Long before she was known as a TV and movie star, Teri Hatcher was a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers – and she even bagged a Super Bowl ring during that time
It’s rare for an NFL cheerleader to become more famous than some of the players, but that’s exactly what happened with former San Francisco 49ers cheerleader Teri Hatcher. While Hatcher is now a household name in TV and film, her career actually started as a cheerleader for the 49ers, a stint that even earned her a Super Bowl ring. Of all the cheerleaders who have found fame after their time on the field, Hatcher is perhaps the most well-known. Born in California in 1964, Hatcher transitioned from studying acting to securing a spot on the 49ers cheer squad in the 1980s. Since then, she has become a familiar face and reportedly has a net worth of £40million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, making her the world’s wealthiest cheerleader. Hatcher broke into Hollywood in the late 1980s, starring in TV classics like The Love Boat and Star Trek. She even shared the screen with Sylvester Stallone in the 1989 comedy Tango and Cash. However, it was her appearance on an episode of the cult comedy Seinfeld that really catapulted her career.
Landing the role of Lois Lane in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in 1993 was a game-changer. Her performance on the popular show then led to a role opposite Pierce Brosnan in the Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, reports the Mirror US.
Hatcher nabbed the role of Paris Carver ahead of Monica Bellucci in the legendary film. She was then crowned the world’s sexiest woman by readers of FHM that spring.
But being a Bond girl wasn’t even the peak of Hatcher’s illustrious career. She stole hearts as Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives from 2004 to 2012, snagging a Golden Globe and SAG award, not to mention an Emmy nod.
Yet possibly her most cherished keepsake is the Super Bowl ring gifted by the 49ers’ owner, which she bagged after meeting former quarterback Steve Young while filming Lois and Clark. The 49ers clinched the iconic game in 1994 against the San Diego Chargers, and Hatcher scored her bit of history for her earlier cheerleading efforts with the squad.
Chatting on The Talk in January 2024, she revealed how the ring looks unique compared to others given to players that year, but she still wears it with pride. “Honestly, the only finger that it still fits on is my wedding finger, and since I’m single,” she said. “I might as well be married to the NFL.”
NFL cheerleading has been gaining traction recently, largely due to the popular Netflix series America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The show documents the ups and downs and daily lives of those vying for a place on the iconic cheerleading squad.
Other cheerleaders who have found success beyond the sport include former Buffy the Vampire Slayer actress Charisma Carpenter and model Stacy Keibler.