Danny Amendola has recently addressed swirling rumors about a potential romance with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie Xandra Pohl, putting an end to speculation that the two are dating. The former New England Patriots wide receiver was asked directly about his relationship with Pohl after she was spotted sitting with his mother, Rose, during his debut on Dancing With the Stars on September 17.
“No, Xandra is a great friend of mine,” Amendola told E! News when questioned about their relationship status. “I’m a huge fan and supporter of her, and it’s good to have a friend like her.”
Despite clarifying that they are just friends, Amendola, who won two Super Bowl titles with the Patriots alongside Tom Brady, did reveal that his mom “loves” Pohl. The 38-year-old athlete explained that Pohl, who is a popular DJ and TikTok star, has become a familiar and welcomed presence in his life.
Pohl was seen smiling and clapping alongside Amendola’s mom during his Dancing With the Stars performance, further fueling curiosity about the nature of their relationship.
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The rumor mill began buzzing long before Amendola’s DWTS debut, particularly after Pohl, 23, and Amendola were spotted together at Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Gillette Stadium on June 12. The pair’s appearance at the high-profile event stirred speculation online, with some fans questioning if the two were romantically involved.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy added fuel to the fire during an episode of his “BFFs” podcast, where he recalled seeing Amendola and Pohl together at the event. Portnoy suggested that while it may not have been an official relationship, the duo certainly seemed close. “So Xandra is dating Danny Amendola,” Portnoy said, but later backtracked, adding, “I don’t know if dating is the right word. They’re together… Xandra was Danny Amendola’s date for this thing. What they’re doing beyond that, I don’t know, but he definitely took her as his date.”
Further heightening the speculation was a video shared by Amendola’s former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman. The clip, posted on Edelman’s Instagram Story, showed Amendola and Pohl sitting together at a table alongside Rob Gronkowski and his girlfriend, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Camille Kostek, during the Hall of Fame ceremony. The cozy seating arrangements sparked additional chatter that Amendola and Pohl might be more than just friends.
Despite the public’s curiosity, both Amendola and Pohl are believed to be single. Amendola, 38, previously dated another Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Olivia Culpo, from 2016 to 2019. Culpo has since moved on and recently married San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey in June 2024.
As for Pohl, she has also been linked to athletes in the past. Earlier in May 2024, she was rumored to be dating former Kansas City Chiefs player Louis Rees-Zammit after they were spotted together on a bus tour in Kansas City and at Worlds of Fun theme park. However, Pohl’s most notable relationship was with Jack Touzet, whom she dated for three years while attending the University of Miami. That relationship came to a public end in December 2023.
While rumors surrounding Amendola and Pohl’s relationship may persist, for now, the two insist they are simply friends.
Whether their bond deepens into something more remains to be seen, but for now, it appears their relationship is rooted in mutual admiration and support.
