Cincinnati Bengals guard Dalton Risner and his wife, Whitney, have announced the tragic loss of their baby.
Whitney Risner shared the news on social media, stating that the couple lost their son four months into her pregnancy. "Baby Risner, we can't wait to meet you this year!" she had posted on social media just four weeks prior. On Friday, the couple confirmed they had lost their "sweet baby boy" at 16 weeks gestation.
In a statement, Whitney Risner described the profound grief, noting the loss of "pieces of myself, and the future I had planned out for the past 4 months." She added, "This loss has introduced me to a depth of pain and heartbreak that I never knew existed. It feels like I've lost so much… our precious baby boy, pieces of myself, and the future I had planned out for the past 4 months."
She also mentioned this is their "second loss in just a couple of months," though the nature of the previous loss was not immediately clear.
Risner, 31, joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025. He was originally selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has since started 93 NFL games. He also played for the Minnesota Vikings.
Whitney Risner, founder of the jewelry company WAAWEES and a social media influencer, expressed gratitude for the support they have received. She stated, "To everyone who has prayed for us, checked in on us, and loved us through this journey to starting a family, thank you. We are so grateful for your kindness."