With the NFL’s regular season officially kicking off on Sunday, numerous former Iowa football players started their professional season.
The Hawkeye football NFL pipeline is legit, with several players getting drafted or signed to NFL rosters each offseason. And these players have gone on to become good starters and, in some cases, superstars in the league. That’s a credit to Kirk Ferentz and the developmental program at Iowa.
And it didn’t take long for some former Hawkeyes to make big plays. Whether it was finding the end zone or finding the quarterback, here’s a look at how some of those big plays made by former Hawkeyes in Week 1 of the NFL season.
George Kittle opens his 2025 touchdown account
It didn’t take long for the former Hawkeye tight end and superstar San Francisco 49er George Kittle to find the end zone. A five-year completion from quarterback Brock Purdy to Kittle on 3rd and goal late in the first quarter opened up the scoring for the 49ers in 2025. Kittle would finish the game with four receptions for 25 yards and that touchdown in the 49ers’ 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks. But it wasn’t all positive.
Kittle left the game early with a hamstring injury and didn’t return. And the team announced on Tuesday that it was placing Kittle on injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss at least the next four games. It’s unfortunate news for Kittle following a strong start to the season, but he’ll hopefully be back by the midseason point at the latest.
Noah Fant scores first touchdown with new team
Speaking of former Iowa tight ends finding the end zone in Week 1, Noah Fant endeared himself to his new team by scoring a touchdown in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 17-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. Fant was cut by the Seahawks earlier this offseason and signed a deal with the Bengals, teaming up with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and the rest of that explosive offense. And the move has already paid dividends.
Fant finished the game with four receptions for 26 yards and that touchdown. He’ll split reps with Mike Gesicki in the tight end room for the Bengals, but looks poised to have a strong 2025 season.
Lukas Van Ness makes an impact
It had been a difficult first few seasons in Green Bay for former Iowa defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness. He was a first-round pick, but had struggled to live up to those expectations. Things looked different on Sunday, though. Van Ness was dominant in the Green Bay Packers’ 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions, amassing four tackles, one tackle for loss, and a half sack. He also had four total pressures, matching his total from the first seven games of last season in just one game.
The Packers have to be thrilled that Van Ness looks like a breakout candidate in 2025. With the addition of Micah Parsons, that pass rush could be one of the best in the entire NFL. And Van Ness will be a big part of that.
Other notable performances
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football in the NFL: Week 1 recap
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
