A New Year’s Eve loss to the Chiefs meant the Bengals entered 2024 on a sour note after being eliminated from NFL playoff contention.
Needing a win to keep their faint hopes alive, Cincinnati’s season was all but over when Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City to a 25-17 victory in Arrowhead.
The loss came as a huge blow to Jake Browning, who would have played a key role in the postseason when starting quarterback Joe Burrow went down with an injury.
The following weekend, however, Browning was publicly reminded that there was a silver lining to his campaign coming to an early end.
Step forward Stephanie Niles.
As the Bengals played their final game of the season against the Browns, Niles — Browning’s girlfriend of the past five years — stole the show as she donned a striking all-white bodysuit in the stands of Paul Brown Stadium.
Bengals QB Jake Browning may have missed the playoffs, but he could now be heading for a loved-up offseason break with gorgeous girlfriend Stephanie Niles
Niles stole the show by wearing an eye-catching bodysuit during a game in Cincinnati last weekend
The 27-year-old, who has been dating Browning for the past five years, is the co-founder of swimwear brand 7th Street Swim
Niles met the Cincinnati quarterback during their college years at the University of Washington
The 27-year-old went viral on social media as television cameras continued to catch her wearing the NFL-style outfit, put together by her clothing designer cousin Taylor Damron.
So while he may have missed out on playing in the playoffs, Browning can at least go out and enjoy a beloved offseason with his great partner.
The couple has been together since their college days and first met at Washington University.
Browning, 27, played four seasons for the Huskies, recording 958 completions for 12,296 yards and 94 touchdowns, while Niles studied for her bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Information Systems, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The now Bengals WAG then co-founded the swimwear company 7th Street Swim in February 2020 after graduating from Washington.
In addition to managing her swimwear company, Niles has also been working for automaker Decked, LLC as an information project manager since November 2021.
Still, she often finds time to balance her work schedule with trips to Paul Brown Stadium, where she and friends cheer on Browning from the stands.
The swimwear co-founder’s last outing in Cincinnati was the most memorable, with her famous bodysuit raising money for cousin Damron’s clothing store.
She is often seen cheering on Browning, who was elevated to starter for the Bengals this season, at football games around the country.
Her final appearance at an NFL game was the most memorable, with that eye-catching bodysuit that sent fans wild online
Niles also shared several photos of her on the stands with some of her friends
Damron’s company, Elle and B Creative, has since been inundated with requests for a similar one, per TMZ.
Niles’ particular suit had her boyfriend’s initials, JB, and his No. 6 jersey number printed on the front. The number 6 was also printed on the sleeves, while she wore an orange bucket hat to complete the outfit.
In December, Niles also made headlines after Browning helped the Bengals emerge victorious in a dramatic matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
The quarterback led his team to a thrilling 27-24 overtime win after trailing 17-3 and 24-17 earlier in the game, and he said after the game: “I feel like I’d like a beer, but I just had a cramping incident, so I’ll probably pass that up.”
Niles then responded by sharing his comments on her Instagram Story, joking that she needed “something stronger” — before posting a photo of a martini.
When she’s not supporting her boyfriend or working, Niles enjoys the luxury of her own success and being the partner of an NFL star by jetting off on glamorous vacations around the world.
She regularly enjoys the luxury of both her own success and being the partner of an NFL star by jetting off on glamorous vacations.
Niles is pictured with her friends on a trip back to her college town of Washington
She also went to LA with Browning for the Bengals’ 2022 Super Bowl appearance
She recently shared photos from her trip to Africa, though Browning didn’t appear to join her, and has also vacationed in recent years to Mexico, Idaho, Nashville, Hawaii and more.
Niles also made the trip to LA with Browning for the Super Bowl in February 2022, but the Bengals suffered a controversial 23-20 loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Her boyfriend, however, played no role in the showpiece event, with Burrow as the starting quarterback on a heartbreaking night for Cincinnati in California.
This season, Niles could be on the move, while Browning is set to enter free agency before his Bengals contract expires.
It remains to be seen whether the former practice squad quarterback puts pen to paper on a new deal in Cincinnati or packs up and heads elsewhere after proving himself capable of being a starter in the NFL this season .
He exceeded expectations by winning three of his first four starts after Burrow was ruled out for the season due to a wrist injury, thrusting his team into the heat of the play-off race the week before Christmas.
While he threw three interceptions in a later loss at Pittsburgh, Browning has put himself in the spotlight after performing better than expected in Burrow’s absence.
Browning has suggested he is willing to leave Cincinnati and become a starter elsewhere
If he does, Niles will find himself in a new city when the next NFL season begins in September
As a result, Niles could find himself in a new city by the time the next NFL season starts.
“I think I’ve determined that I can be a starter in the NFL,” Browning said recently when asked about his future.
“It’s obviously a weird situation where I feel like I’m one of the top 32 quarterbacks in the world, and I happen to be on the list with a guy who has proven he’s a top five quarterback in the world.
“So what that looks like in the future, I have no idea.”
