With Super Bowl LVI approaching, Iowa Hawkeyes Super Bowl history is only getting richer. In fact, there have been multiple former Hawkeyes on the winning teams’ rosters for three years in a row.
The story of Iowa players winning the big game is as old as the Super Bowl itself. Twenty-four such players claimed a title in 17 different Super Bowls. This isn’t a list of every Hawkeye to play in a Super Bowl. Rather, it’s a compilation of each Iowa player with a Super Bowl ring.
Winning side of Hawkeyes Super Bowl history
The only Iowa player to be part of multiple Super Bowl-winning teams is also the first Hawkeye to win one. Defensive back Bob Jeter was part of the first two Super Bowl victors, making him the start of the story in chronological order.
| Super Bowl number(s) | Player name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| I and II | Bob Jeter | Green Bay Packers |
| IV | Ed Podolak | Kansas City Chiefs |
| VI | John Niland | Dallas Cowboys |
| VIII | Thomas Smith | Miami Dolphins |
| XVI | John Harty | San Francisco 49ers |
| XX | Mark Bortz | Chicago Bears |
| XX | Jay Hilgenberg | Chicago Bears |
| XXV | Bob Kratch | New York Giants |
| XXIX | Merton Hanks | San Francisco 49ers |
| XXXIX | Kevin Kasper | New England Patriots |
| XLI | Dallas Clark | Indianapolis Colts |
| XLI | Bob Sanders | Indianapolis Colts |
| XLV | Bryan Bulaga | Green Bay Packers |
| XLVI | Tyler Sash | New York Giants |
| XLVII | Sean Considine | Baltimore Ravens |
| XLVII | Marshal Yanda | Baltimore Ravens |
| LIII | Adrian Clayborn | New England Patriots |
| LIII | Cole Croston | New England Patriots |
| LIII | James Ferentz | New England Patriots |
| LIV | Anthony Hitchens | Kansas City Chiefs |
| LIV | Ben Niemann | Kansas City Chiefs |
| LV | Anthony Nelson | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| LV | Tristan Wirfs | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Iowa fans might want to consider Patriots fandom
Through Super Bowl LV, no other NFL franchise has made more Super Bowl winners out of Iowa players than the New England Patriots. Five former Hawkeyes have won Super Bowls with New England. That includes the son of current Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.
| Team | Super Bowl number(s) | Player name(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | XLVII | Sean Considine, Marshal Yanda |
| Chicago Bears | XX | Mark Bortz, Jay Hilgenberg |
| Dallas Cowboys | VI | John Niland |
| Green Bay Packers | I, II, XLV | Bob Jeter, Bryan Bulaga |
| Indianapolis Colts | XLI | Dallas Clark, Bob Sanders |
| Kansas City Chiefs | IV, LIV | Anthony Hitchens, Ben Niemann, Ed Podolak |
| Miami Dolphins | VIII | Thomas Smith |
| New England Patriots | XXXIX, LIII | Adrian Clayborn, Cole Croston, James Ferentz, Kevin Kasper, Riley McCarron |
| New York Giants | XXV, XLVI | Bob Kratch, Tyler Sash |
| San Francisco 49ers | XVI, XXIX | Merton Hanks, John Harty |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LV | Anthony Nelson, Tristan Wirfs |
Will Super Bowl LVI keep the streak going?
Kansas City linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Ben Niemann have a chance to join Jeter as the only Iowa players to win multiple Super Bowls right now. Their Chiefs teammate, center Austin Blythe just finished his first regular season with the team. He got onto the field in three of the last five regular-season games.
The Cincinnati Bengals have Riley Reiff on the roster, but the starting right tackle is on the injured/reserve list with an ankle injury and is likely done for the season.
The San Francisco 49ers have a Super Bowl MVP contender from Iowa on its roster in star TE George Kittle. A foot injury kept Kittle from postseason honors after the regular season, but he was back on the field against the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round. He finished with a team-high four receptions for 63 yards.
The LA Rams have a pair of Hawkeyes on the roster. Safety Jake Gervase made it into a pair of games while offensive lineman A.J. Jackson played in four games.
With a presence on all four rosters, Super Bowl LVI, should deliver a Super Bowl ring to one or more Hawkeyes for the fourth consecutive year. That isn’t too shabby for any collegiate program.
