Jodi Kovar (From Within Arts and Juliet Peel Photography) Breaking into the world of NFL cheerleading is no small feat, but for Alabama-based dance instructor Jodi Kovar, auditioning for the Kansas City Chiefs proved to be unlike anything she had experienced before. In her words, the process was “the most intense in the league,” setting a standard that even seasoned performers find daunting.
The Chiefs cheerleader audition process pushes candidates beyond dance
Kovar, who has taught dance full-time for years and shares content with over 15,000 TikTok followers, decided to test her skills against the Chiefs’ demanding standards in 2024. Despite being cut in the second round, she pulled back the curtain on what makes the process so grueling.According to her, the audition kicked off with a four-part video submission, blending technical dance requirements with personality-driven elements. Two videos required mastering Chiefs-specific choreography, another featured a self-choreographed solo, while the last was a public speaking showcase. That alone was more layered than what she had seen in auditions for teams like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders or Miami Dolphins.
Introducing Your 2025 Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders
Making it to the second round introduced a new level of intensity. Kovar faced five separate virtual interviews with judges ranging from casual conversations to hard-nosed trivia drills. “I definitely didn’t have a lot of the knowledge that was necessary,” she admitted. The judges quizzed her on everything from Chiefs coaching staff to hypothetical draft picks. The reasoning, she explained, was simple: “You need to be as diehard as they are if you’re gonna represent this team,” told to PEOPLE.Kovar confessed that when she didn’t know an answer, she opted for honesty. “Honestly, I don’t know, but I would be happy to do research and get back to you,” she recalled telling them. That kind of transparency, she felt, reflected her best shot at navigating the high-pressure setting.
Style, standards, and expectations set the Chiefs apart
Unlike the more uniform “NFL cheer style” she assumed existed, Kovar learned that each team reflects its city’s personality through dance. Kansas City’s cheer style stood out for its technical demands — leaps, turns, and bouncy, high-energy sequences that not every squad requires. “It’s a lot more energetic and bouncy. It’s a lot more technical,” she said, comparing it to the more polished pageantry of Dallas.The Chiefs also set rules that caught her off guard: no tights allowed, mandatory sports bras and shorts in team colors, and videos recorded in full “game day” glam. Even presentation was treated with the same rigor as performance.Though she didn’t make it to the final in-person stage — a two-day event involving choreography, trivia, and even fitness tests — Kovar left with a deeper appreciation for why the Chiefs keep their standards sky-high. “Maybe they’ve just elevated their team because they’re Super Bowl winners and all,” she speculated.While she chose not to re-audition this year, Kovar made it clear that her Chiefs journey isn’t over. “If I come back, I want to come back a hundred percent,” she said, a sentiment that reflects not just her resilience but also the unrelenting prestige tied to wearing Kansas City’s red and gold.Also Read: Olivia Culpo lands Netflix hosting role while celebrating birth of baby girl with Christian McCaffrey