Browns’ Joe Royer Criticized Online Over Reported Relationship with 18-Year-Old Recent High School Graduate, Who is His Coach’s Daughter

The Cleveland Browns' tight end Joe Royer is allegedly dating an 18 year old high school graduate Rilee Hope, who is the daughter of his college coach.

Browns’ Joe Royer Criticized Online Over Reported Relationship with 18-Year-Old Recent High School Graduate, Who is His Coach’s Daughter

Joe Royer (Image via Sports Illustrated)

The Cleveland Browns’ tight end Joe Royer is facing heat on social media for allegedly dating a minor. Royer, 24, dated Rilee Hope, 18.

A Twitter profile named “SmellyDeLaCruz” first posted about Royer’s love life on June 1. It was picked up by popular gossip account “FearBuck,” which has over 1.2 million followers on the platform.

According to both accounts, Royer has been involved in a romantic relationship with Hope even before she turned 18 (the legal age for dating varies from state to state).

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Who is Joe Royer’s rumored girlfriend, Rilee Hope?

Royer transferred to the University of Cincinnati from Ohio State ahead of the 2024 college football season. At UC, he had the chance to learn from tight ends coach Josh Stepp.

Browns' Joe Royer Criticized Online Over Reported Relationship With 18-Year-Old Recent High School Graduate, Who is His Coach's Daughter
Joe Royer (Image via ESPN)

Hope is Stepp’s eldest daughter. In a recent post, Stepp’s twin brother Justin, himself a receivers coach at Illinois, celebrated Hope graduating from college.

It’s unclear whether Royer and Hope met after he moved to UC or if they had known each other even before that. Both parties are staying silent for now.

A glimpse into Joe Royer’s journey to becoming a Cleveland Browns player

Royer, an Ohio native, attended Elder High School before committing to the Buckeyes as a four-star recruit in 2020. He left OSU after four seasons due to the lack of first-team opportunities.

He played two seasons for the Cincinnati Bearcats. In 24 appearances, Royer caught 79 receptions for 937 yards and scored 7 touchdowns.

According to the scouting report compiled by NFL Draft Buzz, Royer “is a matchup problem that defensive coordinators will lose sleep over.”

His natural receiving ability shows up most prominently on medium routes where he displays veteran-like understanding of leveraging his frame against smaller defenders.

The Browns drafted the 6-foot-5 Royer 170th overall in the fifth round. He will wear number 30. Cleveland also drafted former BYU star Carsen Ryan (tight end) 248th overall in the seventh round.

Royer and Ryan join a Browns TE unit that recently bid goodbye to Pro Bowler David Njoku who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. Cleveland still has rookie sensation Harold Fannin Jr., who caught 72 passes for 731 yards and scored 6 touchdowns in 16 games in 2025.

The Browns also have veteran Jack Stoll, Brenden Bates, and Blake Whiteheart on the practice squad.

The Browns lose their best player

As Monday was June 1, everyone braced for big movements across the league. It began with Odell Beckham Jr. reuniting with the New York Giants and AJ Brown finally getting his dream trade to the New England Patriots.

However, the biggest news came from the NFC West. The Los Angeles Rams broke the internet by trading for two-time Defensive Player of the Year DE Myles Garrett from the Browns.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Browns received outside linebacker Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round, 2028 second-round, and a 2029 third-round draft pick.  

Garrett, a seven-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection, played 134 games for the Browns after being drafted first overall in 2017. He registered 412 tackles, 125.5 sacks, 149 TFLs, 18 PDs, and 23 forced fumbles. Last year, he set the single sack record.

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