Iowa Football: Hawkeyes in the NFL, Hitchens and Niemann Get Rings

Another NFL season is in the books as Kansas City won their first Super Bowl in 50 years as they defeated San Francisco 31-20. The game was mildly exciting for those not tied to either team. The halftime show was enjoyable and a couple of the commercials (Jason Momoa, Sam Elliott) actually made me laugh this year as opposed to some dismal showings in recent years.

Linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Ben Niemann earned a Super Bowl ring and the entire group will join the former Hawkeyes listed below in next year’s media guide.

Thanks for following along this year, we’ll see you again in September.

Iowa Hawkeye 2019 Media Guide

Hawkeyes in the Super Bowl

QB C.J. Beathard (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season in the NFL): Beathard was inactive for the Super Bowl as he was all season. Look for something to potentially happen this offseason as Beathard still has one year remaining on his contract but the 49ers may need to find someone to take him rather than keeping him inactive.

LB Anthony Hitchens (Kansas City Chiefs, 6th season): Hitchens had four tackles in the Super Bowl victory. During the regular season, Hitchens recorded 88 tackles and two sacks in 15 games. Hitchens has three years remaining on a big contract that he signed with Kansas City. POTW honors = 1.

TE George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers, 3rd season): Kittle had four receptions for 36 yards in the loss but a controversial call late in the second quarter erased a big gain and potentially changed the momentum of the game. On the season Kittle had 85 catches for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns while missing two games due to injuries. Kittle has one year remaining on his rookie deal. POTW honors = 4.

LB Ben Niemann (Kansas City Chiefs, 2nd season): Niemann had one tackle in the Super Bowl and during the regular season, Niemann had 50 tackles in 16 games played. Niemann has one year remaining on his rookie deal. POTW honors = 1.

OL Ross Reynolds (San Francisco 49ers, 1st season): Reynolds was on the San Francisco practice squad in 2019.

Final Stats for Eliminated Hawkeyes

OL Austin Blythe (Los Angeles Rams, 4th season): Blythe and the Rams finished their season at 9-7 as they defeated Arizona 31-24. With a high payroll and no first round pick in 2020, the Rams will have to be creative to keep up with San Francisco and Seattle. Blythe played and started in 15 games on the season while drawing just three penalties on the year. Blythe is a free agent for 2020.

OL Ike Boettger (Buffalo Bills, 2nd season): Boettger and the Bills lost in the wild card game to the Texans 22-19 in overtime. Boettger was only active in two games for the 10-6 Bills this season but saw extensive action in week 17 when the Bills rested many of their starters. Boettger still has one year remaining on his contract.

OL Bryan Bulaga (Green Bay Packers, 10th season): Bulaga and the Packers lost to San Francisco 37-20 last Sunday night to end their season. Bulaga played in all 16 regular season games for Green Bay. He is a free agent at the end of this season. POTW = 1.

RB James Butler (Oakland Raiders, 2nd season): Butler was on the Raiders practice squad in 2019.

DE Adrian Clayborn (Atlanta Falcons, 9th season): Clayborn and the Falcons finished 7-9 on the season. Clayborn played in 15 games recording 18 tackles which included four sacks. He also forced two fumbles. Clayborn is a free agent for 2020.

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

DT Mike Daniels (Detroit Lions, 8th season): Daniels and the Lions finished 3-12-1 on the season. Daniels was put on the IR on December 16 and was only able to play in nine games for the Lions. His ten tackles and one sack were probably not what the Lions had in mind when they gave him an $8 million contract. Daniels is a free agent for 2020.

C James Daniels (Chicago Bears, 2nd season): Daniels and the Bears finished the season at 8-8. Daniels played and started in all 16 games for the Bears as he played both center and guard. Daniels was called for four holding penalties on the season. There are still two years left on his rookie contract.

DT Carl Davis (Jacksonville Jaguars, 5th season): Davis and the Jaguars ended the season at 6-10. Davis played in two games for Jacksonville getting one tackle. He also played one game in his time with Indianapolis. Davis is a free agent for 2020.

WR Nick Easley (Buffalo Bills, 1st season): Easley was on the Buffalo practice squad. The Bills lost to the Texans in the Wild Card round.

TE Noah Fant (Denver Broncos, 1st season): Fant and the Broncos finished the season at 7-9. Fant played in all 16 games for Denver and ended the season with 40 catches for 562 yards and three touchdowns. Fant was the number 20 pick in the 2019 draft and has three years remaining on his rookie contract. POTW =2.

Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

C James Ferentz (New England Patriots, 4th season): Ferentz and the 12-4 Patriots were upset by Tennessee 20-13 in the Wild Card round to end their season. Ferentz was active for 15 games this season and started two games while seeing extensive action with the special teams unit. He is an unrestricted free agent for 2020. POTW = 1.

S Jake Gervase (Los Angeles Rams, 1st season): Gervase and the Rams finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Gervase only saw action in two games this season and didn’t record any stats. Gervase signed a two year contract in 2019 so he has one year remaining.

TE Parker Hesse (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hesse was on the Titans practice squad. He recently signed a two-year reserve/future contract to remain with the Titans.

TE T.J. Hockenson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Hockenson and the Lions finished 3-12-1 on the season. After suffering a significant ankle injury, Hockenson was only able to play in 12 games but during his short time was able to catch 32 balls for 367 yards and two touchdowns. The eighth overall pick in 2019 still has three years left on his rookie deal. POTW honors = 1.

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images

S Amani Hooker (Tennessee Titans, 1st season): Hooker and the Titans magical run finally ended as they lost to Kansas City 35-24. Hooker saw action in all of the Titans games this season and ended the season with 12 tackles. Hooker was in the first year of his rookie deal.

S Micah Hyde (Buffalo Bills, 7th season): Hyde and the Bills lost in the Wild Card game to the Texans 22-19 in overtime to end their season. Hyde finished the season by starting every game for the Bills. He had 72 tackles on the season and also added one interception. On special teams, Hyde became the 13th player to return an onside kick for a touchdown. Hyde has two years remaining on his contract. POTW honors =2.

CB Josh Jackson (Green Bay Packers, 2nd season): Jackson and the Packers lost to the 49ers 37-20 to end their season. Jackson saw very little action on the season ending the year with just six tackles. While he still has two years remaining on his rookie deal, he could become a cap casualty.

LB Josey Jewell (Denver Broncos, 2nd season): Jewell and the Broncos finished the season at 7-9. Jewell dealt with some injuries over the season but still managed to play in 15 games for Denver. He recorded 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the year. Jewell still has two years remaining on his rookie contract. POTW honors = 1.

Photo by Daniel Dunn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

DT Jaleel Johnson (Minnesota Vikings, 3rd season): Johnson and the Vikings lost to the 49ers 27-10 in the playoffs to finish their season. Johnson played in all 16 games this season registering 29 tackles including three and a half sacks. Johnson has one year remaining on his rookie deal. POTW honors = 1.

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

CB Desmond King (Los Angeles Chargers, 3rd season): King and the Chargers finished their season at a disappointing 5-11 and will have the sixth pick in the upcoming draft. On the season King played in 15 games and had 50 tackles including 2.5 sacks. King also was featured in the return game and he returned 16 kicks for 331 yards and 21 punts for 118 yards and a touchdown. King will be entering the final year of his four year rookie contract in 2020. POTW honors = 1.

Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images

LB Christian Kirksey (Cleveland Browns, 6th season): Kirksey and the Browns finished their year with an under-performing record of 6-10. Kirksey was hurt early in the season and only managed to play in two games for the Browns. On the season he recorded 11 tackles and he has two years remaining on his contract though he potentially could be a salary cap casualty.

LS Casey Kreiter (Denver Broncos, 4th season): Kreiter and the Broncos finished the season at 7-9. For those keeping track at home, Kreiter snapped the ball 146 times for the special teams unit, down two snaps from 2018. Kreiter is a free agent for 2020 but I imagine he will be re-signed by Denver.

DB Greg Mabin (Cincinnati Bengals, 3rd season): Mabin and the Bengals won their last game of the year against Cleveland and still finished with a record of just 2-14. They own the top pick in the draft and are expected to take LSU qb Joe Burrow. Mabin was only active for nine games in 2019 and most of his time was spent on special teams. For the season he had just one tackle and one pass deflection. Mabin is a free agent for 2020.

OL Matt Nelson (Detroit Lions, 1st season): Nelson was on the practice squad for Detroit.

LB Anthony Nelson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1st season): Nelson and the Buccaneers finished their season at 7-9. The rookie battled injuries and only managed to see action in nine games. During that time he totaled eight tackles, one pass deflection, and a forced fumble. Nelson has three years left on his rookie deal.

OL Riley Reiff (Minnesota Vikings, 8th season): Reiff and the Vikings ended their season when they lost to San Francisco 27-10 in the Divisional Round. The Vikings finished the year at 10-6. Reiff played and started in 15 games this season and has two years remaining on his five year contract he signed in 2017.

OL Keegan Render (Philadelphia Eagles, 1st season): Render was on the practice squad for Philadelphia. The Eagles lost to the Seahawks in the Wild Card round.

OL Brandon Scherff (Washington Redskins, 5th season): Scherff and the Redskins finished their season at 3-13. Scherff only was able to play in 11 games due to injury but managed to be named to the Pro Bowl for his efforts. Scherff is a free agent and should be looking for a big payday in 2020.

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

OL Marshal Yanda (Baltimore Ravens, 13th season): Yanda and the Ravens were upset by the Tennessee Titans 28-12 in the Divisional Round ending their season earlier than expected. Yanda, a 13 year NFL veteran, played at an All-Pro level once again this season as he played in 15 game during the regular season but there are rumors floating that he may retire. If he does not retire, Yanda has one year remaining on his contract. POTW honors = 1.

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.