Cheerleaders have been part of NFL games for nearly 70 of the league’s 100 years. Beginning with the Baltimore Marching Colts in 1954, scores of women have suited up to cheer for players and entertain fans during games, and represent franchises at events throughout the community.
The 26 teams who have currently have cheer squads have long found ways to profit off them, whether through calendars or appearance fees. The league has featured select women at the Pro Bowl annually and has made photo galleries of them at games for its website.
But until a few years ago, only those on the inside of those teams knew that those beautiful faces were masking often terrible conditions, from working for little or no money to harassment and shocking exploitation.