Life beyond NFL cheerleading
A Denver Broncos cheerleader is drawing attention for what she does when she steps away from the football field. Her story offers a closer look at the demanding schedule behind the spotlight, the work many cheerleaders take on outside the NFL, and the ongoing conversation about compensation.
From rehearsals and appearances to a completely different professional career, there is more to the role than fans may realize. Keep reading to see what sparked the conversation and why it has people talking.
Muscarello works in nursing outside football
Muscarello’s biography says she is a registered nurse with experience in intensive care, travel nursing, and IV hydration. It also identifies her as founder of Hydration House IV in Denver.
Her biography says she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing after studying at the University of Florida and UT Health in Houston. Her nursing career involves separate education and responsibilities from her Broncos role.
The Broncos role includes more than game-day cheering
Denver Broncos Cheerleaders perform during games, but their listed duties extend beyond the sideline. The organization says members represent the Broncos at charitable appearances, sponsor events, youth programs, and community activities.
The Broncos also require rehearsals and preparation involving choreography, public speaking, modeling, social media, and public relations. The 2026 job listing describes rehearsals two or three times weekly, generally lasting three to four hours.
The team reports hundreds of annual appearances
The Broncos say their 28-member cheerleading team attends more than 250 appearances each year. Those events include charity programs, corporate appearances, youth activities, and other community engagements connected with the organization.
The team also reports more than 1,500 hours of engagement with over 100 Colorado organizations annually. That schedule shows the position includes substantial community work beyond performances at Empower Field at Mile High.
The 2026 job listing lists $25 an hour
A 2026 Denver Broncos Cheerleader job listing lists expected compensation at $25 per hour. The posting describes the role as part time and includes games, rehearsals, community appearances, youth instruction, social media, and brand representation.
The listed rate is an hourly figure, not a stated annual salary. Because the position is part-time, total earnings depend on scheduled hours, games, appearances, and other paid duties.
Cheerleaders must meet extensive requirements
The Broncos require applicants to have at least 10 years of extensive experience in multiple forms of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. Candidates must also learn choreography quickly, understand football, communicate effectively, and be prepared to teach and mentor children.
The job includes social-media responsibilities and public representation of the team. Applicants are expected to serve as visible brand ambassadors, while a B.A. or B.S. degree, or current enrollment toward one, is preferred.
The role combines rehearsals, games, and appearances
Broncos cheerleaders attend rehearsals 2-3 times each week, with sessions generally lasting 3-4 hours. The job listing also includes home games, sponsor appearances, charity events, school activities, youth instruction, and promotional work.
Those responsibilities extend beyond the time spent performing during football games. The organization’s description presents cheerleading as a part-time role involving recurring training and public-facing assignments throughout the year.
NFL cheerleader pay has faced legal challenges
Compensation for NFL cheerleaders has faced legal challenges, including a 2014 lawsuit involving the Oakland Raiders’ Raiderettes. The lawsuit alleged cheerleaders were underpaid for required work, paid late, and required to cover expenses.
The Raiders later agreed to a $1.25 million settlement covering about 90 women who worked from 2010 through 2013. The settlement followed changes moving the squad toward hourly pay and reimbursement.
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders received a major raise
In 2025, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders announced a 400% pay increase during the second season of Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts.” The increase followed years of efforts by squad members to improve compensation.
The Cowboys had previously doubled per-game pay from $200 to $400 in 2019 after settling a lawsuit with former cheerleader Erica Wilkins. The 2025 raise became a recent example of changing NFL cheerleader compensation.
Interesting fact: The Denver Broncos Cheerleaders returned to the sidelines in 1993 after a 17-year absence.
Documentary coverage brought pay into focus
Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” brought cheerleaders’ working conditions and pay into the national discussion. TIME reported that members described balancing cheerleading with other jobs and financial responsibilities.
The series’s second season documented negotiations that preceded the Cowboys’ 2025 raise. That coverage provides recent context for discussions about NFL cheerleader compensation, including renewed attention surrounding Muscarello’s dual career.
NFL teams set their own cheerleader arrangements
Cheerleaders are generally contracted or employed by individual NFL franchises rather than by the league as one employer. That structure means compensation, schedules, duties, and employment terms can differ among teams.
The Broncos’ published job information provides Denver-specific details, including its hourly rate and required responsibilities. Comparisons with other squads therefore need to account for differences in contracts, pay systems, appearances, and local employment rules.
Muscarello’s story is part of a wider discussion
Muscarello’s viral post renewed public attention on an NFL cheerleader maintaining another professional career. Her nursing background provides an example of a cheerleader working in another field while continuing to perform for an NFL team.
The discussion follows the Cowboys’ 2025 pay increase and a history of lawsuits involving cheerleader compensation. Those developments provide context for attention surrounding Muscarello’s weekday work in September 2026.
The internet is also talking about how disputed final-second call changes the outcome for Western Michigan against Michigan.
The Broncos role remains a part-time position
The Broncos’ 2026 job listing describes cheerleading as part time and lists $25 per hour. The team separately documents extensive community and game-related responsibilities for its cheerleaders.
Muscarello’s individual Broncos earnings and total nursing income are not publicly established by the cited sources. What can be confirmed is that the Broncos position is part time and her nursing career continues alongside it.
In other news, Donald Trump faces calls to reverse a controversial college football ruling.
What do you think about the demands placed on NFL cheerleaders and the pay they receive? Like this slideshow and comment with your thoughts.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
