Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and his girlfriend, Molly Walding, have a love story almost a decade in the making. 

Leonard, 22, and Walding have been in each other’s lives since they both attended Fairhope Middle School in Fairhope, Alabama. 

Since then, the couple has experienced it all — from high school dances and birthday celebrations to long-distance love in college and Notre Dame’s run to the College Football Playoff. 

For a full timeline of Leonard and Walding’s relationship, keep reading. 

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September 2016

Walding posted a photo via Instagram of the pair together to celebrate Leonard’s birthday while the two were in middle school in Alabama.

Leonard had his hand on Walding’s shoulder as she beamed for the camera, still with a mouthful of braces. 

October 2017

The pair attended their first high school dance together as students at Fairthorpe High School in Fairthorpe, Alabama. 

“what a nighttttt★ ,” Walding captioned a trio of photos via Instagram from the big evening. 

June 2019

Leonard and Walding celebrated their one-and-a-half year dating anniversary at the Bluegill Restaurant in Spanish Fort, Alabama.

“a year & a 1/2 of nothing but smiles!!!!🥰,” Walding captioned a photo via Instagram of the pair smiling on a dock outside the restaurant.

December 2019

The couple’s two-year anniversary was also cause for celebration. Walding posted a photo of the pair via Instagram standing in front of a Christmas tree. 

“Been dating my biggest crush for 2 years now 💖💖💖,” she wrote.

Leonard commented on the picture, writing, “Dang u look good.”

December 2020

Leonard and Walding’s third anniversary came with a bit of trepidation. 

“Happy 3!!!! Like if you think we can make it 4 more being 500 miles apart🤠,” Walding wrote alongside a picture of the duo via Instagram.

The post came in anticipation of Leonard heading to play football at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and Walking on her way to Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. 

April 2022

The duo, of course, found a way to make it work as evidenced by Walding’s picture from Duke’s spring game ahead of his second season at Duke. 

“I’m a big fan of ya!!!!!!” Walding wrote via Instagram. 

December 2023

Days after Leonard announced he was transferring to Notre Dame, Walding said she was excited to celebrate the couple’s sixth anniversary together. 

“See you tomorrow!!!!!!!! Eeeek,” she wrote via Instagram.

Leonard also shared an anniversary post on the same day. “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. Happy 6 years,” he said via Instagram. 

November 2024

Walding traveled to South Bend, Indiana to celebrate Notre Dame’s Senior Day and a win over Virginia in the team’s regular season home finale. 

“Shoutout to @riley.jleonard for giving us something to look forward to every weekend!!!!! Still rooting for #13 ☘️💚✨,” she shared via Instagram alongside a carousel of photos from the field at Notre Dame Stadium. 

January 2024

Walding was on hand in New Orleans as Leonard helped lead Notre Dame over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, earning the school a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. 

“What an adventure it has been!” she wrote via her Instagram Story.