Fresh out of Highland high school in Illinois, Sam LaPorta was still looking to his next steps. With barely any offers, he attended the camps at the University of Iowa. But left with a “We’ll keep a tab on you” response. With the 2018 national signing day approaching in December, the unpopular TE, was preparing to spend the next four years at Bowling Green. In some parallel universe, that’s probably his fate. But not here. With Kirk Ferentz himself making a call to LaPorta, the TE, program’s one of the last commits for the class of 2019, became a Hawkeye. Interestingly, he also found a person who would eventually become his biggest supporter– Callie Dellinger.

Cheerleader for the Hawkeyes at the time and Big Ten Network contributor, Dellinger was never far from action. Over the years, we have seen Dellinger, “always putting up with me and laughing at my bad jokes,” as LaPorta put it. In fact, one of his biggest moments came with Dellinger on his side. During the 2023 NFL Drafts LaPorta stood in front of his hometown family to announce that the Detroit Lions selected him as the 34th pick. Right beside him, hugging the future NFLer was Callie.

Less than a year later, the two announced their quiet beach engagement with the sunset and crashing waves as their backdrop on February 23, 2024. So, to say, they might have never met if LaPorta did choose Bowling Green, perfectly defining the Matthew 19:6 post caption from their engagement- “What God has joined together let no one separate.” Now, after 6 years of companionship, they have taken their journey to the next level; with the sounds of wedding bells.

Sam LaPorta has officially stepped into a new role—husband. The Detroit Lions’ rising tight end tied the knot with Dellinger in what appeared to be a secret ceremony, revealed only through a heartfelt combined Instagram post from the bride and the groom. With fresh flowers and lit candles adorning the setup in front of them, the two sat on a bench, kissing, as their life as a married couple kick starts. Her caption read, “A house built on rock.” Interestingly, Callie has also tweaked her Instagram handle to @callahanlaporta from @callahandellinger.

Among those who celebrated the moment was Christen Harper Goff, wife of Lions quarterback Jared Goff. She sent her congratulations publicly — adding a touch of teammate camaraderie to the celebration. “So beautiful! Congratulations 🤍” she replied to the post, a simple message filled with affection.

The couple has kept much of their relationship private over the years. Only sharing a glimpse or two of the milestones they have celebrated together. So this quiet wedding reveal, coming directly from them, make this all the more meaningful to his fans.

For LaPorta, it’s been a whirlwind year—following up a breakout rookie season in Detroit with a 15-win high in the regular season, to a heartbreaking playoff loss to Washington, to now beginning this new chapter off the field. One thing’s certain: the foundation, as Callie clearly put it, is solid.

From Iowa City to forever

La Porta and Dellinger exchanged their rings back in February 2024. “What God has joined together let no one separate,” the couple mentioned, announcing their engagement after dating for many years. They highlighted Matthew 19:6, a verse that perfectly captures the irreplaceable bond they have created by their mutual tenacity and devotion.

However, it is still not clear when the couple started dating each other. But it was back in December 2019 when first time the couple’s relationship first sparked public interest. Dellinger uploaded a picture featuring them together. Since then, she has been with him at every step of his way. Undoubtedly, her support caught attention during his NFL playoffs. She never fails to share glimpses of game day on social media, demonstrating her deep love and affection with him.

Impressively, Dellinger’s trajectory was similar to LaPorta’s, which was marked by unwavering dedication and hard effort, from Iowa City to the professional ranks. She received a degree in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Iowa while her fiancé was occupied catching interceptions. On the other hand, Callie Dellinger always matches her fiancé’s competitive nature.

Following her graduation, she has made her name as a highly popular spin instructor at CycleBar, encouraging and motivating people to push themselves beyond their comfort zones, just as she did when navigating the Iowa City waters. From their humble start as undergraduate athletes to their quiet church wedding, their story serves as a reminder that romance is about having someone who will support you through good times and bad.