Thelma Mack of the BALTIMORE COLTS (HOF 7) Thelma is the pioneer of NFL Cheerleaders! In 1954, she founded the FIRST professional NFL cheerleaders group. She was the FIRST NFL Director/Cheerleader/Choreographer for 8 seasons (1954-1961) and has many fun gametime memories including attending the famous “Greatest Game Ever Played” in New York. To this day, Thelma considers founding and being a Colts Cheerleader as one of her greatest accomplishments!
Sharon Sweeney of the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (HOF 8) Former Philadelphia Eagle Cheerleader from 1965-1968 Choreographer of the Liberty Belles 1977-1982 then Director of the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders from 1982-1985. Ms. Sweeney was among 4 former NFL Cheerleaders who were inducted into the National Football Cheerleader Hall of Fame July 20,2024 Hosted by the New England Patriot cheerleaders in Boston MA. Ms. Sweeney’s (aka Mama Bird) spent 17 years with the Eagle’s Cheerleader program. She has coached 13 different high school cheerleading squads plus 2 Colleges Teams 3 Pro teams and the Philadelphians Dance team who led the Philadelphia Bicentennial Parade. Sweeney was awarded HOF status when she was inducted into the Philadelphia Daily News All Star chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 1992.
Lori Marino of the BUFFALO BILLS (HOF 9)
Lori cheered with the Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders from 1981-1990. She was a Captain from 1983-1991 and was selected by Bills management to be the Jills Director for 6 seasons (1987-1992). She retired from the team in 1992, but returned in 1997 as the Buffalo Jills Manager/Advisor through the 2000 season. She attended 3 of the Buffalo Bills 4 Super Bowls, the American Bowl in London England, and in Toronto against the Dallas Cowboys.
As a Buffalo Jill, she was an outstanding example of qualities that an NFL Cheerleader should strive to exemplify. She started as an 18-year-old rookie who quickly developed skills that won the respect of her team members, serving as a squad captain and contributing through leadership and choreography. Her social skills organizing numerous local charity events also earned her respect as a leader and team member to whom many turned to for advice, guidance, and encouragement.
In 1991, she founded the Buffalo Jills Alumni Association (BJAL). She was elected as President and held that position until 2019. As founder and President, she led the charge along with 8 founding members, organizing and establishing the first Buffalo Jills Alumni Association. She currently serves on the NFCAO Board of Directors and is the NFCAO Secretary. Lori Marino has been a bedrock member of the Buffalo Jills for over 40 years. Her commitment to never-wavering belief in maintaining the principles of our organization was unshakable. She helped navigate our organization through several incarnations of NFL cheerleading, gymnastics, dance and more. She performed with squads of highly skilled dancers to become truly dynamic. She conducted herself with principles and grace, proudly representing the Buffalo Bills. She has spent an enormous amount of time, energy and love building and maintaining our Alumni Association which gives us what many of us feel is the biggest gift NFL Cheerleaders could want. It is a magnificent and huge group of sisters that give us friendships so rare and joy so complete.
Mary May of the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (HOF 10)
Mary May was the FIRST Director and Choreographer of the Tampa Bay Swashbucklers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1975 when Tampa was awarded the coveted NFL Franchise! She held that position for 4 seasons 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. She organized, directed, and choreographed the first cheerleading squad...the SWASHBUCKLERS. She continued in that role for 4 seasons ending in 1979. She also has two daughters who became Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders as well. The late Kim May and Sabrina Cabello, a current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader Alumni.
After leaving the Buccaneers, she went on to work with the University of South Florida Sun Dolls, many of whom later became Bucs Cheerleaders. She also has served as a judge for current Buccaneers Cheerleaders try-outs over the years.
She founded the TBBC Alumni in 2014 and enlisted the help of the then current Tampa Bay Bucs Cheerleader Director and several former cheerleaders from various years to serve as founding members. She continues to attend all the Tampa Bay Chapter charity events and performances. She is also an active member of the NFL Alumni Association.
The NFL Alumni Tampa Chapter presented her with VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2021. In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers honored her at the Throwback game halftime show for her past and continued service and support during. She was featured in a pre-taped interview on the jumbotron and presented a signed Bucs Jersey on the VIP Pirate Ship.
Lisa Matta-Paze of the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (HOF 11)
Lisa was a New England Patriots Cheerleader and line captain for 3 seasons 1978, 1979, and 1980. She was the Patriots cheerleaders Choreographer and Coach in 1981 and 1982. As Choreographer, she produced & directed the FIRST New England Patriots Traveling Dance Team. She was the first New England Patriots dance coach and choreographer to create, design, and host the first cheerleading clinic at Sullivan Stadium! She choreographed several NFL Pre-game and half-time shows during the time as cheer choreographer/coach. In 2011, she was a founding member of the New England Professional Cheerleaders Alumni Association where she has served in various capacities. She is now the Current New England Cheer Alumni President and most importantly …is the current co-chairperson of this spectacular NFCAO reunion here in Boston!
For over 50 years, she has volunteered thousands of hours to manycharitable organizations and continues to do so (Veterans organizations, Children’s organizations, Special Needs Programs, Elderly programs, Church programs).
She was Miss Boston 1979/Miss America Organization
Miss Massachusetts 1979- State Talent Award Winner
Competed in the Miss America Pageant representing Massachusetts in 1979
Who’s Who in Pageants
Toured the New England states with the USO
Former Director for the Miss Brockton and Miss south Shore Scholarship Pageants in Massachusetts
Volunteered many years in the Miss America Scholarship Pageant program as director, choreographer, mistress of ceremonies, judge, as well as serving on other committees…
Owner & Artistic Director of Matta Dance Academy-”School of Performing Arts” (40 years)
Has received many top awards for choreography and Outstanding dance performances
Received National awards & special recognition of excellence
Voted the “Best Dance Studio in the South Shore”
Former teacher (special education)
Attended Boston Conservatory of Music, Boston Ballet
Graduated from Emerson College, Boston. (Dance/Theater Arts/Communication-BFA Degree)
Continuing-Ed Program at BSU majoring in Special E
Inaugural Class of 2022
Terri Crane-Lamb of WASHINGTON (HOF 1 ) 5 Season Cheerleader, Founder of First NFL Cheerleader Alumni organization, NFCAO Co-Founder, NFCAO President and Chair
The first HOF honoree surpasses all the criteria for a Pro Cheerleader Hall of Fame recipient and is the reason for the existence and resounding success of the first NFL cheerleader alumni organization for which she has been President and Chairwoman for 39 years. The Washington Football Cheerleaders Alumni Association (WFCAA), previously the Washington Redskins Cheerleaders Alumni Association, and originally the Redskinettes Alumnae Association was founded by Terri in 1984. She was a Washington Redskinette for five seasons, 1979-1983; served as Captain; selected to Washington’s first international dance troupe that toured Taiwan promoting US products; featured in the first Washington Cheerleaders DOD Holiday video for US Navy Sailors stationed around the world; cheered in two Super Bowls; and among many other accomplishments is the co-founder and current President and Chairwoman of the National Football Cheerleaders Alumni Organization for the past fourteen years. She is one of the reasons we are all sitting here tonight.
Mickey Crawford-Carnegie of ATLANTA (HOF 2) 7 Season Cheerleader and NFCAO Co-Founder Mickey Crawford-Carnegie was an Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader for 7 seasons where she served as a Captain. She founded the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders Alumni group and is the co-founder and current Vice President and Board Member of the NFCAO. She continually goes above and beyond to coordinate Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders Alumni performances at games, reunions, and special events all while owning an apparel company that sells fabulous game day and alumni cheer clothing.
Lisa Guerrero of LOS ANGELES RAMS/ATLANTA FALCONS/NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (HOF 3) 4 Seasons Cheerleader and Director for Atlanta and Director for New England
Lisa Guerrero used her platform as a professional cheerleader, choreographer and director as a foundation to build a thirty-year career as an award-winning television journalist. She cheered for the LA Rams for 4 seasons beginning in 1984 and became a captain in 1987.Lisa then became the cheerleader director and choreographer for the Atlanta Falcons before moving onto the New England Patriots. Following a decade of NFL entertainment, she launched a twelve-year sportscasting career with Fox Sports, CBS, and was the sideline reporter for Monday Night Football on ABC in 2003. Lisa was then hired by Inside Edition and was promoted to Chief Investigative Correspondent in 2010 where she has won over fifty prestigious journalism awards. She is also the host of Secrets of Playboy on A&E. Her memoir, Warrior: My Path to Being Brave will be released January 24, 2023. When not chasing bad guys, she travels the country speaking to audiences about personal empowerment and bravery.
Angela King Twitero of SAN FRANCISCO (HOF 4) 7 Season Cheerleader, Director, Co-Founding Director of Pro Bowl Cheerleaders, NFCAO Board Member
Angela King Twitero was an inaugural member of her cheerleading team in 1983, where she cheered for 7 seasons and 2 Super Bowls. She then was Director for another six years and two more Super Bowls where she took her cheerleaders on their many USO overseas tours. As the co-founding director of the NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders, she has also coordinated cheer teams for the NFL teams in Spain, Germany, Mexico, Japan, and London. Her famed apparel company outfits many of the top professional cheerleading teams in the NFL, NBA, MLS, NHL, and MLS. Today, she continues as the premier designer for top pro teams and their iconic on-point branding all while serving on the NFCAO Board of Directors.
Jo Ann Gaulin of BUFFALO BILLS (HOF 5) Founder/Director, Buffalo Jills
While rooting for her favorite team from the stands in the 1960’s, Jo Ann Gaulin noticed something was missing on the field that other NFL teams had by then – Cheerleaders. She was a tennis coach for the Special Olympics and the USTA Tennis Team. However, her most valued accomplishment was in 1967, when she secured a meeting with the team’s owner and pitched the idea of the Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders - to which he agreed. She then created a legacy that endured for over fifty years. Donna Bierlein of WASHINGTON (HOF 6) 8 Season Cheerleader and 10 Season Staff/ Founder of the Washington Redskinettes
One day in 1961, Donna realized the need for the then Washington Redskins to have cheerleaders.She met with the Redskins owner, George Preston Marshall, to share her idea and the Redskinettes were created in 1962.Bierlein was a Redskinette for eight seasons; served on the cheerleader staff for another ten years; and was a member of the original 1984 Washington Football Cheerleaders Alumni Association (WFCAA) Organizing Committee, formerly known as the Redskinette Alumnae Association, which helped structure the first NFL cheerleaders alumni organization.She has been an active member of the WFCAA for the past thirty-eight years.