It started with a silhouette. One blurry, grainy TikTok video where a mysterious "NFL man" was seen cooking pasta in a kitchen that definitely wasn't Alix Earle's usual Miami apartment. That was basically the shot heard 'round the internet. For months, the rumors were a chaotic mess of leaked paparazzi photos from Gatsby-themed parties and eagle-eyed fans tracking flight paths to New Jersey. When Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios finally went "hard launch" on the red carpet, it wasn't just another influencer coupling. It was a collision of two massive, yet very different, fanbases.
People love to simplify their story. They see the "it-girl" TikToker and the pro athlete and assume it’s a standard PR play. It’s not. If you actually look at the timeline, the drama surrounding the transition from Braxton’s previous relationship with Sophia Culpo to his current life with Alix is where things get messy—and where most of the misinformation lives. You’ve probably seen the "tea" pages claiming one thing, while the actual receipts show something else entirely.
The Timeline That Had Everyone Stressing
Let’s be real: the math was mathing a little too fast for some people. Braxton Berrios and Sophia Culpo split in early 2023. By the time the 2023 ESPY Awards rolled around, Alix and Braxton were making it official. The internet, being the internet, immediately jumped to conclusions about overlaps.
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Braxton eventually had to clear the air on Instagram, which is pretty rare for a guy who usually sticks to football highlights. He basically said the relationship with his ex had reached its end and it wasn't some dramatic infidelity scandal. But even with that clarification, the "NFL Man" era of Alix’s content had already turned the whole situation into a spectator sport. She was calling him "NFL Man" to protect his privacy, but honestly, everyone with a search bar knew who he was within about twelve minutes.
Why This Specific Pairing Actually Works
You have to understand the Miami factor. Alix Earle is the undisputed queen of University of Miami alumni success stories right now. Braxton plays for the Miami Dolphins. It’s a local marketing dream, sure, but there’s a weirdly grounded energy to them that you don't always see with "clout couples."
On her podcast, Hot Mess, Alix talks about him in a way that feels surprisingly normal. She talks about his routines, his discipline as a professional athlete, and how that contrasts with her "getting ready for three hours and losing my keys" lifestyle. It’s that classic "golden retriever vs. black cat" energy that TikTok obsesses over.
- The Athlete Discipline: Braxton is known for a strict regimen. He’s a wide receiver and return specialist. His job depends on being exactly where he needs to be at 0.4 seconds.
- The Influencer Chaos: Alix’s brand is built on being unfiltered. She shows the acne, the messy room, and the hangover.
Combining those two worlds shouldn't work. Usually, the athlete wants total privacy and the influencer wants total transparency. Somehow, they found a middle ground where he appears in her "Get Ready With Me" videos without it feeling like he's being held hostage for views. He’s actually funny. He leans into the bit.
Addressing the "PR Couple" Allegations
I hear this a lot. "Oh, it's just for the brand."
Look, does being with Alix Earle help Braxton’s off-field visibility? Obviously. Does having an NFL boyfriend give Alix new content niches? Of course. But if you watch them for more than a thirty-second clip, you see the nuances. You see the way he handles her family—the "Earle Girls" are a lot to handle—and how she showed up to almost every Dolphins game, even in the freezing rain, wearing custom jerseys that she probably spent hours DIY-ing.
There's a level of public scrutiny here that would break most casual flings. They’ve survived the initial "rebound" labels and have moved into a space where they’re just a fixture of the Miami social scene. They aren't just popping up for major events; they're spotted at local spots, grocery shopping, and living a relatively integrated life.
The Sophia Culpo Factor
We can't talk about Alix and Braxton without mentioning the "Betrayal" narrative that Sophia Culpo pushed on social media. It was a huge moment in the 2023 pop culture cycle. Sophia posted TikToks implying she was blindsided. Braxton denied it. Alix stayed mostly silent, which was honestly a smart PR move.
The reality is likely somewhere in the gray area. Breakups are rarely clean, especially when you're moving in high-profile circles where everyone knows everyone. What people get wrong is thinking Alix "stole" him. Relationships in that world are a revolving door of mutual acquaintances. It’s less Mean Girls and more just the reality of dating in a small pool of wealthy, famous people in their 20s.
The Impact on the NFL Fanbase
This is where it gets interesting for the business side of things. We saw the "Taylor Swift Effect" with Travis Kelce, but Alix Earle had her own mini-version of that with the Dolphins.
Suddenly, girls who didn't know what a "slot receiver" was were buying #10 jerseys. They were learning the rules of football just to see if Alix would be on the Jumbotron. It’s a massive demographic shift. The NFL has been desperate to reach Gen Z women, and Alix did more for that in Miami than almost any official marketing campaign could have.
She made the game "aesthetic." She turned the tailgate into a fashion show. And Braxton, to his credit, handled the influx of "Alix’s boyfriend" comments with a lot of grace. Most pro athletes have huge egos. If a guy is okay with being referred to as an accessory to a TikTok star, he’s either very secure or very smart. Probably both.
Navigating the Long-Distance and Schedule Hurdles
People forget that being an NFL wife or girlfriend (WAG) isn't just about the outfits. It’s a grueling schedule. During the season, Braxton is essentially property of the Miami Dolphins. He’s in meetings, film study, practice, and traveling.
Alix is also traveling constantly for brand deals with companies like Celsius or attending Fashion Weeks in Paris and Milan. The fact that they manage to sync up their calendars is the most impressive part of the relationship. It’s not all parties. It’s a lot of FaceTime calls and catching red-eye flights to make sure she’s back in the stands by Sunday at 1:00 PM.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Story
If you're trying to keep up with the Alix and Braxton saga without getting bogged down in the fake drama, here’s how to actually filter the information:
- Check the Source of "Leaks": Most of the "cheating" rumors come from unverified TikTok comments. Unless it’s on Hot Mess or Braxton’s official channels, take it with a grain of salt.
- Watch the Hot Mess Podcast for Nuance: Alix is surprisingly honest about their arguments and the "un-glamorous" parts of dating an athlete. It’s the best place to get the real vibe of the relationship.
- Understand the NFL Calendar: If they haven't posted together in a week during October or November, it’s not because they broke up. It’s because he’s in a "work" cycle.
- Look at the Family Integration: The biggest indicator of a "real" celebrity relationship is how they interact with siblings and parents. Both have been heavily involved with each other's families, which is a big deal in the Earle universe.
The "NFL Man" mystery might be over, but the fascination with Alix and Braxton isn't slowing down. They’ve managed to turn a potentially messy situation into one of the most stable-looking relationships in the influencer space. Whether you're here for the football or the fake tan, they've become the blueprint for how to navigate a public relationship in 2026. They aren't trying to be perfect; they're just trying to be a couple in the middle of a digital hurricane.