It only took a year, but a former long-time NFL coach caught the coaching fever and has come out of retirement.
We all know how much Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa program like to bring back former players and alumni to add to the staff, but his most recent hire came out of the blue.
Ferentz recently brought back former Hawkeye Jay Norvell as the running backs coach, filling a position that has experienced a lot of turnover over the past few years.
Norvell adds multiple years of college head coaching experience, the most recent at Colorado State.
With Norvell moving from a consultant to a coordinator, Ferentz hired another offensive consultant who has a special connection to the program.
Iowa added former long-time NFL assistant coach Tom Moore to the staff
64 years after he was last a part of the program, and legendary coach Tom Moore is back in Iowa City.
Iowa has officially hired former Hawkeye and longtime coach, Tom Moore as senior consultant to the head coach and offensive advisor, per release.
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) May 12, 2026
“I have known Tom Moore for over a decade and am thrilled that he has agreed to join our program in an advisory role,” Kirk Ferentz…
Moore was a Hawkeye quarterback from 1958 to 1960 and a member of the coaching staff from 1961 to 1962, then bounced around the college ranks.
He spent time with Dayton, Georgia Tech, Minnesota (twice), and Wake Forrest before becoming an NFL assistant coach in 1977.
He spent 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, four with the Minnesota Vikings, three with the Detroit Lions, and one with the New Orleans Saints before taking on his most iconic role: offensive coordinator for Peyton Manning and the Colts.
After 11 seasons as Manning's OC, he primarily served as a senior analyst and consultant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans.
After the 2025 season, the legendary coach announced he was retiring, but made time to stop by an Iowa bowl game practice in December, and the program established an award in his honor.
The Tom Moore Legacy Award is given to a coach who most exemplifies what Moore stood for, and the first-ever award went to Phil Parker last season.
Now he's back in Iowa City, and gives the program a huge boost.
Moore's wealth of offensive knowledge is exatly what the Hawkeyes need
More spent nearly 50 years in the NFL before calling it quits after the 2025 season, and Ferentz prying him out of retirement is a massive win for the program.
Moore not only has four Super Bowl rings (1978, 1979, 2006, 2020) but is also an offensive guru who developed the dynamic Colts' offenses with Peyton Manning at the helm.
Iowa still does not know who its starting quarterback is, and with multiple question marks surrounding the offense, Moore's influence can do nothing but help.
He will officially serve as a senior consultant to the head coach and offensive advisor, and the program couldn't have found a better option.
Ferentz has a long relationship with Moore and said he is grateful that a four-time Super Bowl champion will share his wisdom and perspective with the coaching staff and the players.
Moore could be the missing key that finally unlocks the Iowa offense, and he is entering at a perfect time to help shape the future of the program.
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