Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has finally spoken out following the Monday night break-in at his $7.5 million Ohio home. While Burrow was leading his team to a 27-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, his residence was burglarized, leaving questions about his privacy and the involvement of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Olivia Ponton.
Burrow Addresses the Incident
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the 28-year-old star expressed frustration over the invasion of his personal space, stating, “My privacy has been violated in more ways than one.”
While Burrow declined to go into detail about the burglary or why Ponton was at his home, he admitted that dealing with public scrutiny is one of the most challenging aspects of being a professional athlete.
“Way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share,” Burrow said, visibly upset. “That has been difficult for me to deal with my entire career—still learning, but I understand it’s the life that we choose. [But it] doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.”
When pressed about his home security, Burrow chose not to comment further.
RELATED: 911 Audio Released from Joe Burrow Home Break-In Featuring SI Model Olivia Ponton and Her Mom
The Burglary Details
The break-in occurred on Monday night while Burrow was in Texas for the Bengals’ game. According to police documents obtained by TMZ, Ponton—not Burrow’s longtime girlfriend Olivia Holzmacher—was the one who reported the burglary to authorities.
Ponton, a 22-year-old model and influencer with nearly eight million TikTok followers, told officers she discovered “a shattered bedroom window and the room ransacked” upon arriving at the property.
In a 911 call released by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Ponton can be heard saying, “Someone broke into my house… It’s like completely messed up.”
The documents also describe Ponton as “employed by Mr. Burrow,” though the nature of that employment remains unclear. Neither Burrow nor Ponton has addressed why she was present at his home during the incident.
Burrow’s Relationship Status in Question
Burrow’s silence on Ponton’s presence at his home has fueled speculation about his personal life, particularly his long-term relationship with Olivia Holzmacher. The couple, who started dating during their college years at Ohio State and went public in 2017, have not been seen together publicly since January. This has led to widespread rumors that they may have quietly split.
Last year, former Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones claimed on The Pat McAfee Show that Burrow and Holzmacher were engaged. Though neither confirmed the claim, fans speculated that Holzmacher was wearing an engagement ring around the same time.
Adding to the intrigue, Ponton recently spoke to Cosmopolitan in an interview published Tuesday, hinting at her current relationship status. “I think everyone has a ‘revenge era’ at some point in their life,” she said. “While I’m not in mine now—I’m very happy and content—about two years ago, I definitely went through that phase.”
A Broader Concern for NFL Players
Burrow’s burglary is the latest in a series of high-profile break-ins targeting NFL stars. Earlier this year, the league issued a security alert to teams after Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce experienced similar incidents.
These cases have raised questions about the safety and privacy of high-profile athletes, whose homes often become targets during away games.
What’s Next for Burrow?
While Burrow’s focus remains on leading the Bengals—who improved to 11-3 after their win over the Cowboys—the incident has brought unwanted attention to his personal life.
As fans and media continue to speculate about his relationship with Ponton and the absence of Holzmacher, Burrow’s comments reflect the challenges of balancing life as an NFL superstar with the need for privacy.
For now, Burrow has chosen to stay tight-lipped about the burglary and the questions surrounding it. With a critical stretch of games ahead, including a playoff push, his focus will undoubtedly remain on the field. However, the questions about his personal life and privacy are unlikely to fade anytime soon.
