Former NFL Quarterback Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges Marries Country Music Superstar Lainey Wilson
There are weddings, and then there are full-blown Southern storybooks with cowboy boots, waterfalls, brass bands, and enough emotion to make even the toughest Steelers fan blink a little too hard. Former Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges officially married country superstar Lainey Wilson this week.
The couple tied the knot on May 10 at the Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee, a place they reportedly discovered after spotting a billboard while driving through the state. That is about as country as it gets. No fancy Hollywood setup. No billionaire island. Just a couple rolling down the highway and saying, “Yep, that’ll do.”
Hodges Went From NFL Underdog to Country Music Husband
Sports fans remember Hodges as the undrafted quarterback with the unforgettable nickname and the duck-calling championship background. Back in 2019, he became one of those unlikely Pittsburgh sports stories that somehow worked. No massive expectations. No superstar label. Just grit, a little swagger, and the kind of fan support reserved for blue-collar athletes who feel real. Now? Hodges has traded defensive blitzes for wedding vows.
The former NFL quarterback and Wilson reportedly met through mutual friends in 2021 and kept their relationship mostly private before making their red carpet debut in 2023. Since then, the two have looked less like a celebrity couple and more like two people who genuinely enjoy hanging out together.
Wilson has openly talked about how Hodges helped her open up emotionally and even inspired some of her songwriting. That’s not nothing coming from one of country music’s biggest stars. When artists start writing love songs because of you, you are probably doing something right.
The Tennessee Wedding Felt Like a Scene Out Of Yellowstone
The ceremony itself sounded almost cinematic. Wilson arrived in a horse-drawn carriage beside a waterfall while guests gathered near the cave venue, surrounded by spring greenery. She wore a custom Oscar de la Renta gown detailed with cherry blossom designs, while Hodges leaned fully into the Southern-gentleman aesthetic with a custom suit, cowboy boots, and a bolo tie. Somewhere, every Nashville stylist simultaneously nodded in approval.
The reception reportedly featured Cajun food, a 12-piece jazz band, and a New Orleans-style second-line parade led by Rebirth Brass Band. And because no proper Southern wedding can end quietly, the newlyweds drove away in a vintage white Ford truck during a sparkler sendoff. If country music had a cinematic universe, this would’ve been the season finale.
Hodges Remains One Of Sports’ Most Unexpected Fan Favorites
There is something oddly fitting about Hodges ending up in this spotlight. He was never supposed to become a cult hero in Pittsburgh. Never supposed to become a recognizable sports name. And probably never expected to marry one of the biggest stars in country music either. But sports have always loved unlikely stories. The backup quarterback. The overlooked recruit. The guy whose nickname somehow becomes part of football history. Now Hodges has another title attached to his name: husband.
Judging by the smiles coming out of Tennessee this week, the former Steelers quarterback may have just landed the biggest win of his life.
For More Great Content
Find Justin on X: https://x.com/jrimp803 and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-rimpi-11502014a/