We’re constantly thinking about what else we can do to make a difference in the lives of others.” We don’t clock out at 5:00 we are active 365 days a year. “It takes an incredible passion to be able to do what we do,” Zaun says. While she loves the entertainment aspect of her career, the real heart of her position is rooted in character and community service. Throughout her career, she’s worked with some of the biggest names in music and television, including Meek Mill and Jimmy Kimmel. Zaun joined the Eagles as a cheerleader in 1999, eventually becoming director of the squad and then director of entertainment teams. With that experience under her belt, she returned to Philly to audition for her beloved birds. She landed her first job in the league in Baltimore, where she spent a year cheering with the Ravens. But she always felt the pull to perform on a large stage, and she loved that the NFL combined sports and entertainment with business. Zaun got her start in the sports industry with a stint as promotions director for the Allentown Ambassadors, a minor league baseball team. Sometimes you have to take a roundabout path to achieve your ultimate dream.” It’s not always easy it’s not always handed to you. “I love to share this story because I think it shows that sometimes it takes being tenacious and not giving up. In the end, she made it as far as the final round. Zaun first auditioned for the Eagles Cheerleaders at the age of 24, competing against hundreds of women to secure one of the squad’s coveted 32 spots. But things didn’t always come easily for the Bethlehem native. The lifelong Eagles fan graduated from DeSales in 1993 with a dance degree and has spent the last two decades forging her own path within the organization. It’s these moments, Zaun says, that transcend sports and make her career so fulfilling. You can also walk off the field with your head held high knowing that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.” While it wasn’t the outcome we had hoped for, it was a tremendous season and a great accomplishment to reach the Super Bowl. “This woman is so remarkable and has had so much adversity in her life,” says Zaun. The woman who had dreamed of meeting her idols had become an honorary member of the squad on the biggest stage in sports. They secured Cox pre-game access to the Super Bowl, invited her onto the field to perform with them before the game, and even presented her with one of their signature wing jackets. Yet, Zaun and the cheerleaders knew they needed to do more. Cox joined the squad for a short performance at the NFL Experience the week leading up to the big game. In collaboration with the NFL and Dream Foundation, the team made that dream come true. Kellirae Cox, a 21-year-old with terminal cancer, had dreamed of meeting the Eagles Cheerleaders and attending the Super Bowl.
Still, Barbara Zaun had reason to smile.Īs director of entertainment teams for the Eagles, Zaun ’93 and the Eagles Cheerleaders had fulfilled one fan’s final wish just hours earlier. As the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated, the disappointment of defeat hung heavy over the Philadelphia Eagles sideline. Red and gold confetti rained down on State Farm Stadium as Super Bowl LVII drew to a close.
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