Karen Link Explained

Karen Link is an NFL Cheerleader for the New England Patriots.^[1] She was born and raised in Terryville, Connecticut, and attended Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, where she graduated with a degree in communications. Link won the title of Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen in 2007^[2] and went on to compete in Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant. Her competition talent was a Spanish-influenced tap dance.

Shortly after returning from the national pageant, Link was a passenger in a head-on collision and suffered a broken spine.^[3] After emergency surgery and rehabilitation, Link began dancing again. In 2014, she was chosen to join the New England Patriots Cheerleaders and cheered at Super Bowl XLIX where the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks.^[4] Link became captain^[5] of the Patriots Cheerleaders in 2016 and cheered at her second Super Bowl ^[6] (Super Bowl LI), where the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Endicott Alum Karen Link Named 2014 New England Patriots Cheerleader. Endicott College Athletics & Recreation. 7 July 2015.
   - News: Mace. Abby. Cheering on her dreams. 7 July 2015. Republican American. 22 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195156/http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2014/08/19/entertainment/best_bets/818172.txt#. 2016-03-04. dead.
2. Web site: Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen 2007 Karen Link. Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization. 7 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150628022824/http://missctamerica.org/teenconnecticut_detail.php?Karen-Link-5#. 2015-06-28. dead.
   - News: Terryville teen to compete at pageant on weekend. 7 July 2015. The Bristol Press. 24 June 2008.
3. News: Altman. Jim. Patriots cheerleader may be on the sidelines, but she's also back in the game. 7 July 2015. Fox CT. 5 November 2014.
   - News: Chaiken . Mike . After personal tragedy, woman fulfills dream of being Pats' cheerleader . 7 July 2015 . The Plainville Observer . 25 May 2014.
4. News: Hurley . Chistopher . Patriots cheerleader Karen Link excited for Super Bowl . 7 July 2015. Wicked Local Beverly. 30 January 2015.
   - News: Chaiken . Mike . One Super (Bowl) cheerleader . 7 July 2015. The Bristol Observer . 20 February 2015.
5. Web site: Former teen pageant winner now leads Pats' cheerleaders to the field . Chaiken. Mike. 25 June 2016 . Southington Observer . 9 February 2017.
6. News: Terryville cheerleader eager for her day at the Super Bowl . 5 February 2017 . Republican-American . 9 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170206164307/http://www.rep-am.com/news/news-local/2017/02/04/terryville-cheerleader-eager-for-her-day-at-the-super-bowl/# . 2017-02-06 . dead .