By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kirk Ferentz was near the end of his press conference following Iowa’s final spring practice on Saturday when he was asked about what would prove to be a historic day for the Hawkeyes in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Iowa had seven players selected in the draft, which is the most in a single draft under Kirk Ferentz, and the most for Iowa in the modern (seven round) era.

Ferentz was obviously pleased and proud knowing that his NFL pipeline was continuing to flow. But he also felt the need to say that putting players in the NFL is not a specific goal for his program when he probably didn’t have to say it.

“I am always very clear about this; that is not a program goal of ours at all,” Kirk Ferentz said. “Like there is nowhere in our building you’re going to see program goal. It’s all about other things that are more important. That being said, a lot of guys want to be NFL players and we want to recruit guys that want to be NFL players because then you make the assumption they’re willing to do the work. But at least we we’ll give them a chance.

“But we always try and be real realistic with them and let them know the odds of even being invited are really slim, and then once you get there, sticking around for a while is real tough, too. So with all that being said, it’s a real exciting part, and it’s part of the you play your career and you graduate and then you move on to whatever it might be. And if you can include football it’s pretty neat. So it’s good to see guys’ dreams be fulfilled a little bit, get a start to the next opportunity and the next chapter. It’s always great and it never gets old.”

Kirk Ferentz seems to be selling himself and his job short in this case.

His reluctance to say that producing NFL players is a stated goal for his program appears to be Kirk Ferentz’s way of sticking to his core values, which is to win, graduate and do it right, as the slogan used by Iowa Athletics says.

And while that is an admirable approach, it shouldn’t take away from what Iowa has accomplished in the NFL Draft under Kirk Ferentz because it truly has been spectacular.

You could argue that Kirk Ferentz’s NFL pipeline ranks near the top of his list of accomplishments as the head Hawk.

You also can assume that his NFL pipeline is used as a recruiting sales pitch because it deserves to be mentioned, if not flaunted, though Kirk Ferentz doesn’t seem the flaunting type.

One of the best moments in Saturday’s open practice at Kinnick Stadium was when practice was stopped briefly to celebrate Kaden Wetjen being picked in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A former walk-on from Williamsburg, Wetjen developed into one of the greatest return specialists in Big Ten history while at Iowa. He also plays receiver and will now try and use that dual-capability to his advantage.

Wetjen is symbolic of Hawkeye football under Kirk Ferentz, the way he has defied the odds and fed off the culture to get better each day, no quick fixes, just work hard each and every day.

But you could also say that about most of Iowa’s 100 NFL draft selections under Kirk Ferentz.

There are a few exceptions such as defensive end A.J. Epenesa, who came to Iowa as a five-star recruit and seemed destined to make the NFL, which he did after just three seasons in the program.

The vast majority, however, weren’t heavily recruited in high school; names such as Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark, Robert Gallery and Micah Hyde just to name a few.

There is also the Niemann brothers, Ben and Nick, both of whom have stuck in the NFL after having stayed the course at Iowa where they developed into rock-solid linebackers.

These kinds of stories should be celebrated, even if they aren’t one of the stated and promoted goals for the Iowa program.

Kirk Ferentz didn’t have to remind us on Saturday about what truly is important in his job.

Because one could certainly argue, even in this age of NIL, that producing NFL players is important, especially when you consider how many lives Kirk Ferentz has changed for the better.

Iowa’s 2026 NFL draft results

Round two: Logan Jones, center,  Chicago Bears

Round three: Gennings Dunker, offensive line, Pittsburgh Steelers

Round four: Kaden Wetjen, returner/receiver, four, Pittsburgh Steelers

Round five: Beau Stephens, offensive line, Seattle Seahawks

Round six: Karson Sharar, linebacker, Arizona Cardinals

Round seven: TJ Hall, defensive back, New Orleans Saints; Max Llewellyn, defensive end, Miami Dolphins

Iowa free-agent signings

Mark Gronowski, quarterback, Miami Dolphins

Xavier Nwankpa, defensive back, Kansas City Chiefs

Aaron Graves, defensive line, Baltimore Ravens

Hayden Large, tight end, Chicago Bears

Ethan Hurkett, defensive end, Kansas City Chiefs