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

When he’s not playing for Notre Dame, Riley Leonard can be seen spending time with his girlfriend of over five years, Molly Walding. 

The quarterback, who led the Fighting Irish to the semi-finals of the 2024-25 College Football Playoffs, and the public relations student crossed paths in their shared hometown of Fairhope, Ala., and started dating in 2017. Though they currently attend different schools — he at Notre Dame in Indiana and she at Auburn University in Alabama — they remain supportive of each other from afar. 

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

In addition to cheering for Leonard on the sidelines both virtually and in person, the student is working on earning her bachelor’s degree in public relations and serves as the recruitment chair for her sorority, Chi Omega. She’s also the social media manager for a Christian ministry on her campus, per her LinkedIn profile.

Walding’s next chance to cheer on her boyfriend is on Jan. 9, when Notre Dame faces off against Penn State.

So, who is Riley Leonard’s girlfriend? Here’s everything to know about Molly Walding and her relationship with the football player. 

They grew up in the same town 

Both Walding and Leonard are from Fairhope, Ala., a coastal city that sits on the edge of Mobile Bay. On her website, the Auburn University student described her hometown as one of her “favorite places” and said she was active in several clubs growing up, including 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 student  

The Alabama-born student started attending Auburn University in 2021. Walding wrote on her website that her passion for pursuing a career 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 website. “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 worked as a student recruiter for the university as well as the recruitment chair for the Chi Omega sorority. She also completed a public relations internship with the City of Fairhope. 

They started dating in 2017 

The high school sweethearts started dating in 2017. Walding shared a sweet TikTok video in 2022 counting back the years they had been together, ending with an old photo of them at the age of 14.

Two years later, she celebrated their anniversary with an Instagram video featuring clips of them in high school, at college football games and being silly together.

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

She’s an advocate for people with disabilities

In 2024, Walding ran for Auburn University’s Miss Homecoming. Her campaign focused on bringing awareness to the school’s Office of Accessibility, which offers support and accommodations to students with disabilities. 

She told Eagle Eye TV in 2024 that her interest in the subject came from personal experience — she was diagnosed with cholesteatoma, an inner ear cyst, in fifth grade. Walding had 10 surgeries to remove the cyst, but it had already deteriorated all the bones in her inner ear, leaving her with only 50% of her hearing. 

“I just want to highlight that the differences are what make us all unique and build the Auburn family,” Walding told 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 find his faith 

Walding and Leonard are both Christians. In a December 2024 essay for The Players’ Tribune, the Fighting Irish quarterback wrote that he found his faith in the ninth grade after fulfilling his childhood dream of making his high school varsity football and basketball teams.

“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 schools in different states since 2021. She chose to attend Auburn University in Alabama, and he started playing football for Duke University in North Carolina. In 2023, he transferred to Notre Dame in Indiana, per ESPN. 

Though they don’t live in the same state, Walding and Leonard make an effort to see each other when their busy schedules allow. She surprised him with a visit in June 2022, and he returned the favor a few years later.