Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season is in the books, and several former Iowa football players had huge hands in their teams’ performances.
The collection of former Hawkeyes in the NFL continues to grow, with several more being added to rosters this year after many were active last season. While high-end names like Cooper DeJean, George Kittle and Tristan Wirfs dominate the alumni list, several other names Iowa fans will recognize are making significant impacts at the pro level too.
With that, here are three ex-Hawkeyes who stood out in Week 14 of the NFL season.
AJ Epenesa, Buffalo Bills DE
It was a wild snow game for the Buffalo Bills, which pulled out a 39-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Epenesa didn’t mess around getting involved.
The former Iowa defensive star finished with three tackles, one pass defended and an interception. The pick was Epenesa’s second of the season and fourth of his career. He also had two interceptions in 2023.
Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions LB
While it may seem weird to put a defensive guy on here from a game that featured 74 combined points, Campbell continues to show his defensive prowess each time he’s on the field.
The former Iowa linebacker piled up a game-high 12 tackles, six solo, and a sack in the Lions’ 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.
Campbell now has double-digit tackles in three of his last four games.
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings TE
It’s been a tough year for the Vikings offense, with up-and-down play all season long. This week’s performance, though, finished on the strong side.
As part of Minnesota’s 31-0 home win over the Washington Commanders, Hockenson finished with two catches for 12 yards and his third TD of the year. It was the former Iowa tight end’s first end-zone visit since Nov. 2 against the Lions.
Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 3 former Iowa football players who stood out in Week 14 of NFL season
Reporting by Dargan Southard, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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