Every kid who’s ever put on a pair of pads dreams about one day hearing their name called in the NFL Draft.
They think about being surrounded by family and friends when their phone rings, sharing the moment with everyone who helped get them to that point. That was the original plan for former Iowa return specialist Kaden Wetjen on Saturday. Fate had a different idea.
Many draft experts predicted Wetjen to be a 6th or 7th round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Those rounds would take place in the middle of the afternoon on Saturday. With some perceived time to kill before hearing his name called, Wetjen decided to hit the golf course to help pass the time. That’s when his phone rang.
Wetjen answered in the middle of a hole, soon figuring out it was the call he’d been waiting for his whole life. The Pittsburgh Steelers were on the other line, telling Wetjen they were selecting him with their 4th-round pick. Wetjen’s reaction was priceless.
It’s moments like these that make the NFL draft so special. All of these players are achieving a lifelong dream, and most of them have a unique story to tell. Seeing their reactions to getting that all-important call, whether it’s in-person at the draft itself or at a golf course, is always neat.
This specific moment with Wetjen at the golf course is going to be one of the all-time great NFL draft moments. And it’s one that Wetjen and his family will never forget.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Watch Kaden Wetjen’s unforgettable NFL draft Steelers phone call
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

