SI LifeStyle

Berkleigh Wright Is First and Foremost a Football Fan, Then a WAG With a Playbook

The SI Swimsuit model and former cheerleader reflects on trading pom-poms for Panthers merch—and cheering on boyfriend Sam Martin from the stands.

Ananya Panchal

Berkleigh Wright
Berkleigh Wright / Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Berkleigh Wright has a new NFL game day POV this year.

The former Denver Broncos cheerleader, who spent seven years in the organization, has swapped her uniform and pom-poms for Panthers merch and gameday glam. Now, she’s experiencing football from a whole new vantage point: as a supportive partner to Carolina Panthers punter Sam Martin.

Sam Martin and Berkleigh Wright
Sam Martin and Berkleigh Wright / Courtesy of Berkleigh Wright

But, don’t get it twisted—she’s still very much part of the action, just not in the way she’s used to.

Sideline switch-up

After five years on the field with the Denver Broncos cheerleaders—including one season as captain—Wright knows game days inside and out. But this year, the view (and the vibe) is compbletely different.

Next. Berkleigh Wright Shares Her Sweet Game Day Ritual With NFL Boyfriend Sam Martin. Berkleigh Wright Shares Her Sweet Game Day Ritual With NFL Boyfriend Sam Martin. dark

“Obviously, I loved performing and I loved being down there, but now I get to have fun in the stands with [Martin’s] parents and our friends and just cheer him on,” the 31-year-old tells SI Swimsuit. “I stress about him playing well and him staying healthy and all of those things. So it’s just like a different type of stress, I guess, in a good way.”

Wright admits the adjustment came with mixed emotions. “I got so comfortable being on the sidelines, like down in the nitty gritty of what’s going on. And now, of course, I’m in the stands,” the Kansas native says. “I’m still wishing to be there, like right on the field, but it’s also just fun being a fan and not having to stress or worry about what I’m doing and how I’m performing.

She’s even found herself rooting for the cheerleaders, the TopCats, on the field. “They always go out there and do their thing, and I’m their biggest cheerleader in the stands.”

Built-in chemistry

Her years of experience in the league have brought a new layer of closeness to her relationship with Martin. “It makes it more fun for me to watch because I actually know what’s going on,” Wright shares. “If you have knowledge of something, you get more into it.”

That built-in chemistry has strengthened their bond in ways she didn’t expect. “He can come home from work and talk to me about things that I actually understand and can relate to,” she says. “Whether it’s about the sport of football or just team camaraderie, it’s helped deepen our relationship.”

Berkleigh Wright and Sam Martin
Berkleigh Wright and Sam Martin / Courtesy of Berkleigh Wright

Wright also appreciates being able to support Martin on a personal and professional level. “I’m obviously not playing, but I feel like I’m so invested in his career,” she explains. “It just helps to actually know what’s going on and what he’s talking about when he comes home.”

Football roots

Wright’s love for the game runs deep—and in many ways, it’s what brought the couple together.

The two first met while both were in Denver, when she was cheering and he was playing for the Broncos. “It was pretty casual at first,” she admits. “We got to know each other really well in Denver for almost a year.”

Eventually, Martin was traded to the Bills, and the pair amicably went their separate ways. Wright wrapped up her final season as cheer captain, co-won the 2023 Swim Search open casting call and made her SI Swimsuit rookie debut in Belize for the 2024 issue. She also decided to pursue modeling full-time and relocated to Los Angeles, while continuing to maintain her corporate-tech role at Oracle.

It all came full circle. Wright credits her time with the Broncos for inspiring her to take a chance on Swim Search. And after landing the rookie class of 2024, she felt ready to leave cheer behind and chase modeling with her whole heart.

That same year—two years after Martin was traded to the Bills—they reconnected.

“It felt like no time had passed from that first time,” she says. “And since then, we’ve been attached at the hip.”

Now, the couple is building a new life together in Charlotte, having just moved in together, and football is still very much at the heart of it.

“It all revolves around football, funny enough—and here we are today, still cheering each other on.”

More Lifestyle & Celeb:

feed

Published
Home/Celebrities