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Hawkeyes in the NFL: Regular Season Top Performers

On3 imageby:Kyle Huesmann•01/07/25•

HuesmannKyle

San Francisco tight end George Kittle runs after catching a pass against the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images)
San Francisco tight end George Kittle runs after catching a pass against the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images)

The NFL regular season has concluded, and the playoffs are set. That means another year of ‘Hawkeyes in the NFL’ is in the books, but not quite complete, as 21 former Hawkeyes will continue their season into the playoffs. Of the 14 teams that made the NFL playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs are the only team without an Iowa player, while 11 of the 14 teams have at least one former Hawkeye on their active roster. Before the playoffs begin next weekend, let’s take a look at the top performances from former Hawkeyes during the 2024-25 NFL season.

Honorable Mention Performers

OT Tristan Wirfs – 82.8 overall grade (14th-best in the NFL), 64.5 run block (81st), 93.7 pass block (1st), 2025 Pro Bowl selection

OT Alaric Jackson – 78.3 overall grade (17th-best tackle), 75.9 run block (17th), 79.5 (20th)

C Tyler Linderbaum – 78.1 (3rd-best center), 82.5 run block (3rd), 65.7 pass block (11th), 2025 Pro Bowl selection

DE AJ Epenesa – 39 tkls, 8 tfls, 6.0 sks, 21 QB pressures, 11 QB hurries

DE Anthony Nelson – 40 tkls, 6 tfls, 4.0 sks, 32 QB pressures, 13 QB hurries

DB Dane Belton – 56 tkls, 1 sk, 6 passes defended, 1 INT

TE Noah Fant – 48 rec, 500 yds, 1 TD

TE TJ Hockenson – 41 rec, 455 yds, 0 TD (10 games)

1. San Francisco TE George Kittle

Congratulations to George Kittle. He earns the #1 spot on this list after putting together his best season since 2019. Despite missing two games, Kittle finished the season with 78 receptions, his most since 2019, for 1,106 yards (14.2 ypr), 50 first downs and eight touchdowns. He totaled eight games with at least six receptions and four games with 100+ yards, including a season-high 151 yards against the Bears in week 14. Amongst all tight ends, Kittle finished second in touchdowns, third in receiving yards, fourth in first downs and fifth in receptions. For the sixth time in his career, George was selected to represent the NFC at the Pro Bowl. Despite Kittle’s efforts, the 49ers finished the season with a surprising 6-11 record.

2. Detroit LB Jack Campbell

Jack Campbell did not make too many appearances in my weekly articles because, right or wrong, averaging 7.7 tackles per game is a pretty thankless job. That being said, he is being honored here for his accomplishments in just his second year in the NFL. Campbell led the Lions defense in tackles, totaling 131 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 5 passes defended. He finished the regular season ranked 19th in the league in tackles, and had three games with 10+ tackles, including a season-high 13 tackles against Green Bay in week 9. The Lions earned the top seed in the NFC and are the favorite to make the Super Bowl for the first time since 1957 when they won the NFL Championship.

3. Philadelphia CB Cooper DeJean

When Cooper DeJean fell out of the first round of the NFL Draft and was selected by Philadelphia with the 40th pick, many called it a steal for the Eagles. Time will tell if that is the case, but the early returns suggest that he should have gone much higher. DeJean appeared in 16 games, starting nine of them, totaling 51 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and six passes defended. Per Pro Football Focus, Cooper’s 82.7 overall grade ranked third best amongst all NFL corners and 21st-best amongst all NFL defenders. His 79.3 coverage grade ranked sixth best amongst all corners. The Eagles earned the second seed in the NFC and will host the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round of the playoffs.

4. Detroit TE Sam LaPorta

It wasn’t quite the season that Sam LaPorta had as a rookie, but he’s still a big reason why the Lions are in the position they are in. In his second season with Detroit, LaPorta caught 60 passes for 726 yards (12.1 ypr), 39 first downs and seven touchdowns. He totaled four games with six or more receptions, including a season-best seven catches for 111 yards against Buffalo in week 15. LaPorta became the first tight end in NFL history to log at least 600 yards and six touchdowns their first two seasons, while his 146 receptions are the most by an NFL tight end through their first two seasons. The Lions earned the top seed in the NFC and are the favorite to make the Super Bowl for the first time since 1957 when they won the NFL Championship.

5. Tennessee DB Amani Hooker

One of Amani Hooker’s most memorable plays at Iowa was his pick-six against #4 Ohio State in 2017 on the first play of the Hawkeyes 55-24 upset win. This season for the Titans, Hooker channeled those same ball hawking skills, recording a career-best five interceptions, which was good enough for sixth-most in the NFL. Amani finished the season fourth on Tennessee in tackles, totaling 71 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 9 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles over 14 games. His best game came in week 9 against New England when he recorded five tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended. The Titans finished the season with a 3-14 record.

6. Carolina LB Josey Jewell

Outside of his 2021 season-ending injury season, ‘The Outlaw’ Josey Jewell has been incredibly consistent over the last half-decade, totaling 111.5 tackles per season. This season, in 12 games for the Panthers, Jewell was second on the team with 97 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception. He averaged 8.08 tackles per game and registered five games with 10+ tackles, including a season-high 11 tackles in week 2 against the Chargers. Jewell also recorded three straight games with ten tackles from week 13-15. The Panthers finished the season with a 5-12 record.

7. Chicago P Tory Taylor

Unfortunately for Bears fans, Caleb Williams “you aren’t going to be punting much” text to Tory Taylor did not come to fruition. Fortunately for Iowa fans, that meant lots of TV time for the former Hawkeye punter. Taylor was second in the NFL in punts, finishing with 82 punts for 3,911 yards (47.7 AVG), including 34 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and just a 4.9% touchback rate. He recorded a 60+ yard punt in seven games and had five games with a 50.0+ yard average. In week 6, Tory broke the Bears franchise record for highest punt average in a game with multiple punts (61.9), surpassing Maury Buford, who averaged 57.5 yards per punt in a game back in 1985. Chicago finished the season with a 5-12 record.

8. Dallas DE Chauncey Golston

Several defensive players were in the running for the #8 spot on the list, but it goes to Dallas defensive end Chauncey Golston. In his fourth year in the league, Golston put together a career-best season, finishing with a career-high 56 tackles, 7.0 sacks, 5.0 tackles for loss, five passes defended and one interception. His 37 quarterback pressures were third-most on the team, while his seven sacks were tied for second-most. Golston had four games with at least four quarterback pressures.

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