Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders have no job security

Paula Duffy
The Sports Examiner
March 30, 2009

I came across a report on philly.com about the Eagles cheerleader try-outs and wondered why they had so many open positions for the upcoming season.

It turns out the ladies have to re-qualify each year. There are 38 spots available for the right blend of looks, talent and that extra special element that will separate the chosen from the disappointed. (see the slide-show tribute here)

Barbara Zaun, director of cheerleading for the Eagles said the average tenure on the squad is three years but making everyone earn a position each year sends the clear message that as she said, “No one gets a free pass.”

Four hundred women arrived at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday to participate in the audition. The applicants have only a few minutes to learn a 30 second routine and one hour to practice. Then it’s Showtime.

The positions pay pretty well considering the part time nature of the work. Zaun said the pay scale runs from $400 per game up to a maximum of $1,000. She didn’t mention whether seniority helps you climb the ladder of pay grade.

[Note: I can pretty much guarantee you the pay scale information printed here is either grossly overinflated or just flat out wrong. I haven’t spoken with Barbara Zaun or the author of this piece, but I can say with all confidence that no NFL franchise pays their cheerleaders that kind of wage per game. — sasha]

As usual in these groups there are the applicants who think it’s glamorous and want to have a career in show biz. There are others who work in established professions such as nursing or teaching and who are hoping to fulfill an aspiration many of them had for a long time.

But no one better think this is a one way ticket to meeting and hooking up with players. Janet Harding, a ten year veteran of the squad who acted as a judge during the audition said the women are told in no uncertain terms that fraternization with the football players is not just frowned upon but forbidden. Wonder how often that is disregarded?