In 2015, Iowa Hawkeye Football fans were treated to one of the best seasons the program has ever seen. The program completed a perfect 12-0 regular season, but fell short of a perfect season overall.
The Hawkeyes lost a tightly-contested 16-14 game against Michigan State in the 2015 Big Ten Championship game after the Spartans scored a touchdown with under 30 seconds left in the game.
After losing to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship, the Hawkeyes traveled to Pasadena, California to take on Stanford in the Rose Bowl.
Stanford dominated Iowa 45-16 as superstar running back Christian McCaffrey destroyed the Hawkeye defense with 178 rushing yards, 105 receiving yards, and a touchdown.
The quarterback for the Hawkeyes during that season was C.J. Beathard.
Beathard had a magical 2015-2016 season for the Hawkeyes, throwing for 2,809 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also added 237 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Beathard with the No. 104 overall pick in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he spent his first three seasons with the 49ers organization.
In 2021, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars and played three seasons for the organization before he was waived in 2023 and signed with the Dolphins on their practice squad.
Now a free agent, Beathard has another opportunity to join a different NFL organization following a recent workout he was invited to.
The Jets worked out two QBs today — C.J. Beathard and Nathan Peterman. QB2 Tyrod Taylor (knee scope) is down for the preseason. Aaron Glenn said they “hopefully” will have him back for Week 1. Something to monitor. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 14, 2025
ESPN's Rich Cimini reported that the New York Jets worked out Beathard and Nathan Peterman following a recent injury to backup Tyrod Taylor.
The Jets hope to have Taylor back for week one and brought in Beathard and Peterman for some insurance in case he is not ready to go.
Beathard would provide veteran leadership to a Jets squad that has struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position.
During his seven-year NFL career, Beathard has accumulated 3,886 passing yards and 19 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. He has also rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.