Former Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleader Dies After Giving Birth

Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders perform during the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII victory parade in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 14, 2024. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

A former cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs has died “unexpectedly” after giving birth as a result of sepsis—a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s improper response to an infection.

Krystal “Krissy” Anderson passed away on March 20 at the age of 40 while surrounded by family. She died shortly after delivering a stillborn daughter, Charlotte Willow, per her online obituary. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, James Charles.

Ms. Anderson, who cheered for the NFL team for over a decade, was hospitalized when she was around five months pregnant, according to a GoFundMe created to help cover her medical expenses, memorial service, and establish a legacy fund to “support causes and initiatives that were close to [her] heart.”

After fighting a “brave battle” with sepsis, Ms. Anderson suffered organ failure and was placed on life support. She ultimately underwent three surgeries; however, doctors were unable to determine the source of her infection.

A 2019 study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA examined data from 2013 to 2016 and found that maternal sepsis, which can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum, accounted for only about 0.04 percent of all deliveries in the United States. However, nearly a quarter of all pregnancy-related deaths that occurred during that time frame were attributed to sepsis.

In Remembrance

Born on April 27, 1983, the Texas native attended the University of Richmond in Virginia, where she attained a bachelor’s degree in computer science. While in college, she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and was a cheerleader for the University’s football team.

After graduating from college, she entered the workforce, becoming a software engineer for the healthcare platform Oracle Health. There, she made “significant contributions to improving healthcare, including being awarded a patent for developing software that assesses the risk of post-partum hemorrhage,” her obituary states.

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In addition to being a professional cheerleader, Ms. Anderson was an experienced yogi who worked as a yoga instructor for CorePower Yoga. She married her husband, Clayton, in 2021, and the couple settled down in Leawood, Kansas, located about 30 minutes southwest of Kansas City, Missouri where the NFL team is headquartered.

Ms. Anderson was an advocate of women’s health and was passionate about philanthropy. She spent her time volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, Gabriella’s Little Library, and the First Hand Foundation.

“In her spare time, she enjoyed dancing, laughing with her sisters, practicing and teaching yoga, dinners with exotic and spicy food, and spending couch time with her husband and their two dogs, Sprocket and Louie,” her obituary reads.

Tributes Pour In

Ms. Anderson, who cheered for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2016, celebrated many notable accomplishments during her time on the field. She was a captain of the team, attended the NFL’s 2015 Pro Bowl game, and visited United States troops internationally, including those stationed in Iraq and Kuwait, among others.

As news of Ms. Anderson’s untimely passing reverberated throughout the football industry, an outpouring of tributes and fond messages were shared online, highlighting the immense impact she had on her team and the world of sports at large.

Cheerleaders for the Kansas City Chiefs paid homage to Ms. Anderson on their official Instagram account, writing that they were “deeply saddened” by the tragic loss.

“She was loved and adored by her teammates, fans, and strangers who were never strangers for long. After her time as a cheerleader, she continued to share her love of dance and Chiefs Cheer by serving in an alumni role on gameday, practices, and at events,” they captioned alongside a picture of Ms. Anderson cheering.

“We will miss her kind spirit, joyful energy, and her sparkle. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones,” they continued.

“We will cherish every moment we had with her,” they penned, noting that they would share more information about how they planned to honor her legacy “at a later date.”

Claire Murphy-Sewell, a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs, expressed her condolences on the post, writing: “Our forever captain. I’ll love you forever, Kiki.”

Tavia Hunt—director of the Kansas City Chiefs Women’s Organization and wife of Clark Hunt, the franchise’s chief executive officer—also issued a response. “A profound loss for our team, organization, and anyone who ever crossed her path. We love & miss you Krissy,” she wrote.

Mrs. Hunt’s daughter, Gracie, said she was heartbroken. “Such an enormous loss,” she wrote. “Heaven gained this sweet angel too soon.”

“She was an incredible human and will be missed forever,” said former NFL cheerleader Shannon McKain.

Ms. Anderson is survived by her husband, Clayton; parents, Bertha and Burnette Johnson; brother, Corey Johnson; grandmother, Carrie Banks; and cousins, Kytah Banks and Jennifer Banks.