We’ve binged season 3 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, we’ve watched old episodes of Making the Team, and now we’ve entered the phase of our deep dive where…we have questions! Specifically about the rules of DCC retirement and whether cheerleaders actually have to leave the squad after five years.

Ahead of the 2026–2027 season, a whopping six women are hanging up their uniforms after a five-year run: Megan McElaney, Madeline Salter, Kleine Powell, Lea Tunnell, Kelee Norris, and Tori Skillings. That can’t be a coincidence, right? As it turns out, though retiring after year five is pretty common, members of the DCC can keep auditioning if they want to.

Former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Kat Puryear previously confirmed this on TikTok back in 2024, responding to a fan who asked if the poor pay was part of the reason people left the squad after five years.

“It’s not because of the pay,” she said. “I think mainly everyone’s different, right? So, I left because my hips are absolutely shattered, babe. I can’t even walk up the stairs properly, alright? That's just me. Also, I was on the team for four years, I was personality galore, and by my fourth year, I knew I had accomplished everything I wanted to do. I was leader, I was on show group, I was doing all the things you want to do on DCC. My hips couldn’t take anymore.”

Kat added that other members of the DCC go back for a sixth year—including Chandi Dayle, one of her friends who “hasn’t accomplished all that she wants to do. She wants to be first leader, she wants to go do more things, she wants to keep performing. Her body’s allowing her to do that, so you can. So it’s all personal preference.”

As for five years being the norm, Kat explained that it’s “kinda just the max that we allow ourselves because we can’t keep going on forever and ever. But it’s kinda like an unwritten rule for ourselves.”

Got it!!!!