Published October 24, 2026 04:01 PM
One of the NFL’s teams has another union to deal with — and the team in question didn’t fight it.
Via the Associated Press, the Dallas Cowboys have agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the collective bargaining representative for the team’s cheerleading squad.
“The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are an esteemed part of the Cowboys organization, deeply respected for the talent and dedication they exhibit,” the union said in a statement. “They remain one of the most sought-after opportunities for talented dancers worldwide.”
Employers typically prefer to avoid unions, for obvious reasons. Through collective bargaining and the ability to strike, unions can secure better pay and better working conditions for all employees in the bargaining unit.
The Buffalo Jills were the first NFL cheerleading squad to unionize, back in 1995. The Jills disbanded in 2014 after the filing of a lawsuit alleging violations of the New York minimum-wage laws.
Questions about fair pay for NFL cheerleaders have been common over the years, along with allegations of improper conduct. The Washington franchise, while under the management of Daniel Snyder, faced civil claims arising from a “secret outtake” video. Those claims were later settled.
In 2022, longtime Cowboys P.R. executive Rich Dalrymple abruptly resigned amid allegations that he secretly recorded the team’s cheerleaders while they were changing clothes. Four cheerleaders received $2.4 million to settle their civil claims as a result of that incident.