Meet Kelli Finglass’ 2 Kids! All About the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Director's Daughter and Son

Samantha StutsmanTue, June 23, 2026 at 8:30 PM UTC

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Kelli Finglass and her family in September 2025.Credit: Kelli Finglass/Instagram -

Kelli Finglass shares two children with her husband, Joel Finglass

Their daughter, Samantha, was born in 1997, while their son, Ryan, arrived in 1998

Samantha never auditioned for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

Kelli Finglass may be known as a mentor and mother figure to generations of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, but at home, she's a mom to two children of her own.

The longtime DCC director shares daughter Samantha and son Ryan with her husband, Joel Finglass, whom she married in 1996. Samantha was born in 1997, while Ryan arrived in 1998.

Kelli's journey with the organization began long before she became a parent. She cheered for the squad from 1984 to 1989 and remained with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders after hanging up her boots, serving as an assistant director before being named director in 1991 at just 27 years old — a role she still holds today.

Speaking with Vanity Fair in June 2026, Kelli explained that her dual roles of mother and DCC director have shaped one another. "I think being a mom hopefully is making me a better coach, and being a coach has helped me be a decent mom," she said.

But juggling a decades-long career with raising a family hasn't always been easy. Leading the cheerleaders — and, more recently, serving as a central figure on Netflix's America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders — has come with tradeoffs.

"I've sacrificed a lot of time with my family," Kelli said while reflecting on the possibility of retirement. "My daughter is married, my son is in a relationship and when I ever get the honor to be a grandma … I want that time. That would definitely give me a heartfelt reason to go to a new chapter."

Here's everything to know about Kelli Finglass's two children, Samantha and Ryan.

Samantha Finglass, 28

Kelli Finglass and her daughter Samantha in July 2025.Credit: Kelli Finglass/Instagram

Kelli and Joel welcomed their first child, daughter Samantha, on June 25, 1997.

"26 years ago at 6:28 p.m., my life changed," Kelli wrote on Instagram in honor of Samantha's birthday in 2023. "We welcomed into the world my best friend, my confidant, my counselor, my graduate, my songbird, my critic, my life cheerleader, and the best sister to Ryan! I'm so proud of my daughter."

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Samantha graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism in 2020. Though she grew up around the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, she never auditioned for the squad herself. Instead, while attending Texas A&M, Samantha worked behind the scenes on marketing and social media for CMT's Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team during the summer of 2019, forging her own connection to the organization.

After earning a master's degree in intercollegiate athletic leadership from the University of Washington in 2021, Samantha built a career in sports and brand marketing. She currently serves as chief brand architect for Colonial Country Club, according to LinkedIn, and sells print-on-demand products on Etsy.

As for her personal life, Samantha married John McKean in 2024. The couple held a civil ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 16 before celebrating with family and friends in Tulum, Mexico, on June 8.

Most recently, the couple relocated to Cincinnati after McKean matched into the University of Cincinnati's internal medicine residency program in March 2026.

Ryan Finglass, 27

Kelli Finglass and her son Ryan in December 2024.Credit: Kelli Finglass/Instagram

Kelli and Joel's second child, son Ryan, arrived on Dec. 12, 1998.

"8:18am you were born on this day! I'm always amazed at your dedication, discipline, and strength. You are the family's foundation, and that makes me proud! I love you!" the DCC director wrote on Instagram in honor of Ryan's birthday in 2024.

Like his sister, Ryan attended Texas A&M University, graduating in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in finance and financial management services, according to LinkedIn. After college, he joined Beavers Wealth Management as a financial advisor, a role he continues to hold today.

Outside of work, Ryan is an avid runner who has completed multiple marathons.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”