24-Year-Old Cleveland Brown Star Player Exposed For Dating 18-Year-Old High School Graduate
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Joe Royer has a lot of explaining to do after social media exposed his relationship.
Royer is a tight end for the Cleveland Browns. A former standout at Cincinnati, he was selected in the fifth round (Pick 170) of the 2026 NFL Draft. At 6’5″ and 250 lbs, Royer is noted for his physical play, quick feet, and reliable hands after the catch.
This week, he is going viral over a catch he made off the field. However, not many people are cheering about this one.
Pictures Show Joe Royer is In Relationship With a Teenager
Bengals fan account @BurrowLand is exposing Cleveland Browns tight end Joe Royer for dating Rilee Stepp, who is 18 and just graduated high school. She is also the daughter of his former tight ends coach, Josh Stepp.
Images show Royer in family graduation photos with the Stepps at Freedom Hall and Rilee wearing Royer’s No. 11 jersey at a UC football game as a high school senior. The post fuels online debate around the 6-year age gap, coach-player family ties, and potential grooming concerns.
It brings up how long the two have known each other and if he has been dating her while she was underage.
“Cleveland Browns tight end Joe Royer is 24 dating a 18 year old who just graduated high school. His position coaches daughter. Likely, he knew her before she was 18. Had a high schooler coming to his games in his jersey as a senior,” a post on X read.
As of this writing, the post has received more than 1.4 million views.
Joe Royer played five seasons of college football as a tight end. He spent 2020 through 2023 at Ohio State before transferring to Cincinnati for 2024 and 2025.
Over his combined collegiate career, he recorded 83 receptions for 961 yards and 7 touchdowns. Royer saw his primary on-field production at Cincinnati, becoming a highly productive and reliable target.
Joe officially measured at 6’5″ and 247 pounds at the NFL Combine, boasting a 10.75-inch hand size.
