Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Reece Weaver Addresses Speculation About Her Shocking Retirement Announcement (Exclusive)

Tabitha ParentWed, June 24, 2026 at 7:37 PM UTC

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Reece Weaver on May 15, 2025 in New York City.Credit: Jason Mendez/Getty -

Reece Weaver is breaking down her decision to leave the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders after three seasons, which surprised fans and viewers of America's Sweetheart

Weaver addresses speculation about her exit, including social media scrutiny and its impact on her personal life and marriage

She also shares a look toward the future — and teases what's to come as she leaves the NFL cheer squad behind

Reece Weaver's cup is full.The now former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, 24, shocked fans of the team and the America's Sweetheart docuseries (which chronicles the lives of cheerleading hopefuls during training camp and into the regular season) last week, after officially revealing her decision to retire after just three seasons with the group in the last episode.While many DCC veterans opt to stay with the squad for five seasons, Reece, who had become a beloved member of the squad following her introduction to the masses on the first season of Sweethearts, decided that her time had come to an end earlier than many had expected.

Reece Weaver and Will Allman in March 2026.Credit: Reece Weaver/Instagram

In the days that followed the official confirmation, speculation began to run rampant on social media about what had really prompted the breakout star's departure from the team.

Some pointed to the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader's longtime director and choreographer, Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell, who are known for their tough love with the women of the team, which often borders on straight criticism, as one reason that the sweet and often naive Weaver may have wanted to make her exit.

Others mentioned Weaver's husband, Will Allman, who has appeared in all the seasons of America's Sweethearts and, this season, spoke candidly about how he felt that many of the opportunities afforded to Weaver had inevitably turned their marriage into a "business partnership." Some noted that intense social media scrutiny — heightened by the success of the TV show — may have ultimately become too much for the reserved dancer.Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE, Weaver addresses the decision and shares what's next as she prepares to close this chapter.With the frenzy of press and rollout for season 3 of America's Sweethearts, Weaver admits that she hasn't even been able to "fully process" that she is "stepping into the next chapter."

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KayDianna MacKenzie, Sophia Laufer, Kelee Norris, Kelcey Wetterberg, Jada Mclean, Madeline Salter, Anna Kate Sundvold, and Reece Weaver.Credit: Reece Weaver/Instagram

"I think after the show came out, I had to learn really quickly to adapt to just a very new reality of life and to be okay with change and fluid moments," she adds. "I have really appreciated that and I'm excited to not know what's in the future, but to be excited and to be on this adventure."Since her time with the DCC has come to a close, Weaver has been "grateful" for the way that the show has "filled" her cup over the last few years, and speaks to some of the points that internet denizens have mentioned they believe might be behind the cheerleader's shocking exit.

"I do feel like a lot of people are taking it and turning it into more of a negative intention because my intentions were very honest and very true," she says. "I have had such a time trying to figure out what I was going to do, but I had so much peace that I was supposed to take a leap of faith. And I hope that it encourages anyone, everyone who feels like they're ready to take a leap as well."Weaver also delves into the criticism directed at her and Allman, describing the "complete 180" that their marriage and lives have taken since the show ("all for the better," she adds)."The first thing is just realizing and knowing not everyone's going to understand our hearts and the things that go on behind closed doors," she says.

Reece in America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

"I think our conversations that we have with one another are very sacred and he trusts me, I trust him and we both admire each other and each other's opinions. And so I think that that played a huge role into this year and really just this journey."She says that the couple that they are today has been shaped by the experience that the show and the team have given them."There are a lot of opinions out there that people are going to say about us, but we know not everyone's going to understand," she continues. "And that's really a hard concept to grasp, but we know that we have each other and we have a really great support system around us."Much of this season of America's Sweethearts focused on the impact that social media has had on the evolution of the team, both in good and bad ways, and Weaver touches on her somewhat complicated relationship with it.

"I think that now that there have been so many doors that have opened, I'm able to really be really vulnerable and authentic on social media and I think that that'll continue to be the case," she explains. "I want to always share what's going on in my life and I'm grateful now that I have a lot of eyes on me, which I don't take lightly. That's a huge responsibility.""If another show or some sort of opportunity comes with filming in the future, I would still take that up," she says. "But I think right now it's just going to be really special for Will and I to just be able to dream together and figure out what's next for us and our future."She also touches on some of the speculation that has swirled up online about the fact that she has already removed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and her official headshot from her Instagram."It's funny because I honestly didn't really think too much of it because I just loved that picture," she laughs. "And I do think that it was hard at first to change my profile picture, but then at the end of the day, it's just a profile picture. And I can't really think too much of it, where I am so grateful that really if we're speaking on real terms here, the platform that I've been given through DCC and even through Netflix has really brought a lot of eyes to my social media pages."In the end, she adds that, if there is one thing she hopes people take away from it all, it's this: "But I hope that people know that I'm way more than just a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and that my identity is not found in my career or even my dreams."

on People

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