6 Greatest NFL careers in Iowa football history
Linebacker. Andre Tippett. player. Andre Tippett. Andre Tippett. 5. . . 1982-1993. 47
Andre Tippett was a teammate of Hilgenberg's at Iowa, but the two squared off in Super Bowl XX. While Tippett didn't go home with a ring that day, his career accolades are impressive enough to compensate.
Tippett was drafted by the New England Patriots 41st overall in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft. After a year of learning, Tippett began terrorizing quarterbacks off the edge in 1983.
Unofficially, Tippett finished his career with 100 sacks, topped with 18.5 sacks in 1984. He also tacked on 19 fumble recoveries in his career, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
After five Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro recognitions, Tippett retired after the 1993 season. He waited 15 years before he was finally enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Offensive Guard. 2007-2019. Marshal Yanda. 4. Marshal Yanda. . Marshal Yanda. . player. 26
Marshall Yanda is the only other player on the list not in the Hall of Fame, though he only recently became eligible. While Yanda wasn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer, his career as the right guard for the Baltimore Ravens was one of the more impressive in the modern era.
Still, Yanda was a third-round pick in 2007. He was initially worked out at right tackle despite being somewhat undersized for the position. The Ravens moved him to right guard in 2008, but things didn't completely fall into place for Yanda until 2010.
After starting a full season that year, it was clear Baltimore had found a diamond in the rough. For the next nine years, Yanda was easily recognized as one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, regardless of position.
Only two players who played the bulk of their careers in the 2010s, Zach Martin and Jahri Evans, have better resumes for the Hall of Fame according to Pro Football Reference's data. They graded his WAV a 92.
Yanda started 166 games, second most of any player on this list. He was named to eight Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams along the way. He spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens, through thick and thin. The Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII with Yanda leading their offensive line.
It's only a matter of time before the Cedar Rapids native is rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame.