Rylee Arnold Praises Boyfriend Walker Lyons for Being 'the Best' with Her Nieces and Nephews as Fans Say 'Sage's Approval' Means Everything

Mar. 15, 2025

Walker Lyons and Rylee Arnold (left); Rylee Arnold and her nieces and nephews.Photo:Rylee Arnold/Instagram

Rylee Arnold/Instagram

Rylee Arnold’s boyfriend just got the ultimate stamp of approval.

TheDancing with the Starspro, 19, has beendating USC football player Walker Lyons since October, and they have officially taken things to the next step as Lyons, 20, met Arnold’s many nieces and nephews.

In a TikTok video posted Sunday, Dec. 8, Rylee shared clips of Lyons playing withQuincy(the oldest daughter of her sister Brynley),Brooks(Jensen’s 2-year-old son) andSage(the oldest daughter ofDWTSalumLindsay Arnold). The footage proved to fans that the football player is a keeper.

“He’s just the best and they love him 😭 🥹😭🥹,” Rylee wrote in the post’s caption.

“Sage’s approval is our approval,” wrote one follower, and the comment garnered over 6,000 likes. Another person echoed that thought, writing, “Sage as the oldest grandchild has the important role of approving an uncle is the right one. Her approval is our approval 😂 .”

“Sage was the main approval I was waiting on,” another fan wrote.

Walker Lyons with Rylee Arnold’s niece Sage.Rylee Arnold/TikTok

Rylee Arnold/TikTok

Rylee debuted her romance with Lyons onInstagramin October with a carousel of photos from one of Lyons' USC games, writing in the caption, “Is this a hard launch?? 🤭❤️‍🔥.”

The reveal came just weeks aftershe told PEOPLE she was “currently single” and life was “so fun.”

“I love it. I love being single. It’s the best,” she said.

Since going public,Rylee said that Lyons has been “such a trooper” given all the attention he’s getting online.

“I know it’s so hard to go from not being exposed to things like this, but he’s just been such a trooper,” she shared after the Nov. 12 taping ofDWTS. “He’s so supportive of me and just so kind to me all the time. And it’s so nice and refreshing to be around and I just think he’s the best and he’s taking everything like a champ.”

Lindsay Arnold with her sister Rylee and daughter Sage at DWTS.Lindsay Arnold Cusick/Instagram

Lindsay Arnold Cusick/Instagram

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Arnold is fresh off her second season as a pro onDWTSand she finished in fourth place with partnerStephen Nedoroscikonthe Nov. 26 finale. She’s now gearing up for the upcoming tour, which kicks off Jan. 7 in Richmond, Virginia and will feature her partner as the co-host.

Season 33 winner Joey Graziadei, runner-upIlona Maherand fellow finalistChandler Kinneywill also be performing at various tour dates over the three-month run.

source: people.com