NFL fans just learning who forgotten quarterback is engaged to after unexpected role in Netflix halftime show
Snoop Dogg’s Christmas Day NFL performance featured plenty of surprises.
The West Coast hip-hop icon had the honor of continuing Netflix’s halftime holiday tradition — which kicked off with Beyonce last year.
Snoop, then, had big shoes to fill.
And he pulled out all the stops for fans who had just watched the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions struggle to a 7-7 first half scoreline.
Forgotten NFL quarterback makes surprise appearance in halftime show
As he peformed on the turf at US Bank Stadium, Snoop was joined by Andrea and Matteo Bocelli, as well as K-pop group HUNTR/X.
But it wasn’t the ‘Demon Hunters’ who stole the show, or even the father-son Bocelli duo.
Instead, it was country star Lainey Wilson who delighted viewers as she appeared on Snoop’s sleigh alongside fiance Devlin Hodges.
Better known to many as ‘Duck’ Hodges, the 29-year-old actually made eight NFL appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers back in 2019.
It’s fair to say fans were shocked to see him return to the field as part of Snoop’s halftime show.
“Did not have Duck Hodges dressed as Santa Claus in a sleigh on my Christmas bingo card,” one wrote on X.
“The Duck Hodges legend continues to grow,” another said.
“Duck Hodges comeback in 2025, gotta be better than some of these QBs this week,” a third concluded.
Even former NFL punter Pat McAfee was impressed.
“This is an epic halftime show. Snoop CRUSHED… Some K Pop. Lainey… Duck Hodges… Couple dudes I don’t know singing some classics perfectly. A LOT of Christmas celebraish and nostalgia,” he said.
Hodges himself also joked about his NFL ‘return’ in a photo shared on Instagram.
“BREAKING NEWS: Just weeks after Philip Rivers gets called back by the NFL to play quarterback… Duck Hodges, gets a call from the NFL to be Santa for the Snoop Dogg and Friends Christmas Day halftime show,” he wrote, captioning a shot of himself and Wilson standing with the rapper.
Who is former NFL QB Duck Hodges?
After signing with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent, Hodges started six games in 2019 when both Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph went down injured.
He had a 3-3 record in his rookie season, throwing for 1,063 yards, five touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Hodges was waived by the Steelers in September 2020, but signed to the practice squad the next day. Unfortunately, he didn’t see the field again in Pittsburgh, and later signed a reserve/future contract with the Los Angeles Rams.
But in August 2021, he was waived by the Rams and just a month later, signed a three-year contract with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League.
He was made their starting QB, but struggled in his debut, and finished the 2021 season having played just four games.
Hodges announced his retirement from professional football in April 2022.
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While he struggled on the field, the signal caller became a bit of a cult hero thanks to his life away from football.
Hodges gained the nickname ‘Duck’ while at Samford, due to his prowess at duck calling.
He won the 2009 Junior World Duck Calling Contest at age 13, and later won the 2018 Alabama State Duck Calling Championship.
His relationship with country music star Wilson was confirmed in 2023, and in February of this year, he announced the pair were engaged.
After riding on Snoop’s sleigh during the Christmas Day halftime show, the couple might well return the favor by inviting the hip-hop icon to their wedding.
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