Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders perform at midfield on the Chiefs logo during the AFC Divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs will honor late cheerleader Krystal Anderson throughout the 2024 NFL season, celebrating her “life, legacy and sparkle.”
Krystal passed away at the age of 40 due to childbirth complications earlier this year. Each member of the cheerleading squad will wear a cuff on their right arm bearing Krystal’s initials and the same logo will be displayed on the padding near the 10-yard line on the Chiefs’ sideline.
The cuff will be embroidered with white rhinestones on a field of red rhinestones, intended to “sparkle just as she did.”
Chiefs Will Honor Late Cheerleader Krystal Anderson During 2024 Season
We miss Krystal every day, but her story & her impact lives on forever.
From leaving it all on the field to still finding time to change the future of healthcare for mothers, she left a mark on the world that we’ll never forget ❤️
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 9, 2024
“Krystal was a pioneer in so many ways,” Matt McMullen writes in the Chiefs’ tribute. “She cheered in more than 100 games, attended the Pro Bowl and represented the Chiefs on several military tours, including a military outreach visit to Iraq. She was passionate about community service and was a visionary in her career field, which included developing a monitoring system for post-partum hemorrhaging that is now utilized in hospitals around the world.
She possessed a captivating spirit that demanded excellence, but did so with love. She was a ‘glam queen,’ as her friends described her, who loved applying makeup to young dancers as much as she enjoyed doing her own. She was loyal to a fault, and intentional with everything she did.”
The logo on the Chiefs’ padding is placed to pay tribute to where Krystal worked during every game day as part of the Alumni Crew, and the Hunt Family Foundation will also make a financial contribution in Krystal’s honor.
I encourage you to read McMullen’s excellent tribute to remember and celebrate Krystal as she deserves.