Best NFL players born in Iowa
Football has long been woven into the cultural fabric of America, and every state has produced its share of gridiron legends. From Hall of Fame quarterbacks to record-setting receivers and defensive stalwarts, some of the NFL's greatest talents trace their roots back to Iowa.
Using data from Pro Football Reference, Stacker compiled a ranking of the best NFL players born in Iowa. Players were ranked by weighted career approximate value (AV), a metric developed by Pro Football Reference that measures overall career impact. Data is as of the start of the 2025 NFL season.
This list highlights players who made their mark on the league—some remembered for their longevity, others for their peak dominance. Read on to see which football stars born in Iowa have left the biggest legacy in NFL history.
#48. Ray Lemek (T) (tie)
- City: Sioux City
- Years played: 1957-1965 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 117
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 30
#48. T.J. Hockenson (TE) (tie)
- City: Chariton
- Years played: 2019-2024 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 82
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 30
#48. Tim Dwight (WR) (tie)
- City: Iowa City
- Years played: 1998-2007 (2 years as starter)
- Games played: 116
- Weighted career value: 30
#47. David Barrett (DB)
- City: Waterloo
- Years played: 2000-2008 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 131
- Weighted career value: 31
#43. Austin Howard (T) (tie)
- City: Davenport
- Years played: 2010-2018 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 97
- Weighted career value: 32
#43. Josey Jewell (ILB) (tie)
- City: Decorah
- Years played: 2018-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Weighted career value: 32
#43. Mike Stensrud (NT) (tie)
- City: Forest City
- Years played: 1979-1989 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 139
- Weighted career value: 32
#43. Spencer Brown (T) (tie)
- City: Lenox
- Years played: 2021-2024 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 59
- Weighted career value: 32
#42. Austin Blythe (C)
- City: Williamson
- Years played: 2016-2022 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 92
- Weighted career value: 33
#41. Chad Hennings (DT)
- City: Elberon
- Years played: 1992-2000 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 119
- Weighted career value: 34
#40. Don Norton (E)
- City: Iowa City
- Years played: 1960-1966 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 91
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 37
#38. Don Chandler (P) (tie)
- City: Council Bluffs
- Years played: 1956-1967
- Games played: 154
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 38
#38. Robert Gallery (T) (tie)
- City: Manchester
- Years played: 2004-2011 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 104
- Weighted career value: 38
#37. Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
- City: Rock Valley
- Years played: 2019-2024 (4 years as starter)
- Games played: 90
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 39
#36. Kyle Orton (QB)
- City: Altoona
- Years played: 2005-2014 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 87
- Weighted career value: 40
#32. Bruce Reimers (G) (tie)
- City: Algona
- Years played: 1984-1993 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 135
- Weighted career value: 42
#32. David Johnson (RB) (tie)
- City: Clinton
- Years played: 2015-2022 (3 years as starter)
- Games played: 92
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 42
#32. Mark Arneson (LB) (tie)
- City: Iowa City
- Years played: 1972-1980 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 127
- Weighted career value: 42
#32. Ross Verba (T) (tie)
- City: Des Moines
- Years played: 1997-2006 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 113
- Weighted career value: 42
#30. Bryan Millard (G) (tie)
- City: Sioux City
- Years played: 1984-1991 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Weighted career value: 43
#30. Dennis Gibson (LB) (tie)
- City: Des Moines
- Years played: 1987-1995 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Weighted career value: 43
#29. Ben Leber (LB)
- City: Council Bluffs
- Years played: 2002-2011 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 143
- Weighted career value: 46
#27. Joel Hilgenberg (C) (tie)
- City: Iowa City
- Years played: 1984-1993 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 142
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 51
#27. Mike Pyle (C) (tie)
- City: Keokuk
- Years played: 1961-1969 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 121
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 51
#25. Ed Podolak (RB) (tie)
- City: Atlantic
- Years played: 1969-1977 (6 years as starter)
- Games played: 104
- Weighted career value: 53
#25. Floyd Peters (DT) (tie)
- City: Council Bluffs
- Years played: 1959-1970 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 145
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 53
#24. Jeff Criswell (T)
- City: Grinnell
- Years played: 1987-1998 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 171
- Weighted career value: 54
#23. Aaron Kampman (DE)
- City: Cedar Falls
- Years played: 2002-2011 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 123
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 55
#21. Doug Riesenberg (T) (tie)
- City: Carroll
- Years played: 1987-1996 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 145
- Weighted career value: 56
#21. James Jones (DT) (tie)
- City: Davenport
- Years played: 1991-2000 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 160
- Weighted career value: 56
#19. Don Perkins (FB) (tie)
- City: Waterloo
- Years played: 1961-1968 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 107
- Pro Bowl selections: 6
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 57
#19. Greg Biekert (LB) (tie)
- City: Iowa City
- Years played: 1993-2003 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 176
- Weighted career value: 57
#16. Joe Burrow (QB) (tie)
- City: Ames
- Years played: 2020-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 69
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 58
#16. Kyle Vanden Bosch (DE) (tie)
- City: Larchwood
- Years played: 2001-2012 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 152
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 58
#16. Tristan Wirfs (OL) (tie)
- City: Mount Vernon
- Years played: 2020-2024 (5 years as starter)
- Games played: 79
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 58
#14. Brandon Scherff (G) (tie)
- City: Denison
- Years played: 2015-2024 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 140
- Pro Bowl selections: 5
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 62
#14. Darren Sproles (RB) (tie)
- City: Waterloo
- Years played: 2005-2019
- Games played: 183
- Pro Bowl selections: 3
- Weighted career value: 62
#13. Bryce Paup (LB)
- City: Jefferson
- Years played: 1990-2000 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 148
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 67
#12. Vern Den Herder (DE)
- City: Le Mars
- Years played: 1971-1982 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 166
- Weighted career value: 68
#11. Steve Bartkowski (QB)
- City: Des Moines
- Years played: 1975-1986 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 129
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 69
#10. Casey Wiegmann (C)
- City: Parkerburg
- Years played: 1997-2011 (13 years as starter)
- Games played: 227
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 70
#9. Dan Koppen (C)
- City: Dubuque
- Years played: 2003-2012 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 136
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- Weighted career value: 72
#8. Brad Meester (C)
- City: Iowa Falls
- Years played: 2000-2013 (14 years as starter)
- Games played: 209
- Weighted career value: 74
#7. Wally Hilgenberg (LB)
- City: Marshalltown
- Years played: 1964-1979 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 199
- Weighted career value: 75
#6. Jack Pardee (LB)
- City: Exira
- Years played: 1957-1972 (15 years as starter)
- Games played: 196
- Pro Bowl selections: 1
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 1
- Weighted career value: 77
#5. Adam Timmerman (G)
- City: Cherokee
- Years played: 1995-2006 (11 years as starter)
- Games played: 187
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 78
#4. Jay Hilgenberg (C)
- City: Iowa City
- Years played: 1981-1993 (9 years as starter)
- Games played: 188
- Pro Bowl selections: 7
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 83
#3. Marshal Yanda (G)
- City: Cedar Rapids
- Years played: 2007-2019 (10 years as starter)
- Games played: 177
- Pro Bowl selections: 8
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 92
#2. Trent Green (QB)
- City: Cedar Rapids
- Years played: 1997-2008 (7 years as starter)
- Games played: 120
- Pro Bowl selections: 2
- Weighted career value: 94
#1. Kurt Warner (QB)
- City: Burlington
- Years played: 1998-2009 (8 years as starter)
- Games played: 124
- Pro Bowl selections: 4
- All-Pro selections (1st team): 2
- Weighted career value: 96
