Iowa football in the NFL: Week 7 recap

The NFL just wrapped up Week 7 of the 2026 season, and it brought more thrills, huge plays, and tight finishes.

On the Iowa football front, it was a quieter day for former Hawkeyes in the league. But a few fan favorites still made plays. Some of Iowa’s best alumni in the NFL showed out over the weekend.

From touchdown grabs to dominant play in the trenches, here’s a look at some of the best performances from former Hawkeyes in Week 7:

Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wirfs is one of the best offensive linemen in the entire NFL, and he showed why on Sunday. The 27-year-old left tackle was part of a dominant effort for the Buccaneers in their 43-13 win over the Panthers. Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. They averaged 5.3 yards per carry. Baker Mayfield was also kept clean all afternoon. Wirfs and the entire offensive line were a huge part of it. He was great in Week 7.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

.@TheeHock8 gets 6 on National Tight Ends Day!

📺: @NFLonCBSpic.twitter.com/ZoO62uIIxY

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 25, 2026

It's only fitting that a former Iowa tight end found the end zone on National Tight Ends Day. Hockenson was the one to do so in the Vikings' 16-10 win over the Colts. He finished the game with four receptions for 35 yards and that score. His fourth-quarter touchdown was the only one of the game for Minnesota and it gave the Vikings the lead. It was the second touchdown of the season for Hockenson.

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Moving the chains on #NationalTightEndsDay ⛓️ pic.twitter.com/B4FUGNOQqv

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 25, 2026

Kittle turned in another strong performance despite the 49ers dropping a 29-20 game to the Falcons. He finished with eight receptions for 88 yards, both of which led the team. While he did have an untimely fumble in the fourth quarter, Kittle made winning plays all afternoon. He now has 34 receptions for 425 yards and five touchdowns through seven games.