NEED TO KNOW
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Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges started dating in 2021
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They announced their engagement in February 2025
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Hodges is a former NFL player turned real estate agent
Lainey Wilson has fallen boots-first for her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges.
The couple began dating in 2021 but didn’t go public with their relationship until two years later, when Hodges accompanied Wilson to the ACM Awards in May 2023. In August 2023, Wilson told PEOPLE that Hodges opened her heart to love.
“I was never really able to write love songs, because I don’t know if I had actually felt it, but I’m writing me some love songs now,” she said. “I’m grateful for him.”
The former NFL player-turned-real estate agent ultimately popped the question, with the couple announcing their engagement in February 2025.
Hodges has been a pillar of support for Wilson as she’s navigated her stardom in both country music and acting. However, the “4x4xU” singer teased on Instagram that her date to the 2025 CMA Awards, which she’s hosting, “might be in the woods hunting.”
So, who is Lainey Wilson’s fiancé? Here’s everything to know about Devlin “Duck” Hodges and his relationship with the country music singer.
His college football coach gave him the nickname “Duck”
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Former NFL star Devlin Hodges playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019.
Hodges, who affectionately goes by “Duck,” received his nickname while playing football at Samford University in Alabama. During a June 2023 appearance on The Bobby Bones Show, Wilson shared the story of how her now-fiancé’s moniker came to be.
“His college football coach was like, ‘You’re one of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever worked with. And you remind me a lot of one of my favorite quarterbacks I got to work with years ago, and we called him Duck,’ ” Wilson said. “And so he and the team just kind of started calling him Duck.”
In October 2025, the country music star told Southern Living that she fibbed to Hodges on their first date, joking that her friends call her “Goose.”
“I was lying, but he fell for it,” she recalled. “I think he was like, ‘Oh, I’m in love.’ ”
He is a former NFL player
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Devlin Hodges warming up before his first career NFL start with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019.
After college, Hodges went on to play professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was with the team for two years before joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2021; however, he was waived that year.
He later played football for the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks and announced his retirement in April 2022.
Similar to Wilson, Hodges understands the importance of work ethic, which is one of the many shared characteristics that first brought them together.
“He knows what it’s like chasing a dream because he’s done that for himself,” Wilson said on The Bobby Bones Show. “He was in the NFL. He tried out literally for the Steelers and made it and had a really great run with them. Went out to LA Rams and did that.”
He works in real estate
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Devlin “Duck” Hodges and Lainey Wilson attend the 2024 CMT Music Awards.
Since retiring from the sport, Hodges has taken a keen interest in real estate.
After working with Mossy Oak Properties in Louisiana, he joined the team at Myers Cobb Realtors in April 2024. His profile notes his love of football, duck hunting and country music.
He and Wilson started dating in 2021
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Devlin Hodges and Lainey Wilson in 2024.
The pair began seeing each other in 2021 after meeting through mutual friends in Nashville.
In a June 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Wilson recalled their first date at a dance hall and saloon that was known for its cheap drinks and live music.
“We went to this old place called Silverados, and it had free beer and wine from 5 to 10 p.m.,” she said. “I was like, ‘This boy likes to ball on a budget too. This is gonna work out.’ “
The two immediately hit it off and have been together ever since, but refrained from publicizing their romance for over two years.
“I said, ‘We gonna see if you’re in it for the right reasons,’ ” Wilson told PEOPLE of deciding to stay mum about their relationship for so long. “Turns out, he is. It feels really good to talk about it.”
He and Wilson made their red carpet debut in 2023
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Former pro athlete Devlin Hodges and country singer Lainey Wilson attend the 58th ACM Awards together in May 2023.
The couple confirmed the status of their romance when they walked the red carpet of the 58th ACM Awards hand-in-hand. The singer-songwriter was nominated for six different categories that night, four of which she won.
Wilson wore an all-green ensemble consisting of a cape and her signature bell bottoms, accented with chunky jewelry and a green-brimmed hat. Meanwhile, Hodges stepped out in a blue suit that he paired with a bolo tie and cream cowboy hat.
Speculation about their romance sparked weeks prior when Wilson was spotted wearing Hodges’ Steelers jersey while performing in Pittsburgh. Eagle-eyed fans quickly notified the former Steelers quarterback of Wilson’s outfit on social media, which he happily played into.
“Did she really?!?! Y’all are lying !!!! @laineywilson holla at me !!!,” he wrote on X, replying to a fan who posted about Wilson’s concert attire. “This is me hollerin,” Wilson wrote back, and Hodges responded, “OH.MY.GOD 👀 hello.”
He is close with Wilson’s friends
Christopher Polk/Penske Media/Getty
Devlin Hodges and Lainey Wilson at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards.
Speaking with PEOPLE about their relationship, the “Heart Like a Truck” crooner joked that Hodges has been slowly “stealing all my buddies,” including her country music pals like Cole Swindell and HARDY.
“Somebody said how funny it was watching him high-five all of my artist friends at the ACMs, and I said, ‘Those are his friends!’ ” Wilson shared, following their red carpet debut in May.
“He’ll FaceTime me, and he’ll be with HARDY and Morgan [Wallen] and Luke [Combs], and I’m like, ‘Stop stealing all my buddies,’ ” she continued. “They’ll always be out golfing and drinking a beer.”
He and Wilson have attended several star-studded events together
Leah Puttkammer/FilmMagic
Devlin Hodges and Lainey Wilson attend the 57th annual CMA Awards in 2023.
Hodges was Wilson’s plus-one to the CMA Awards in November 2023. The country star and her beau coordinated in all-black ensembles, which included cowboy hats.
Later that evening, Wilson won the award for Entertainer of the Year. She kissed Hodges before stepping on stage to deliver her acceptance speech.
“This is all I’ve ever wanted. It finally feels like country music is starting to love me back,” she said while fighting back tears. Wilson also briefly thanked Hodges for his support, saying, “I love you, Duck.”
The following year, Hodges watched Wilson host the 2024 CMA Awards and take home the award for Female Video of the Year.
He and Wilson are engaged
Tibrina Hobson/FilmMagic
Lainey Wilson and Devlin Hodges in 2024
Hodges and Wilson announced their engagement on Instagram in February 2025, sharing photos from their intimate proposal.
“4x4xU forever,” the couple captioned the joint post, referring to Wilson’s hit song “4x4xU.”
Wilson told PEOPLE in August 2025 that she and Hodges are in no rush to say “I do,” but once planning begins, finding the perfect dress is at the top of her list.
“Hopefully, when he sees me [walking down the aisle], he’ll be boohooing,” she added.
Read the original article on People
