being cut, I realized this wasn’t just a dream… it was something I could accomplish. From that moment on, I went all in. I trained hard, studied the DCC style and etiquette, and did everything I possibly could to make the team.”
She continued, “In 2022, I came back confident in God’s plan. Whatever he decided for me, I trusted it. Joseph prayed over me every single day of Training Camp–and when I finally got to call and tell him I made the team, he hopped in the car and drove straight to The Star just to give me the biggest hug.”
The former DCC cheerleader went on to share that her first year on the squad was a “challenge,” adding that Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell decided to take “37 girls instead of 36” that year.
“I was given the role of rotating rookie–meaning every game, I filled a different spot with a different group,” she continued in the caption. “It was hard. Really hard. But I was honored to be trusted in that position, and I did everything in my power not to let my team down. I was named Rookie of the Year, and although it was the most stressful year of my career, it made me stronger than I ever thought I could be.”
According to Howard, her second year on the team brought her “stability and joy.”
“I had my own spot and soaked up every single moment,” she added. “I grew closer to the girls, felt more confident in the style, and started asking myself: what kind of flower am I in this bouquet of 36? Year 3 was my year of intention. The year I stopped trying to prove myself–and just was. I trusted my capabilities, reminded myself I was enough, and approached every dance with joy, every conversation with presence, and every tear with purpose.”
She concluded her emotional post, writing, “I leave this team honored to have been a part of it–and forever grateful to always be a part of it.”
Howard’s second and third years with the squad were documented in Netflix’s hit docuseries America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
In season 2, Howard and many of her fellow cheerleaders fought for higher pay (the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have notoriously been paid very little for their role within the organization, leaving many of the athletes to work multiple jobs while still fulfilling their cheerleading duties). Despite being a former Rookie of the Year and being so prolific during tryouts that judges remembered her by name, Howard was not chosen for many high-profile public appearances during the 2024-2025 NFL season.
As a result, she spoke to Finglass about why she was, in her eyes, being deliberately overlooked or not picked, asking if it was as a result of her decision to take a stance on and advocate for higher pay. According to Finglass, that wasn’t the case.
Still, Howard shocked Finglass and fans when, at the end of the season, she decided to hang up her uniform and not return for a shot at a fourth year on the squad.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, veteran cheerleader Jada Mclean opened up about the squad’s efforts to secure higher pay.
“It’s a tough topic to start to have conversations [about],” she told Us ahead of the season 2 drop on Wednesday, June 18. “But we were pretty serious, as leaders, this was something that we really wanted to see a change happen.”
At the end of season 2, the cheerleaders managed to secure a 400 percent increase in pay.
“It’s gonna take a lot of the financial stresses out of their lives, which is something that we wanted to see,” Mclean, who like Howard is not returning to the squad next year, told Us of the pay increase. “I’ve struggled financially on this team and that was something that I didn’t want anyone else to have to deal with while they’re cheerleaders. I think they’re in a good position moving forward.”
Seasons 1 and 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are now streaming on Netflix.
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