Rylee Arnold may be focused on the ballroom floor during Dancing With the Stars Season 35, but her relationship with college football player Walker Lyons has become another part of her story away from the cameras. The couple has been together since 2024 and is currently navigating a long-distance relationship while both pursue demanding schedules.
Arnold, 21, is competing in Los Angeles this season with comedian and podcaster Connor Wood, while Lyons is attending Brigham Young University in Utah, where he plays tight end for the school’s football team. Their busy schedules mean that they are often separated by states, making regular communication an important part of their relationship.
Arnold has said that she and Lyons use FaceTime and other forms of communication to stay connected while they are apart. She acknowledged that long distance can be difficult, particularly when both people are busy with their own seasons, but said the situation has also given them an opportunity to strengthen their relationship.
The unusual part of their story, however, is how they met. Arnold revealed on The Squeeze podcast that their relationship can be traced back to an Uber ride she took in Los Angeles while she was feeling lonely and heading out to pick an outfit for an upcoming appearance.
During the ride, Arnold began talking with her driver about dance and their lives. The conversation eventually took an unexpected turn when the driver revealed that she had a nephew who played football at USC. She suggested that Arnold look him up on Instagram because she thought the two might get along.
Arnold followed the suggestion and looked at Lyons’ Instagram profile. She admitted that she thought he was attractive, but she was hesitant to make a move. At the time, she was focused on Dancing With the Stars and said she was not actively looking for a relationship.
The situation changed when one of Arnold’s sisters later sent her a TikTok and encouraged her to contact the football player. Arnold then realized just how small the world around them was. She discovered that she had actually been riding in the Uber driven by Lyons’ aunt only about a week earlier.
The pair also discovered they had numerous mutual connections. Arnold eventually followed Lyons on Instagram, he followed her back and the two began messaging. Their conversations eventually led to Lyons asking her out, and Arnold agreed to go on a date.
Their relationship became public in October 2024, when Arnold shared photos from one of Lyons’ football games. Lyons had initially played college football at USC during the 2024 and 2025 seasons before transferring to BYU in January 2026, where he continued playing tight end.
Now, with Arnold competing on Dancing With the Stars and Lyons playing football in Utah, the couple is experiencing another busy chapter together. Their story began with an ordinary Uber ride and an unexpected suggestion from a stranger, but that chance encounter eventually connected Arnold with someone who would become an important part of her life away from the ballroom.
Compiled with information from various sources.
