Browns Rookie Joe Royer Under Fire Amid Relationship Rumors
Cleveland Browns player Joe Royer, 24, is currently facing public scrutiny after a number of social media posts have led fans to believe he is in a relationship with the 18-year-old daughter of a former coach. The allegations surfaced on Monday when a social media account compiled several online interactions suggesting a romance between Royer and Rilee Stepp.
Rilee Stepp is the daughter of Josh Stepp, who previously served as the tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats during Royer’s tenure there. Evidence brought to light includes a social media post from Coach Stepp, which has since been removed, showing Royer with Rilee and her family at her high school graduation ceremony on May 30.
Online Footprints Fuel Speculation
Further fueling the speculation, a now-private Instagram post from Rilee Stepp reportedly showed her wearing a jersey emblazoned with “Royer 11” while attending a Bearcats game last season. Another post from November by Coach Stepp on X (formerly Twitter) featured a photograph of his family, Royer, and former Bearcats teammate Patrick Gurd after a game against BYU. In this image, Rilee Stepp was seen wearing a custom top displaying Royer’s jersey number.
Coach Stepp’s caption for the November post expressed deep gratitude, stating: “Hard to put into words what these two mean to me personally, my girls & our TE room! Incredibly thankful for all they’ve done for our TE room & this entire program! Let’s go finish this thing the right way! Love you both!!! #FAMILY @JoeRoyer25 @gurd45”.
Internet investigators also pointed to an Instagram post by Royer himself on the same day in November, shortly after the team’s final game. The post, featuring his family, included a comment from Rilee Stepp with a “love heart” emoji, which Royer reportedly “liked” in return. This has led to discussions about the timeline of the alleged relationship, particularly as Rilee Stepp reportedly turned 18 in September, according to her father’s posts.
Royer’s NFL Career and College Background
Joe Royer was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft. The 24-year-old player spent five seasons in college football, initially at Ohio State from 2020 to 2023, before transferring to Cincinnati for two additional seasons. During his collegiate career, he accumulated 83 receptions for 961 yards and seven touchdowns.
Representatives for Joe Royer, the Cleveland Browns organization, and the University of Cincinnati have been contacted for comment regarding these developments.
