The pipeline from Iowa City to the pros remains as strong as ever for the 2026 NFL season kickoff. A whopping 33 former Iowa Hawkeyes have cemented their spots across 20 different NFL teams on active 53-man rosters or injured reserve lists. This year’s group boasts an incredible influx of youth, featuring 9 rookies who survived final roster cuts to make their professional debuts in Week 1.
Leading the charge as the ultimate Hawkeye havens are the black & gold Pittsburgh Steelers with 4 players on their active/IR roster, closely followed by the Packers with 3 players. Seven additional teams have 2 former Hawkeyes on their rosters.
Here is the comprehensive team-by-team listing for the 2026 season, including Week 1 matchups. All times are Central Time (CT):
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Los Angeles Chargers (Sunday, Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Casey Kreiter #59 - Long Snapper (LS)
* Defense
* Karson Sharar #53 - Inside Linebacker (ILB) (Rookie)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Defense
* Jay Higgins #44 - Inside Linebacker (ILB)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Logan Jones #60 - Center (C) (Rookie)
* Special Teams / Specialists
* Tory Taylor #19 - Punter (P)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Erick All Jr. #83 - Tight End (TE)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Kansas City Chiefs (Monday, Sept. 14, 7:15 p.m. CT)
* Defense
* Riley Moss #21 - Cornerback (CB)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. New Orleans Saints (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Sam LaPorta #87 - Tight End (TE)
* Defense
* Jack Campbell #46 - Linebacker (LB)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Kaleb Johnson #28 - Running Back (RB) (Rookie)
* Defense
* Lukas Van Ness #90 - Defensive End / Edge (DE)
* Nick Niemann #56 - Linebacker (LB)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia (Thursday, Sept. 10, 7:35 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Alaric Jackson #77 - Offensive Tackle (OT)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* James Daniels #78 - Offensive Guard (OG) _(Injured Reserve)_
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* T.J. Hockenson #87 - Tight End (TE)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, Sept. 13, 7:20 p.m. CT)
* Defense
* Chauncey Golston #99 - Defensive End (DE)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Defense
* Dane Belton #24 - Safety (S)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Detroit Lions (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Noah Fant #87 - Tight End (TE)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. Washington Commanders (Sunday, Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m. CT)
* Defense
* Cooper DeJean #33 - Cornerback (CB)
* A.J. Epenesa #92 - Outside Linebacker / Edge (OLB)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Gennings Dunker #68 - Offensive Guard (OG) (Rookie)
* Kaden Wetjen #17 - Wide Receiver / Return Specialist (WR) (Rookie)
* Defense
* Yahya Black #96 - Defensive Tackle / End (DT/DE) (Rookie)
* Logan Lee #91 - Defensive Lineman (DL) _(Injured Reserve)_
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Thursday, Sept. 10, 7:35 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Connor Colby #64 - Offensive Guard (OG) (Rookie)
* George Kittle #85 - Tight End (TE)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. New England Patriots (Wednesday, Sept. 09, 7:20 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Beau Stephens #71 - Offensive Guard (OG) (Rookie)
* Mason Richman #79 - Offensive Lineman (OL) _(Injured Reserve)_
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Offense
* Tristan Wirfs #78 - Offensive Tackle (OT)
* Defense
* Anthony Nelson #98 - Outside Linebacker / Edge (OLB)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ vs. New York Jets (Sunday, Sept. 13, 12:00 p.m. CT)
* Defense
* Amani Hooker #37 - Safety (S)
_Week 1 Matchup:_ at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, Sept. 13, 3:25 p.m. CT)
* Special Teams / Specialists
* Drew Stevens #10 - Kicker (K) (Rookie)
When Sundays roll around, all eyes naturally gravitate toward the tight end position, where George Kittle remains an elite, bruising TE for the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit’s Sam LaPorta continues his meteoric rise as one of the game’s most dynamic red-zone weapons. T J. Hockenson made an immediate impact when he joined the Vikings in 2022, and Noah Fant moved to the Saints this spring.
On the offensive line, Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs continues to set the gold standard for pass protection, dominating opposing edge rushers week in and week out. Kaleb Johnson gets a fresh start with the Packers where head coach Matt LaFleur utilizes an outside-zone running scheme which perfectly aligns with Johnson’s strengths.
Defensively, the impact is just as pronounced. Linebacker Jack Campbell serves as the hard-hitting, high-IQ heart of the Detroit Lions’ defense, while cornerbacks Riley Moss in Denver and rookie sensation Cooper DeJean in Philadelphia have transformed their respective secondary units into no-fly zones.
On special teams, Punter Tory Taylor routinely flips the field for the Chicago Bears, proving that Iowa’s mastery of complementary football transitions flawlessly to the NFL. Joining him as an absolute wildcard to watch is rookie return specialist Kaden Wetjen in Pittsburgh, whose explosive, game-breaking speed gives the Steelers an instant threat to take it to the house every time he fields a kickoff or punt. And finally, rookie Drew Stevens, kicker for the Commanders, who was an Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) who made the cut to their roster.
See More: