College Football Star Riley Leonard and Girlfriend Molly Walding: A Love Story

Riley Leonard, the standout quarterback for Notre Dame, and his long-time girlfriend Molly Walding have been a couple since their high school days in Fairhope, Ala. The pair, who have been dating since 2017, continue to support each other despite attending different universities.

Leonard, who led the Fighting Irish to the semi-finals of the 2024-25 College Football Playoffs, is a star on the field, while Walding is pursuing a degree in public relations at Auburn University. The couple met in their hometown and have maintained a strong relationship despite the distance.

“A day to brag on the most humble guy there is!!!!” Walding wrote in a social media post celebrating Leonard’s 21st birthday. “Riley is kind, funny, faithful, & easy to love!”

Walding, who is also the recruitment chair for her sorority, Chi Omega, and a social media manager for a Christian ministry on her campus, has been a constant presence in Leonard’s life. She often cheers him on from the sidelines, both in person and virtually.

The couple’s relationship began in 2017, and they have celebrated many milestones together. In 2022, Walding shared a post counting the years they had been together, ending with a photo of them at age 14. “Celebrating an Irish win and celebrating 7 years of us!!!!!!” she wrote in a recent post.

Walding, who ran for Auburn University’s Miss Homecoming in 2024, has also been open about her personal struggles. Diagnosed with cholesteatoma, an inner ear cyst, in fifth grade, she underwent 10 surgeries, which left her with only 50% of her hearing. Her campaign focused on raising awareness for the university’s Office of Accessibility.

Both Leonard and Walding are devout Christians. Leonard credits his faith with helping him find purpose beyond athletics. “Once I started to find my faith, and find a purpose besides just being an athlete, I feel like the world kind of opened up for me,” he wrote in a December 2024 essay.

Despite attending schools in different states—Leonard at Notre Dame in Indiana and Walding at Auburn in Alabama—the couple makes an effort to see each other whenever possible. Their relationship continues to thrive, even as Leonard’s football career reaches new heights.