Who Is Olivia Ponton? Inside Joe Burrow's Rumoured Romance With The Sports Illustrated Model

Joe Burrow's biggest priority this August is getting the Cincinnati Bengals back into Super Bowl contention. But after Sunday's training camp practice, it was not his arm strength drawing the most attention. Burrow was spotted sitting on the field with model and influencer Olivia Ponton following practice, with the pair chatting together in a scene that quickly made the rounds across social media. It marked one of their most public appearances together yet and the first time Ponton has been seen attending a Bengals training camp practice. 

Who exactly is Olivia Ponton and how did she get linked to Joe Burrow?

Olivia Ponton, born May 30, 2002, is an American model and social media influencer represented by IMG Models who has appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. She got her start after signing with her first agency at 17, but when the pandemic hit only two weeks later, she shifted her focus to content creation, sharing dance videos on TikTok. Six years into her career, Ponton has built quite the resume, including a Hype House stint in 2020, a Sports Illustrated Swim debut in 2022, and partnerships with Tommy Hilfiger, Maybelline, and Coach. She also comes from an athletic background, having run track in high school and water-skied competitively for nine years. 

The Burrow connection did not start at some red-carpet event. It came to light in December 2024, when Burrow's home was targeted by intruders while the Bengals were in Dallas to play the Cowboys on Monday Night Football. According to a police report, Ponton was named as an individual on the scene when deputies arrived and was listed as being "employed by Mr. Burrow." In the aftermath, Ponton told authorities she noticed a "shattered bedroom window" and a room "ransacked." That police report planted the first seed of public curiosity, and the rumor mill has not stopped since. 

The two were first linked in 2024, and after a stretch that briefly saw Burrow connected to other names, Ponton reignited the rumours at the 2026 Fanatics Flag Football Classic, where she had field seats rooting for him and was seen next to Kyle Juszczyk's wife, Kristin. They later appeared to confirm the romance with a night out in New York City that included visits to multiple celebrity hotspots around Manhattan, ending with them arriving at Olivia's apartment. Neither has officially confirmed they are dating, but the pattern of appearances tells its own story. 

Are Joe Burrow and Olivia Ponton actually dating, or just friends?

That is the question everyone keeps asking, and neither of them seems eager to answer it. When filmed leaving a Met Gala afterparty in New York City, Ponton was asked directly if she was dating Joe Burrow. She simply smiled, keeping her head down, and when a reporter pushed further, she placed her hand to the side of her face to block the camera and hastened toward a waiting car without looking back. 

It is unknown whether Burrow and Ponton are dating. Until one of them confirms the rumors, it is best to assume they are just friends, though perhaps they are simply choosing to keep things private. Burrow, meanwhile, has enough on his plate. He is heading into his seventh NFL season after another injury-riddled 2025, having played in just eight games, passing for 17 touchdowns and five interceptions while the Bengals finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs. He has already told reporters about the 2026 roster: "I think this is the most talented roster that we've had since I've been here." 

The training camp sighting on August 9 keeps the story alive. Two people sitting quietly on a field after practice, far from the other players. No confirmation, no denial. Just another chapter in one of the NFL's most-watched rumoured romances heading into a new season.