The Dallas Cowboys’ disappointing 7-10 season ended with one final, embarrassing incident. During a second-quarter kickoff against the Washington Commanders, kicker Brandon Aubrey, typically reliable, sent the ball careening wildly out of bounds—already a penalty. However, the mishap took an unexpected turn when the ball, after its errant trajectory, struck a cheerleader in the head with considerable force, causing her to fall to the ground.
While the broadcast replay showed a sideline cameraman making contact with the ball just before it hit the cheerleader, it remains unclear whether this deflected the ball’s path or if it would have struck her regardless. Fortunately, the cheerleader appeared to recover quickly, smiling and waving off assistance shortly after the incident.
This unfortunate event capped a season rife with setbacks for the Cowboys, who missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-2021 season. The team’s struggles were evident throughout the year, culminating in quarterback Dak Prescott’s on-camera outburst in November, where he admitted, “We f suck.” While the Cowboys can finally put this tumultuous season behind them, the lingering image of the injured cheerleader serves as a fitting, albeit comical, endnote to their disappointing campaign.