Former Iowa return specialist/receiver Kaden Wetjen selected by Pittsburgh Steelers in fourth round of 2026 NFL Draft
PITTSBURGH — University of Iowa wide receiver and return specialist Kaden Wetjen was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft. Wetjen was the 121st player picked overall.
The Williamsburg, Iowa, native is the fifth wide receiver selected in the Kirk Ferentz era.
Wetjen (5-foot-9, 196 pounds) was a tabbed consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025, while becoming the first two-time recipient of the Jet Award and Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Specialist of the Year in 2024 and 2025.
Wetjen posted one of the most dominant return seasons in college football history, leading the nation in total punt and kickoff return yards while consistently changing field position and momentum for the Iowa offensive unit. In 2025, Wetjen returned 21 punt returns for 563 yards and 16 kickoffs for 476 yards. His four special teams return for touchdowns also led the country.
He led the nation with 1,039 combined kick return yards (by 301 yards), while also ranking first in punt return average (26.8) and second in kickoff return average (29.8). Wetjen was a three-time Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in 2025. He is the only Big Ten player to record at least three punt returns and one kickoff return for a score in the same season.
Wetjen was the first Hawkeye to score a touchdown four different ways in 2025 (rushing, receiving, punt return, kickoff return). He returned a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown at Rutgers, and had punt return scores of 95 yards (UMass), 62 yards (Michigan State) and 50 yards (Minnesota) this past season.
Pittsburgh won 10 games a year ago and were champions of the AFC North. It marks the third straight year the Steelers drafted a Hawkeye (DT Logan Lee in 2024; RB Kaleb Johnson and DT Yahya Black in 2025). He joins teammate Gennings Dunker as Pittsburgh draft picks in 2026.
Iowa has had at least one player drafted in every NFL Draft since 1978. Wetjen is the 97th player coached by Kirk Ferentz at the University of Iowa to be selected in the NFL Draft.
