The act of leaving the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders can be even more daunting than joining the renowned squad, as Reece Weaver recently discovered. After completing three seasons with the DCC, Weaver made the decision to hang up her pompoms at the conclusion of Season 3 of “America’s Sweethearts,” the Netflix reality series that follows the cheerleaders through their annual audition process.
“It was more scary to leave, because it’s like, ‘Oh gosh, now what do I do?’ I’m jumping into the real world. I don’t know what is next. I think it was more of the unknowns that were scary,” Weaver explained to TODAY.com. For many viewers, her departure was genuinely surprising, especially given her background. Weaver, who possesses a classical studio background, had been a breakout star during Season 1 of the series, which documented the selection process for the 2023-2024 football season.
The Decision to Depart
Weaver’s retirement was publicly announced during a conversation with Kelli Finglass, the director of the DCC, and choreographer Judy Trammell, as shown in Episode 7 of the programme. Weaver described this interaction as “honestly one of the scariest days of my life.” Her primary concern was to articulate her feelings eloquently and genuinely. She recalled praying with her husband, Will Allman, just before the meeting, repeatedly asking, “‘Speak through me, Lord. Just speak through me.’” She admitted to being “scared to not have the words” during the crucial conversation.
Weaver had been “wrestling” with the decision throughout the entire season. After three years, she found that cheering with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders had become “comfortable.” She acknowledged that the cheerleaders had successfully pushed for significantly raised salaries since her initial signing, and she knows she “would have enjoyed” more time on the squad. However, she ultimately felt ready for new challenges.
Her decision was also driven by a desire to inspire others. “I wanted to encourage others, that if they felt like they were being pulled, to take a leap of faith,” she stated. Weaver hoped to inspire them to act on such feelings and “not be scared of it.”
Addressing Speculation
Whilst Weaver anticipated experiencing fear and uncertainty after leaving, she did not expect the feedback from individuals who questioned whether the decision was entirely her own. Following the broadcast of “America’s Sweethearts,” viewers began to speculate widely about the true reason behind her retirement. Questions arose concerning a high ankle sprain she sustained during her third season, or whether pressure from her husband, Will Allman, played a role.
Weaver expressed her frustration regarding such speculation, stating, “It’s frustrating.” She firmly refuted these rumours, clarifying that she has “the most incredible husband, who is so supportive, and I’m 100% healthy and could totally do another season.” She stressed that Allman would have supported her “no matter what,” which made the spread of these rumours particularly “sad” for her. “He made it extremely clear to me that it had to be my decision. I’m so grateful for that,” Weaver emphasised, adding, “All he wants to do is support my dreams.”
Life After the Pompoms
Since her departure from the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Reece Weaver and Will Allman have relocated to their hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. However, Weaver has not yet fully settled into her new routine. She admitted, “I wish I could tell you exactly what it looks like, but I have not spent more than three days in our new home at a time.” Life, she notes, “has been so busy, just in a different way.”
Looking ahead, Weaver’s plans include a return to her roots in dance. She intends to “fall back in love” with the specific type of studio dance she pursued during her younger years.