Photo courtesy: Lainey Wilson
The CFL family gained a famous in-law this week, as former Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges officially wed country music star Lainey Wilson, the couple announced on Thursday.
The pair reportedly tied that knot at a ceremony in Dickson, Tenn., on Sunday, May 10. They got engaged in February 2025 after first making their relationship public in May 2023, though Wilson has stated that they were involved for two years prior to that date, pre-dating Hodges’ time in Canada.
The 30-year-old signed with the Redblacks in September 2021, garnering significant media attention due to his previous NFL experience. He dressed for four games to end the season and made one start, going 16-of-38 passing for 139 yards and an interception, while adding nine carries for 38 yards. Despite originally signing a three-year contract, he retired ahead of training camp the following season.
Hodges rose to fame as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, playing in eight NFL games and unexpectedly making six starts. He completed 100-of-160 passes (62.5 percent) for 1,063 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions and rushed 21 times for 68 yards while compiling a 3-3 win-loss record.
Despite those results, Hodges endeared himself to fans across the league for his unlikely rise and unique backstory as a champion duck-caller. He later spent time with the Los Angeles Rams.
Prior to his professional career, Hodges was a four-year starter at Samford University and was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year three times. In 2018, he earned the Walter Payton Award as the top player in FCS football.
Wilson rose to prominence after her single “Things a Man Oughta Know” went three times Platinum in 2020. She has since produced notable hits including “Heart Like A Truck,” “Watermelon Moonshine,” “Wilflowers and Wild Horses,” and “4x4xU.” The 33-year-old won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album with “Bell Bottom Country” in 2024, and has dabbled in acting, appearing in the popular television series “Yellowstone.”
Notably, Wison’s songs have reached number one on the Canadian country music charts on four occasions, while her new husband failed to establish himself as a number one in Canada.
