Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen has made no secret of his admiration for U.S. Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles, and his team didn’t hesitate to have a little fun with it. The Seahawks playfully “put him on blast” for his public and ongoing affection for Chiles, both during a recent game and on Instagram over the past few years.
Woolen, 25, has been a vocal fan of Chiles, who helped Team USA win gold at the Tokyo Olympics. His admiration came to light when Chiles was invited as the Seahawks’ special guest at Lumen Field during their game against the Dolphins.
As part of the pregame festivities, she had the honor of raising the No. 12 flag, a cherished tradition in Seattle that celebrates the team’s famously passionate fanbase.
Woolen, mic’d up during the game, was visibly excited to learn that Chiles was in attendance. He couldn’t contain his enthusiasm, admitting that he had liked one of her Instagram posts just days before. His excitement was palpable, especially as Chiles—who hails from Oregon and grew up in Washington—has a personal connection to the Pacific Northwest.
But Woolen’s admiration for Chiles didn’t just start that day. The Seahawks’ social media team decided to dig a little deeper, uncovering a series of “likes” from Woolen on Chiles’ Instagram posts dating back as far as July. They didn’t hesitate to post their findings on social media, showing Woolen’s consistent support for the 4-foot-11 gymnastics star.
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Although some fans thought the Seahawks had overstepped by exposing Woolen’s “thirsty” behavior, Woolen quickly cleared the air. He revealed that the team had asked for his permission before sharing the playful post, and he wasn’t bothered by it. In fact, Woolen took it all in stride. “lol they asked me if they could post, I said yea I wasn’t trippin, so y’all chill ??,” Woolen wrote on Instagram, letting everyone know he was a good sport about the whole thing.
The interaction has sparked plenty of buzz, and fans have started to wonder if this light-hearted moment could lead to something more between Woolen and Chiles.
A quick search into Chiles’ relationship status offers little clarity, though back in August, Chiles hinted at someone special after sharing a photo of herself with flowers, referring to an unnamed “he.”
While it’s unclear whether Chiles is currently in a relationship, if the flowers were from a platonic friend, this could leave the door open for Woolen to make a move.
Seahawks fans, ever the romantics, are already hoping that the viral moment will catch Chiles’ attention and perhaps give Woolen a shot at more than just likes on Instagram.
In the end, what started as a fun social media moment may turn into something bigger.
Whether or not Woolen’s admiration leads to a connection with Chiles, the playful interaction has certainly made its mark, leaving fans eagerly waiting to see what might happen next between the Seahawks cornerback and the Olympian gymnast.
