Steelers jolt Chargers for win in undrafted rookie QB Devlin Hodges’ first start

CARSON, Calif. — Devlin Hodges, a champion duck caller and emergency Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback, arrived and left Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers wearing a t-shirt that said it all.

“I’M THE BOSS, CALIFORNIA,” it read, with the lettering circled around a determined-looking duck

Hodges, whose nickname is Duck, said he bought the t-shirt Saturday on the famous Venice boardwalk, and it was fitting attire Sunday night.

In his debut as a starter, the undrafted rookie threw for 132 yards and one touchdown on 15-of-20 passing with one interception. Not by coincidence, the Steelers beat the Chargers, 24-17, at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“It was awesome,’’ Hodges said. “That was something that I’ve dreamed about. That’s something that I’ve always believed that could happen.’’

Hodges’ self belief is at least as strong than his throwing arm and perhaps the reason he wore that “I’M THE BOSS, CALIFORNIA’’ t-shirt to the game.

“People seemed to love it,’’ he said with a grin, and Steelers fans sure loved what they saw as Pittsburgh improved to 2-4 thanks in part to their new starting quarterback.

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Devlin Hodges threw for 132 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ win Sunday night. (Photo: Jake Roth, USA TODAY Sports)

At 6-foot-1, Hodges is not the next Ben Roethlisberger, who has led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins and would be starting if he hadn’t suffered a season-ending elbow injury during the second game of the season. It’s not even certain he will replace Mason Rudolph, the Steelers’ backup quarterback, who was unavailable Sunday because he suffered a concussion against the Baltimore Ravens last week.

“I’m not getting into that,’’ Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said when asked who will be the starter when Rudolph is healthy.

Truth is, there was no reason to rush ahead instead of savoring Hodges’ story. For starters, this is a guy from Alabama who might be a better duck caller than a signal caller.

He won 2009 Junior World Duck Calling Contest at 13 and won the 2018 Alabama State Duck Calling Championship.

Overlooked by the top major college football programs, he headed to Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. and proved to be more than a champion duck caller. He surpassed Steve McNair as the all-time leading passer among FCS schools with 14,584 yards, and he also won the 2018 Walter Payton Award, the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.

Picked up by the Steelers after the 2019 draft, Hodges played well in the preseason but was waived after the team’s last exhibition game. He was signed to the practice squad 10 days later, and after Roethlisberger’s season-ending injury joined the 53-man roster.

Then, after Rudolph’s concussion, Hodges found himself in the starting lineup Sunday night.

“It’s been a bumpy ride, especially the last couple of months,’’ he said. “It’s been wild to think about. But I’ve always had belief in myself and I’ve always had people behind.’’

People like his mom and dad, who flew to Southern California to be at the game. And then on there was Devin Bush, the Steelers linebacker who staked Pittsburgh to a 7-0 lead when he returned a fumble nine yards for a touchdown. And James Conner, the Steelers running back who had 41 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and 78 yards and another touchdown on seven receptions.

Hodges hooked up with Conner on a 26-yard touchdown pass that gave the Steelers a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.

Too easy ?@DevlinHodges10 ➡️ @JamesConner_pic.twitter.com/2EJxg7dQaf

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 14, 2019

“He just controlled the game,’’ Conner said.

With retired NFL quarterback Michael Vick among those watching from the press box, Hodges completed 8-of-9 passes for 70 yards in the first half.

“He’s doing enough to win,” Vick said.

And that’s exactly what Hodges did — win.

“We have a lot of confidence in him,’’ Tomlin said. “We haven’t been bashful about that. He has a lot of confidence in himself. I think that’s what makes people gravitate to him.’’

But Tomlin insisted on a dose of reality.

“We’re not getting overly excited,’’ he said. “This is a guy that played good tonight, with very limited experience. We’re thankful to get a win and hopefully it’ll be a good experience for him and us, collectively, as we move forward.’’

Moving forward, it’s unsure where this daffy Duck story goes. But as Hodges moved from the locker room to the interview room and then on to an area where his parents waited, he carried a game ball. He said game balls also were awarded to Conner and cornerback Artie Burns.

“The game ball is awesome’’ Hodges said. “But I couldn’t have done it without the guys. The win means a lot more than the game ball.’’

But for a night he had it all — a win, a game ball and the adoration of Steeler Nation.

Duck had answered the call.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Josh Peter on Twitter @joshlpeter11.

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