On the field, the Cincinnati Bengals star is reliable and precise, yet away from stadium lights, he prides himself on giving up almost no clues. That privacy, of course, only pushes fans to dig harder—especially now that two different Olivias sit at the center of the story. Below is an up-to-date, jargon-free rundown of where things stand, how we got here, and why the answer to “Who is Joe Burrow’s girlfriend?” depends on which chapter of his life you’re looking at.
The college connection that lasted seven seasons
Back in 2017, Ohio State undergrads Joe Burrow and Olivia Holzmacher crossed paths in a campus cafeteria line, struck up a conversation about statistics class, and started dating soon afterward. When Burrow transferred to LSU the next year, long drives, FaceTime calls, and the occasional Baton Rouge weekend kept them close. By the time he hoisted the 2019 Heisman Trophy, Holzmacher had finished her data-analytics degree, taken a job building dashboards at Kroger, and become a fixture in LSU and Bengals crowd shots, easily spotted in Burrow-number-nine jerseys and orange beanies.
Engagement chatter that never became reality
In summer 2023, retired cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones blurted on a sports talk show that the quarterback was “freshly engaged.” Social media sleuths went searching for a ring, bridal registries, anything. Nothing surfaced. The Times of India later summed it up simply: the rumor caught fire because Burrow refused to deny it, not because the couple ever confirmed it.
A quiet split in 2024
By the first half of the 2024 NFL season, sharp-eyed fans noticed Holzmacher had stopped posting game-day selfies. Then came Dec. 9, 2024—the night Burrow’s Ohio house was burglarized while he played an away game in Dallas. The 911 call came from a visitor identified as “Olivia P.”, not Olivia H. That detail sent breakup whispers into overdrive. In early February 2025, Holzmacher finally addressed the situation without naming names, sharing an Instagram carousel about “healing” and “finding a deeper well,” signaling the relationship had ended.
Enter Olivia Ponton: a new rumor takes shape
The burglary report revealed the second Olivia: 23-year-old model and TikTok sensation Olivia Ponton, known for Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoots and viral workout clips. A PEOPLE insider claimed she and Burrow had been “hooking up since early fall” of 2024 but were “keeping it casual.”
Who exactly is Olivia Ponton?
- Background – Born May 30, 2002, in Naples, Florida, Ponton signed with IMG Models after piling up millions of TikTok followers during pandemic lockdowns. When opportunities slowed, she responded by posting one new activity every day—cooking experiments, pickup basketball, mini-vlogs about beach sunsets—and built a loyal audience that brands now pay handsomely to reach.
- Career highlights – Sports Illustrated rookie class of 2022, Victoria’s Secret campaigns, Ralph Lauren ads, and a cameo in Blake Lively’s 2024 film It Ends With Us.
- Personal stance – Ponton identifies as pansexual and says emotional chemistry matters more to her than gender or surface looks. That openness shapes much of her content, where she often fields questions about self-confidence and inclusivity.
The Miami Grand Prix sighting
Early May 2025, the pair arrived together in a black Sprinter van for a Raising Cane’s event during Formula 1’s Miami weekend. No red-carpet photos surfaced—the quarterback ducked cameras the way he evades pass rushers—but eyewitness accounts and parking-lot footage were enough to relaunch dating headlines.
Late-spring snapshots and July buzz
In June 2025, paparazzi caught Burrow, Ponton, gymnast Livvy Dunne, and several friends walking through New York’s Meatpacking District. Both Olivias stayed off the discussion grid that night—no phone pics, no cryptic captions—leaving tabloids to fill in blanks. By July, entertainment site Just Jared recapped everything publicly known and emphasized that, despite repeated sightings, the duo had never labeled the relationship.
How Burrow handles the attention
Burrow chooses understatement every time reporters probe his private world. After the December burglary, he vented about “feeling violated” but brushed past follow-ups about Ponton with a quick “nothing to add.” That approach aligns with his long-standing belief that family and romance stay off-limits. Team-centrics appreciate the focus; gossip pages find the silence maddening.
Where Olivia Holzmacher stands now
Holzmacher continues her analytics career—LinkedIn lists her as a senior business-intelligence analyst—and periodically posts dogs, trail runs, and home-renovation projects. Bengals fans often flood her comments with supportive notes; she replies with smiley faces and gratitude emojis but says little about the past. Her closest friends hint she’s “thriving,” traveling more, and prioritizing personal growth.
Is Joe Burrow actually off the market?
The safest answer in August 2025: probably, but nobody outside his inner circle can say for sure. Reliable outlets such as PEOPLE and E! News call the connection with Ponton “casual” and stop short of titles. Meanwhile, former teammates tell local radio they wouldn’t be shocked if the quarterback stayed single until his playing days are over. The reality likely sits somewhere between those extremes—close companionship, very little public confirmation, and a quarterback who’d rather audible away from personal questions.
Why the fascination endures
Fans love a sports-romance storyline because it humanizes superstars whose lives otherwise feel distant. Burrow’s reluctance to narrate that side of life only heightens curiosity, especially now that a stolen-valuables police report, two young women with the same first name, and assorted Instagram breadcrumbs form a plot straight from reality television.
Final thoughts
For seven college-to-NFL seasons, Olivia Holzmacher was the steady support system many assumed would one day walk down the aisle with Joe Burrow. Their quiet breakup—unconfirmed until emoji clues and insider murmurs—created space for Olivia Ponton, whose modeling fame inevitably keeps cameras nearby. Right now, the quarterback appears content letting speculation swirl while he rehabs injuries, studies film, and chases a Lombardi Trophy.
Will Ponton transition from rumored companion to long-term partner? Could another surprise name pop up instead? Only Burrow knows, and if history is any guide, he’ll scramble away from that blitz of questions, focus on his next read, and leave the rest of us debating snapshots and whispered tips.
