Devlin Hodges

Devlin Patrick Hodges, better known as "Duck," is a former professional football quarterback from Kimberly, Alabama. He played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams, and briefly in the CFL for the Ottawa Redblacks. Hodges first gained national attention during his 2019 rookie season when, as an undrafted free agent, he stepped in as an emergency starter and led the Steelers to three straight wins. His nickname, a nod to his passion for duck hunting and duck calling, became a rallying point for Pittsburgh fans during that improbable stretch.

Before his NFL stint, Hodges was a record-setting quarterback at Samford University, where he won the 2018 Walter Payton Award and set the FCS career passing yards record. As of 2026, he is engaged to country music singer Lainey Wilson, and the couple lives in Nashville. While his playing career was brief, his underdog story and distinctive persona left a lasting impression on football fans. [edit]

Devlin Patrick Hodges was born on April 12, 1996, in Kimberly, a small town in Alabama. From age four, he pestered his parents to let him play football, and he also dabbled in youth ice hockey as a wing and center before focusing on the gridiron. He attended Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, where he played quarterback and developed the arm that would later set records.

At Samford University, Hodges redshirted in 2015, then burst onto the scene in 2016. He earned the nickname "Duck" because he constantly talked about duck hunting and duck calling; a coach started calling him that, and it stuck. Over the next three seasons, he became the most decorated player in program history, winning three consecutive SoCon Offensive Player of the Year awards and three first-team All-SoCon selections. His senior year in 2018 was historic: he led the nation in passing yards per game (389.4), total passing yards (4,283), and total offense per game (417.8). He also broke Steve McNair's FCS career passing record, finishing with 14,584 yards. Despite his college accolades, he went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, a slight that fueled his determination. [edit]

Hodges signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. His breakout came that December when injuries thrust him into the starting role. He won his first three career starts, and a fourth win over Buffalo on December 15 would have tied a Super Bowl-era rookie record. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors during that stretch, and his "Duck" persona became a fan favorite. In eight games that season, he completed 62.5% of his passes for 1,063 yards, five touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

He remained with the Steelers through 2020, then joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. Later that year, he signed a three-year deal with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL, appearing in one game. His professional career ended quietly, but his rookie-year heroics remain a memorable chapter in Steelers lore. [edit]

Hodges' public image is defined by his underdog story: an undrafted quarterback from a tiny Alabama town who briefly captured the nation's imagination with his improbable winning streak in Pittsburgh. His "Duck" persona, complete with a signature duck call celebration, made him a cult hero among Steelers fans. Media coverage, including ESPN and Sky Sports features, focused on his humble origins and record-breaking college career. Fans connected with his authenticity and grit, and his nickname became a symbol of perseverance. [edit]

Devlin Hodges, known to football fans as "Duck," has a public profile that defies his modest on-field statistics. His fame, however, does not currently translate into a placement on iFANN's published rankings; as of August 2026, the Global Fame Engine has evaluated him but he holds no position in the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. That absence of a formal rank, though, belies a cultural footprint that has outlasted his playing days.

Hodges' fame is rooted in the spontaneous "Duck" phenomenon of the 2019 NFL season, when an undrafted rookie from Samford University became a Pittsburgh Steelers folk hero. That organic outpouring, merchandise, memes, and a signature duck call, turned a journeyman into a national talking point. More recently, his marriage to country music star Lainey Wilson has broadened his recognition far beyond the gridiron, making him a fixture in entertainment coverage. His social media presence, with 254,000 Instagram followers, now centers on his golf and lifestyle brand, Club Country, rather than football.

His fanbase has no formal name; it is a loose, informal following of football romantics and country music fans drawn to his underdog story and celebrity marriage. There are no documented fan campaigns or organized clubs, but the affection is genuine, expressed through social media engagement and the enduring retelling of his improbable rise.[edit]

Devlin Hodges' nickname "Duck" originated at Samford University due to his constant talk about duck hunting and duck calling. He was an accomplished duck caller in his youth, though he never competed formally. At age four, he begged his parents to let him play football, and he also played youth ice hockey as a wing and center before focusing on football. His 14,584 career passing yards at Samford broke Steve McNair's FCS record, a mark that still stands. He was a three-time All-American at Samford and was inducted into the Samford Hall of Fame.

A defining moment of his career came on December 22, 2019, when he threw a last-second touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster to beat the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field, cementing his status as a Pittsburgh folk hero. Earlier that season, a controversial play against the Baltimore Ravens, where he appeared to slide and was hit by Earl Thomas, with the fumble negated on review, sparked national debate about quarterback slide rules. Beyond football, his romance with Lainey Wilson has become a modern fairy tale; the couple married in May 2026 at a Tennessee waterfall venue, a story widely covered as a country song come to life.[edit]

Details about Hodges' parents and siblings are not widely publicized. He grew up in Kimberly, Alabama, in a family that supported his early athletic interests. As of 2026, he is engaged to country singer Lainey Wilson, and the couple resides in Nashville. There are no reports of children. Hodges has spoken fondly of his small-town upbringing and the values it instilled in him. [edit]

During his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hodges was teammates with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who became a close friend and vocal supporter during his 2019 starting stretch. He also played alongside quarterback Mason Rudolph and benefited from the mentorship of veteran Ben Roethlisberger. [edit]

Hodges began dating country music singer Lainey Wilson in 2020, and the couple got engaged in February 2025. Their relationship became public through social media posts and red-carpet appearances. Prior to Wilson, there are no confirmed public relationships. As of 2026, Hodges is engaged to Wilson, and they live together in Nashville. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN's editorial analysis estimates Devlin Hodges' net worth at $3 million. His wealth primarily derives from his NFL contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams, as well as his brief CFL stint with the Ottawa Redblacks. As an undrafted free agent, his rookie deal was modest, but practice squad pay and performance bonuses added to his earnings. Since retiring, he has not pursued major business ventures, though his Club Country golf brand and appearances related to his football story supplement his income.[edit]

Hodges won the 2018 Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in FCS football. He was also a three-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (2016–2018) and a three-time first-team All-SoCon selection. Additionally, he earned three All-American honors and was inducted into the Samford Hall of Fame. [edit]