Over the last 10 years, The University of Iowa has become known as “tight end university”. They have become the go-to college for athletes wanting to continue their football careers in the National Football League.
There are currently 39 former Iowa football players active in the NFL. George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Luke Lachey, Sam LaPorta, Erick All Jr, and Noah Fant are the six tight ends currently on NFL rosters.
Having 39 players on NFL rosters is no easy feat. In contrast, some of Iowa’s rivals had noticeably fewer, with Nebraska only having 17 and Iowa State only having 21.
One reason Iowa has had such success at the next level is because of the coaching. The current head coach at Iowa, Kirk Ferentz, has been the head coach for 27 years.
Ferentz had previously been an assistant head coach at the Baltimore Ravens and offensive line coach at Iowa before being hand-picked by previous Iowa head coach Hayden Fry to lead the Hawkeyes.
His coaching style emphasizes mastering the fundamentals, which gives his players the foundation to succeed at the next level.
Westview athletic director Chris Fant is the brother to Cincinatti Bengals tight end Noah Fant.
“They treat them like young men, and they develop them to be pro ready athletes if they have the ability to do so,” Chris said.
Not only are Iowa athletes equipped to go to the NFL, but they show up and show out. Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Cooper DeJean was drafted in 2024 and made it all the way to the Super Bowl in his rookie year. In the Super Bowl, DeJean had a pick six that helped seal the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Although Iowa isn’t known for their flashy plays or pretty wins, it is well known that going to Iowa will leave you prepared for whatever you have coming next. Chris said that when his brother was being recruited, he knew that Iowa was the place for him.
“You get a great education, but it was where he [Noah Fant] could get developed to live out his dream,” Chris Fant said.
