KhaDarel Hodge Bio
KhaDarel Jamal Hodge is an American professional football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Born on January 3, 1995, in D’Lo, Mississippi, he entered the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams. Across stops with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons, Hodge has built his reputation on special teams play and timely offensive contributions. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024 as the NFC’s special teams representative.
Listed at 188 centimeters and 95 kilograms, Hodge combines the frame of a possession receiver with the twitchy acceleration developed from his high school days as a dual-threat quarterback. He is the son of Michelle Hodge, who raised him alongside three siblings in rural Mississippi.
Early Life and Background
KhaDarel Jamal Hodge was born in the small community of D’Lo, Mississippi, and raised there by his single mother, Michelle Hodge, along with three siblings. His grandfather, a preacher, was a steady presence in his upbringing and helped anchor the family during his formative years. The tight-knit environment of D’Lo shaped his competitive drive and his understanding of responsibility at a young age.
Hodge attended Mendenhall High School, where he became the starting quarterback during his sophomore season. Across his junior and senior years, he threw for more than 3,000 passing yards and added over 2,000 rushing yards, scoring 68 total touchdowns. He was named second-team All-State as a senior, drawing attention from college recruiters despite playing at a small school.
Path to American Football
Hodge began his college career as a quarterback at Alcorn State, where he spent his first year and redshirted while adjusting to the college level. Looking for a clearer path to the field, he transferred to Hinds Community College, where the coaching staff moved him to wide receiver. The position change proved decisive, unlocking the athletic profile that had defined his high school production.
After one season at Hinds, Hodge transferred to Prairie View A&M, where he spent three seasons with the Panthers. He finished his Prairie View A&M career with 104 receptions for 1,797 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and Black College All-America honors as a senior, when he caught 48 passes for 844 yards and 12 touchdowns. The production confirmed his readiness for the NFL level, even though he went undrafted in 2018.
KhaDarel Hodge Career
Early Career (2018)
Hodge signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on July 24, 2018, after participating in a tryout. He was released at the end of training camp and quickly signed to the team’s practice squad the next day. Less than three weeks later, he was promoted to the active roster on September 19.
As a rookie, Hodge played in 14 regular season games, catching two passes for 17 yards and contributing five special teams tackles. He appeared in three postseason games, including Super Bowl LIII, providing depth on special teams while learning the Rams’ system. He signed an exclusive rights contract with the Rams in March 2019 but was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.
Cleveland Browns Era (2019-2021)
The Cleveland Browns claimed Hodge off waivers on September 1, 2019, and he played in all 16 games that season. He caught four passes for 76 yards and led the team with 13 special teams tackles, an early sign of his value on coverage units. He was tendered by the Browns for the 2020 season and signed the one-year tender in April 2020.
Injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic complicated his 2020 campaign, as he was placed on injured reserve in October and later shuttled on and off the reserve/COVID-19 list in December and January. Despite the interruptions, he finished the year with 11 receptions for 180 yards on 17 targets across nine games. The Browns placed a restricted free agent tender on Hodge in March 2021, which he signed in May, before waiving him on August 31, 2021.
Detroit Lions Era (2021)
Hodge was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2021, reuniting him with a chance to compete for a roster spot late in the season. His tenure in Detroit was brief, and he moved on before the start of the 2022 league year.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2022-Present)
On March 25, 2022, Hodge signed with the Atlanta Falcons and immediately became a core special teams player. In his first Atlanta season, he played all 17 games and recorded 13 receptions for 202 yards and one touchdown, giving the Falcons a reliable presence on multiple units. He re-signed with Atlanta on a one-year contract on April 11, 2023, and again appeared in all 17 games, catching 14 passes for 232 yards.
Hodge re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year deal on March 14, 2024, and produced one of the most memorable stretches of his career. In Week 5 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught a 45-yard game-winning touchdown in a 36-30 overtime victory. In a Week 15 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, he blocked a punt and tipped another, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He played all 17 games, finishing with seven receptions for 131 yards and one touchdown, and was named the NFC special teams representative for the Pro Bowl, the first selection of his career.
On March 17, 2025, Hodge re-signed with Atlanta on a two-year, $6 million contract, locking in his place on the roster through 2026. The deal reflected his growth into one of the Falcons’ most trusted special teams contributors and a steady veteran presence in the receiver room.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hodge’s game is built on acceleration, body control, and reliable hands, traits he developed after switching from quarterback in college. He excels on short and intermediate routes, using sharp breaks to create separation, and his background as a runner shows up after the catch. On special teams, his willingness to block punts and finish tackles makes him a disruptive force on coverage units.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hodge’s first career reception came on October 7, 2018, a 14-yard catch against the Seattle Seahawks, and his rookie year included a trip to Super Bowl LIII with the Rams. His game-winning 45-yard touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024 stands as his signature offensive moment. He added NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors later that season before being named to his first Pro Bowl.
KhaDarel Hodge Career Wins
KhaDarel Jamal Hodge has yet to record an NFL regular-season win listed as a starting statistic in the verified record, but his impact shows up in defining moments and postseason appearances. His rookie year with the Los Angeles Rams included a run to Super Bowl LIII, and his overtime game-winning touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024 is among the most consequential catches of his career. He has paired those highlights with steady special teams production that has earned league-wide recognition.
Atlanta Falcons Highlights
Hodge has played all 17 games in each of his three full seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 2022 through 2024, a streak of availability that has made him a fixture on coverage units. His 45-yard overtime touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5 of the 2024 season remains a defining highlight. The Pro Bowl selection at the end of that same season cemented his standing as one of the league’s top special teams players.
Other Wins and Performances
Before Atlanta, Hodge led the Cleveland Browns with 13 special teams tackles in 2019 and contributed on coverage units throughout his time in Cleveland. His rookie postseason work with the Rams, including three games and a Super Bowl appearance, gave him early exposure to championship football.
KhaDarel Hodge Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
American football runs through KhaDarel Jamal Hodge’s family rather than motorsport, but the family ties that shaped his career are central to his story. He was raised by his single mother, Michelle Hodge, alongside three siblings, with his grandfather, a preacher, providing additional guidance during his childhood in D’Lo, Mississippi.
Personal Life
Hodge grew up in D’Lo, Mississippi, and credits his family for instilling the discipline that has carried him through a career that began as an undrafted free agent. He keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye, focusing publicly on his preparation and his role with the Atlanta Falcons.
2025 Season Performance
KhaDarel Jamal Hodge enters the 2025 season on the heels of his first Pro Bowl selection and a new two-year, $6 million contract signed on March 17, 2025. The agreement underscores the Atlanta Falcons’ confidence in his value as a special teams anchor and rotational receiver. With his role secure through 2026, Hodge can focus on producing the kind of timely plays that defined his 2024 campaign.
His primary mandate remains the same: deliver on coverage units while converting the offensive chances that come his way. The overtime game-winning touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed what he can do when targeted in critical moments, and the Falcons will look for similar contributions as the season unfolds. Continued health and another full 17-game workload would further cement his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable special teams players.
Beyond the box score, Hodge’s steady presence in the locker room and on practice fields gives Atlanta a veteran bridge for younger receivers and special teamers. If he can replicate the blocked-punt impact and red-zone efficiency of 2024, another Pro Bowl nod is well within reach. The 2025 season represents both a reward for past consistency and a platform to push his career to new heights.