Country music sensation Lainey Wilson has announced her engagement to former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Devlin “Duck” Hodges. Lainey shared a series of photos capturing the moment on Instagram, captioning them “4x4xU forever,” a heartfelt nod to a track from her latest album, “Whirlwind.”
The pair publicly revealed their relationship at the 2023 ACM Awards, though rumors started swirling earlier. The gossip gained traction when Wilson sported a Hodges jersey during Luke Combs’ world tour stop in Pittsburgh. In a candid interview, Wilson shared that they had actually been together for over two years before deciding the time was right to go public.
Known affectionately as “Duck,” Hodges captured fans’ hearts in 2019 when he stepped in for the injured Ben Roethlisberger. He replaced an underperforming Mason Rudolph, garnering support from the Steelers faithful. His unique nickname spurred a wave of memes and merchandise—including popular t-shirts—in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
After his release from the Steelers in 2020, Hodges was picked up by the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. He then played for the Ottawa Redblacks in the Canadian Football League until he hung up his cleats in 2022.
Wilson last visited Pittsburgh during the fall for her “Country’s Cool Again Tour.” Although she’s currently gearing up for her upcoming “Whirlwind Tour,” Pittsburgh isn’t listed in the tour stops. Her album “Whirlwind” was even in the running for Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys, where Wilson joined Jacob Collier to honor the late Quincy Jones.