It has been almost two weeks since former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges popped the question and country music superstar Lainey Wilson said, “Yes!”
It was a move that fans who follow the couple saw coming a ways off. Know what else you can see coming a ways off?
The engagement ring.
Turns out, Hodges had the ring made at Hollie Winter Fine Jewelry in Germantown, Tennessee, and that company shared some pictures of it on Instagram. And, well … folks on the space station can probably see the thing.
It is unlike just about any engagement ring you will ever see, and you can check it out here.
The jeweler didn’t release any details on the makeup of the ring, but as you can see, it kind of speaks for itself.
“We were truly honored to craft something so special for a love that lasts forever!” the jeweler posted on Instagram. “Lainey said yes to Devlin and we couldn’t be more thrilled!! It was a true joy to be a part of their exciting new journey together.”
Just more than a week after fueling speculation that an engagement could brewing, “Duck” popped the question back on Feb. 12, and Wilson shared the news on her Instagram with a photo of she and Hodges in an embrace.
She wrote, “4x4xU forever (heart emoji).”
Fans and followers were quick to respond with love.
“He gave a rock to a rolling stone, and the rolling stone let her heart free!” one person commented. “Congrats to both!”
“Omg!!!!!!!!!!!” another wrote. “I just hollered out loud! Congratulations.”
“CRYIN,” another wrote. “Happy for y’all.”
“Finally!!” another added. “He asked!!! I with you two the very best!!!”
Wilson and Hodges have, mostly, kept their relationship out of the spotlight, but as her star has continued to rise — she is one of the hottest performers in country music — that has become more difficult.
And, last year, Wilson began to open up more about the relationship with Hodges, admitting that she was hoping for marriage. She brought it up in an interview with “Taste of Country Nights” back in August while discussing her song, “Counting Chickens.”
Taste of Country pointed out the lyrics in that one included, “Far as I know, you ain’t bought a diamond/ You ain’t sat my Deddy down and asked if it’s alright / I don’t mean to jump the gun on perfect timing / But if you brought up Vegas I’d be on a plane tonight.”
The article posed the question of whether Wilson was putting Hodges on blast, but she said he loved the song because “at the end of the song I say, ‘one chicken, two chickens, three chickens — oh shoot, I think that’s a duck … that’s just for him.’”
Per Taste of Country, the former Pittsburgh passer was “flattered” by the song.
As for marriage, though?
“I guess I’m going to have to propose to his (expletive), because he ain’t proposed to me,” Wilson said at the time.
Wilson said then she believed that commitment would likely just need to come at the right time.
“I think it needs to be during a season of our life where we really have the time to enjoy it,” she told Taste of Country. “Right now it would be like, ‘Oh shoot, I’m engaged. OK, onto the next thing.
“I just want to be able to really soak it in.”
Fast forward to this year, and Wilson’s participation at the Grammy awards. She shared a photo to Instagram showing off her fit for the show, and wrote, “Ponying up for Grammy Week.”
“Duck” chimed in, commenting, “Gosh dang (heart emoji) (flame emoji),” This is what you look like in white?!”
Now, that seems innocent enough, but social media followers who have been dialed-in on this relationship took that ball and ran with it. Several simply responded with posts suggesting they think his comment could be teasing the fact that a date is already planned and the pair are engaged.
It seems they were on to something.
Wilson hinted at her willingness to lock down “Duck” for the long-term before, too, and the topic was brought up again by Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie Xo, during a recent interview.
Per Taste of Country, Bunnie told Lainey she was “manifesting” a wedding for the two in 2025.
“No pressure, brother!” Wilson said, while looking into the camera.
And now, it is done.
Wilson previously said they kicked their romance off when Hodges was still with the Steelers.
“We met at a time where he was still playing with them, but then it all changed,” she said.“So it was weird. It was like his life was changing as my life was changing and we were going different directions….”
Wilson told Lowe their relationship was a “whirlwind.”
Hodges went undrafted out of Samford in 2019 and signed with the Steelers as a free agent. He was with the team through 2020, making several starts. He signed with the Rams in 2021 and also played with the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Redblacks in 2021 before calling it a career.
He finished his time in the NFL with 1,063 passing yards to go with five touchdowns and eight interceptions.