By Moses Joshua 
Former Hawkeye teammates share mutual respect as LaPorta celebrates major milestone
From the Gridiron to “I Do”
As Detroit Lions star tight end Sam LaPorta gears up for a pivotal third NFL season, his offseason was marked not only by preparation—but by a moment of personal joy. Over the weekend, the 24-year-old tied the knot with his longtime partner, Callahan Dellinger, in a ceremony they commemorated with a touching Instagram post on Sunday.
“A house built on rock. 6/14/25,” the couple captioned the announcement, radiating both spiritual symbolism and enduring love.
While fans and teammates flooded the post with congratulations, one particular message stood out—coming from a fellow NFL standout and Iowa Hawkeyes legend: George Kittle.
“Congrats!!” Kittle commented, offering a simple but sincere message of support for his fellow Hawkeye-turned-NFL-star.
Tight End Brotherhood Runs Deep
Though they never played together at Iowa, the bond between Kittle and LaPorta has long been evident. Both emerged from the University of Iowa’s proud tradition of developing elite tight end talent—and Kittle has been one of LaPorta’s loudest supporters since Day 1.
Following LaPorta’s selection by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Kittle had high praise for the younger tight end:
“LaPorta is going to be fantastic. I think LaPorta’s the best tight end in the draft class. I think the Lions got a complete steal,” Kittle said at the time. “I like the other tight ends too, but I spent two weeks training with Sam LaPorta, and the way he moves — oh yeah, he’s got the dog in him. He’s kind of quirky, he’s kind of goofy, too. He’s going to fit in well.”
LaPorta quickly lived up to the hype, compiling 146 receptions, 1,615 yards, and 17 touchdowns over his first two NFL seasons. With such production early in his career, the young tight end has already carved out a reputation as one of the league’s rising stars.
Looking Ahead: A New Season, A New Chapter
While the wedding may have marked a personal milestone, LaPorta remains laser-focused on his professional goals. The Lions—fresh off two strong seasons and eyeing a Super Bowl run—will open their 2025 campaign against division rival Green Bay Packers on September 7.
With a new season ahead and a new life chapter beginning, Sam LaPorta appears ready to take both head-on. And with mentors like George Kittle in his corner, he’s not facing either journey alone.