Reece Weaver spent three seasons grinding through the most demanding sideline job in the NFL and walked away on her own terms.
The 24-year-old, a breakout fan favorite across all three seasons of Netflix’s America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, announced her retirement in the Season 3 finale.
She told DCC director Kelli Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell she would not be returning for the 2026-27 NFL season. Her announcement shook all those fans who had watched Weaver grow from a wide-eyed rookie in 2023 into one of the franchise’s most recognizable faces.
Dec 21, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders perform during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
However, Weaver did not walk away from dance. In interviews following her retirement, the Florida native made it clear that she has a bigger dream than dancing with pom-poms on the sidelines of AT&T Stadium.
Retiring Cowboys Cheerleader Reece Weaver has Broadway and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in her sights
Cheerleading for the Cowboys was not a soft assignment for her. Weaver made that clear throughout Season 3, which dropped on Netflix on June 16.
Early in the season, she dealt with hip pain. Then, she suffered a high ankle sprain during rehearsals for the Christmas show that sidelined her for two games while she worked with a physical therapist to get back on the field.
Beyond the physical toll, the social media scrutiny from the Netflix docuseries added a layer of pressure that she had never faced before. “It also came with a lot of challenges—with social media,” she told ELLE. Three years of that pressure at age 24 makes it clear when it is time to move on.
Weaver told ELLE she wrote down three major life goals in high school: DCC, Broadway, and writing a book. With the first goal complete, she is focusing on Broadway. She wants to perform in Chicago, calling its music “so iconic,” and hopes to land a role in the jazz-influenced show Just in Time.
“My soul lights up when I hear that classic jazz musical theater music,” she said. Her background with the University of Alabama dance team and three years under a national spotlight give her the resume she needs to pursue those auditions.
Dancing with the Stars is also on her radar. While ABC and Disney+ will premiere Season 35 this fall, the full cast will not be announced on Good Morning America until Sept. 2.
Weaver has not confirmed a spot, but she has her ambitions clear.”I’m not finished,” Weaver said. “The word retirement is so scary…and I still want to do so much with my life.”
She added that she is simply moving on to her next chapter and is excited to see what it brings, concluding that this is just the beginning. Furthermore, her intense cheerleading training in Jerry Jones’ franchise provides the exact discipline and stamina required for the ballroom floor.
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