Model Olivia Ponton, rumored to be dating Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, recently shared that she’s been having a “tough time.”
During a Q&A on Instagram, she was asked about her “most difficult time of 2025.” Ponton, who was first linked to Burrow in December 2024, expressed her gratitude towards a close friend for their support.
Ponton, 23, posted a video of her friend and mentioned, “October has been a pretty tough month, but thankfully this girl was by my side.”
She didn’t go into more detail about her struggles.
In May, the two were seen together at an F1 race in Miami, arriving in a black Sprinter van for a Rising Cane event. While they tend to keep their personal lives private, Burrow did make some vague remarks following the Bengals’ 39-34 loss to the Bills in early December.
When asked a pointed question by a reporter, Burrow appeared a bit irritated and commented, “There’s a lot going on right now.”
When pressed about whether his concerns were football-related or personal, Burrow simply replied, “All of the above.” He had also returned sooner than anticipated from a turf toe injury that had necessitated surgery in September.
In his own words, “I think I’ve been through more than most people, and it’s definitely not easy on the brain or the body. So I’m just trying to have fun again,” he remarked.
This injury marked Burrow’s third significant one in his career.
The Bengals, currently sitting at 6-10, were ruled out of the playoff race after a shutout loss to the Ravens in Week 15. They’ll be facing the Browns (4-12) in their final game of the season this Sunday.
Interestingly, the connection between Burrow and Ponton first came into the spotlight in December 2024, linked to a break-in incident at Burrow’s home in Ohio, part of a series of robberies targeting athletes. Ponton was reportedly identified as one of Burrow’s employees.
No injuries were reported, but the residence was reportedly ransacked, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. Burrow mentioned the burglary at a press conference, yet he didn’t name Ponton, who has remained silent about it publicly.
