Who Is Quarterback Riley Leonard’s Girlfriend? All About Molly Walding

When he’s not enjoying for Notre Dame, Riley Leonard may be seen spending time together with his girlfriend of over 5 years, Molly Walding. 

The quarterback, who led the Fighting Irish to the semi-finals of the 2024-25 College Football Playoffs, and the general public relations pupil crossed paths of their shared hometown of Fairhope, Ala., and began courting in 2017. Though they at the moment attend totally different faculties — he at Notre Dame in Indiana and she or he at Auburn University in Alabama — they continue to be supportive of one another from afar. 

“A day to brag on the most humble guy there is!!!!” Walding captioned a 2023 picture of them collectively. “Riley is kind, funny, faithful, & easy to love! Happy 21st birthday!” 

In addition to cheering for Leonard on the sidelines each just about and in particular person, the coed is engaged on incomes her bachelor’s diploma in public relations and serves because the recruitment chair for her sorority, Chi Omega. She’s additionally the social media supervisor for a Christian ministry on her campus, per her LinkedIn profile.

Walding’s subsequent likelihood to cheer on her boyfriend is on Jan. 9, when Notre Dame faces off in opposition to Penn State.

So, who’s Riley Leonard’s girlfriend? Here’s all the things to learn about Molly Walding and her relationship with the soccer participant. 

They grew up in the identical city 

Both Walding and Leonard are from Fairhope, Ala., a coastal metropolis that sits on the sting of Mobile Bay. On her web site, the Auburn University pupil described her hometown as one in every of her “favorite places” and stated she was energetic in a number of golf equipment rising up, together with the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America. 

“Growing up, I found community through involvement,” Walding wrote. “I believe that the values of community, creativity, and gratitude are what truly bring us together. A strong community thrives on open, honest communication, where everyone’s voice is heard.”

She’s a public relations pupil  

The Alabama-born pupil began attending Auburn University in 2021. Walding wrote on her web site that her ardour for pursuing a profession in public relations stems from “a deep interest in building relationships.” 

“I have always valued human connection, and my coursework has further deepened my understanding of the power of strategic communication,” she wrote on her web site. “I am eager to apply these skills to positively influence others and make a meaningful impact in the world of PR.” 

In her time on campus, Walding has labored as a pupil recruiter for the college in addition to the recruitment chair for the Chi Omega sorority. She additionally accomplished a public relations internship with the City of Fairhope. 

They began courting in 2017 

The highschool sweethearts began courting in 2017. Walding shared a candy TikTok video in 2022 counting again the years they’d been collectively, ending with an previous picture of them on the age of 14.

Two years later, she celebrated their anniversary with an Instagram video that includes clips of them in highschool, at school soccer video games and playing around collectively.

“Celebrating an Irish win and celebrating 7 years of us!!!!!!” she wrote within the caption. “I couldn’t be more thankful for you @riley.jleonard 🤍.”

She’s an advocate for folks with disabilities

In 2024, Walding ran for Auburn University’s Miss Homecoming. Her marketing campaign targeted on bringing consciousness to the varsity’s Office of Accessibility, which presents assist and lodging to college students with disabilities. 

She informed Eagle Eye TV in 2024 that her curiosity within the topic got here from private expertise — she was recognized with cholesteatoma, an interior ear cyst, in fifth grade. Walding had 10 surgical procedures to take away the cyst, but it surely had already deteriorated all of the bones in her interior ear, leaving her with solely 50% of her listening to. 

“I just want to highlight that the differences are what make us all unique and build the Auburn family,” Walding informed The Auburn Plainsman in 2024. “So just like encouraging people to talk about it a little bit more, breaking the stigma and like get bridging the gap between those that do have and don’t have accommodations.”

She helped him discover his religion 

Walding and Leonard are each Christians. In a December 2024 essay for The Players’ Tribune, the Fighting Irish quarterback wrote that he discovered his religion within the ninth grade after fulfilling his childhood dream of constructing his highschool varsity soccer and basketball groups.

“I thought it was the coolest thing in the world … for about a week???” Leonard wrote. “But then the high from it kind of faded … I felt this weird emptiness inside. And that’s when I started to pay attention as all these people in my life were preaching the Bible.”  

He continued, “Whether it was on a mentor level, like some of my football coaches and pastors in the community, or it was on a personal level, like when I met my girlfriend Molly and she’d bring me to church. 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. And I ran with it.” 

They’re in a long-distance relationship

Leonard and Walding have been attending faculties in several states since 2021. She selected to attend Auburn University in Alabama, and he began enjoying soccer for Duke University in North Carolina. In 2023, he transferred to Notre Dame in Indiana, per ESPN. 

Though they don’t stay in the identical state, Walding and Leonard make an effort to see one another when their busy schedules permit. She shocked him with a go to in June 2022, and he returned the favor a couple of years later.