The great state of Iowa has often been tied to football. Outside of the rivalry and the success stories of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones, the Hawkeye state has given birth to some of the best players in the history of the National Football League.
Headlined by Kurt Warner, Iowa has always had multiple representatives in the world’s top-tier football tournament, although most of them have been hard-working linesmen who won’t hesitate to put their bodies on the line and get the job done, even if it’s not always pretty.
From Davenport to Iowa City, this state just reeks of football tradition, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. With that in mind, we’re going to honor those who proudly represent them in the ultimate tournament, letting you know all about the best athletes from Iowa in the NFL right now:
5. Austin Blythe
Austin Blythe is the perfect embodiment of Iowa football. And while he wasn’t technically an Iowa native (he was born in Kansas City, Missouri), he spent his entire life in Hawkeye state, attending high school in Williamsburg before enrolling at Iowa University.
Blythe is one of the prime centers in the league right now. He was often overlooked as a prospect and was taken late in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft despite being a four-year starter for the Hawkeyes and one of the most prominent blockers in the nation.
Being a finalist for the Rimington Award in his final year in college, it didn’t take long before he also established himself in the National Football League. Thus far, he’s made 75 appearances and 49 starts for the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and now Seattle Seahawks.
4. T.J. Hockenson
While he doesn’t get the same treatment as the likes of Zach Ertz o Tyler Higbee, T.J.Hockenson is also one of the most productive, most efficient, second-tier tight ends in the league right now. He can block as proficiently as he can catch the football and pile up yards after the catch.
Hockenson was born in Cherokee, Iowa, and went to high school in Chariton. Unsurprisingly, he also decided to stay home and attend Iowa University for two full seasons before he made it to the NFL as the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Thus far, Hockenson has spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions, making an immediate impact on their struggling offense. As of Week 5 of the 2022 NFL season, he’s hauled in 179 receptions for 1,940 yards and 15 touchdowns, even though he’s been limited by poor QB play for most of his NFL career.
3. Allen Lazard
Born in Des Moines, Allen Lazard went to high school in Urbandale and was a three-year player for the Iowa State Cyclones, one of the best sports teams in Iowa.
Notably, and despite being a four-star recruit, he went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad before landing a deal with the Green Bay Packers.
Despite not being a highly-touted WR, Lazard quickly established himself in Aaron Rodgers’ passing game, sitting behind Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling but also playing a prominent role in their offense.
So, now that both Adams and Valdes-Scantling are gone, Lazard is expected to lead the Packers’ passing game. Thus far, he’s logged 125 receptions for 1,657 yards and 17 touchdowns over four seasons.
2. Brandon Scherff
Brandon Scherff was born in Denison, Iowa, where he also attended high school before taking his talents to Iowa University. Excelling with the Hawkeyes, he managed to be the fifth-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the then-Washington Redskins (now Commanders).
Scherff spent the first six years of his career with the organization and established himself as one of the best offensive linemen in the game. In those six seasons, the talented guard was selected to five Pro Bowl games, was named to the All-Pro team in 2020, and was also a part of the All-Rookie team.
The 30-year-old is now protecting Trevor Lawrence after joining the Jacksonville Jaguars as a big-name signing for the 2022 season, joining them for three years at $49.5 million. He overcame all odds after being touted as just a three-star recruit, and some scouts thought he’d fare better as an OT rather than a guard. Now, he’s considered a top-100 player in the league.
1. Joe Burrow
And last but not least, we find Joe Shiesty himself: Joe Burrow. Burrow was born in Ames, Iowa, although he attended high school in Ohio before enrolling at Ohio State and later transferring to Louisiana State University.
Burrow wroke havoc at Baton Rouge and had one of the greatest college football seasons in the history of the game, becoming the consensus first-overall pick and looking like one of the best QB prospects in decades.
Thus far, the Cincinnati Bengals star has lived up to the expectations. He led them to the Super Bowl in just his second season and has already thrown for 8,615 yards, 56 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions while completing 68.7% of his passes. Also, he led the league in completion percentage in 2021 and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year.