Give them an “R-I-N-G!”
Synonymous with an NFL Championship title is the Super Bowl ring that comes along with the win, but does that coveted piece of jewelry extend to people outside the football team, like the cheerleaders encouraging them on the sidelines? Well, the answer differs per franchise.
A ring ceremony is held each year, typically in June, to honor the winning team and its football players for their hard-earned victory, awarding each of them with a detail-oriented piece of jewelry that’s often diamond and ruby-encrusted. The memento is extended to coaches as well.
While it’s up to each franchise to decide who else on the NFL Championship-winning team gets a ring, one team that notably gives rings to cheerleaders is the Kansas City Chiefs.
Former Chiefs cheerleader Stefanie Hills previously set the record straight in a TikTok shared in 2024, following the team’s Super Bowl win that year. “I question I get often!” Hills captioned the TikTok that featured a video of her and her fellow Chiefs Cheerleaders throughout their winning 2023-2024 season. “Do NFL Cheerleaders get Super Bowl rings,” she wrote over the clip.
Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders perform during Super Bowl LVIII.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty
As the video continued to play, Hills then cut to several photos of herself flashing her Super Bowl rings to the camera. “Yes!!” she wrote over the images, followed by videos of her and her fellow cheer squad showing off their bling on screen.
Jeff Locke, a former NFL player-turned-advisor to professional athletes, gave a general breakdown of how the Super Bowl ring ceremony distribution process works through a video shared on TikTok in February 2023. He explained the breakdown for both players and non-players on the team.
“The NFL will contribute roughly $5,000-$7,000 [per ring] per year for up to 150 rings to help the owners offset the cost, but anything above that is on the owners to pay for,” he explained. “So an NFL owner could be on the hook for between five and 10 million dollars of cost to get rings.”
Edward John DeBartolo Jr., former owner of the San Fransisco 49ers, was the first NFL owner to give cheerleaders Super Bowl rings. Actress and former 49ers NFL cheerleader Teri Hatcher received the first round of rings in 1994, she shared on CBS’s The Talk.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty
The Chiefs Cheerleaders, meanwhile, have their own special ring ceremony that’s separate from the player’s ring ceremony. The commemorative event was initiated by Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt and his wife Tavia, complete with a red carpet and the Lombardi Trophy on display.
Tavia wrote a tribute post on Instagram to the Chiefs Cheerleaders in tribute to their accomplishments on the night of the honorary ceremony. It featured a carousel of images that showcased highlights from the night.
“Tonight, we gather to honor the remarkable squad that lifted our spirits and inspired us throughout the Super Bowl journey. With every cheer, every dance move, and every infectious smile, they ignited a fire within us all,” she began in part.
“To the Chiefs cheerleaders, we toast your steadfast dedication, your infectious enthusiasm, and the countless hours of practice that went into perfecting your craft. Your unwavering support on the sidelines gave our team the strength to push forward and conquer the biggest stage of all.” Tavia continued.
“You are a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the field. May your spirit continue to shine bright, lighting the way for future triumphs. Cheers to you, and God bless you, our beloved Chiefs cheerleaders!” she concluded.
In August 2024, Chiefs Cheerleader Brittany Workman chronicled her day on TikTok leading up to the Super Bowl ring ceremony at night. “GRWM to get my second Super Bowl ring,” she captioned her post.
Denver Broncos Cheerleaders.
Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty
In addition to the Chiefs, the Denver Broncos also give Super Bowl rings to the cheerleaders, as seen in a post on X. The members of the squad posed for a photo showing off their blinged fingers after winning the NFL Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers in 2016.
The daughter of CEO Hunt, Gracie Hunt, made a TikTok about the Super Bowl ring she also received at the ceremony held in June 2023. She broke down the details designed into the ring that year, pointing out everything from the diamonds to the team spirit incorporated within the piece.
“Look at all the detail!” she began while picturing the sparkling ring. “Over 600 diamonds and we’ve got Arrowhead Stadium inside of the ring. Wow, and this thing is heavy! It’s an amazing way to celebrate out team’s accomplishments with another ring for our Kansas City Chiefs.”
