Iowa set a program record with seven players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but Gennings Dunker was one of the most talked-about.
Dunker was a three-year starter on the offensive line and was a key part of the unit that earned the Joe Moore Award last season, but he became famous for his hilarious Senior Bowl interviews. Dunker was easily one of the funniest players during the interviews, and he had real hype entering the draft. After the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Dunker with the No. 96 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Dunker brought not only his immense potential and skill, but also his humor.
Aaron Rodgers' funny admission proves the NFL hasn't changed Gennings Dunker
Dunker was a staple of the Iowa offensive line since taking over as a full-time starter during the 2022-2023 season, making over 38 career starts. Dunker is another prime example of the Iowa program identifying undervalued talent on the recruiting trail and turning them into NFL-caliber players. 247Sports ranked Dunker as a three-star prospect and the No. 36 overall interior offensive lineman prospect in the 2019 class before becoming a fourth-round NFL Draft pick.
Dunker has all the talent an potential to be a staple of the Steelers' offensive line for years, but he has made an early impression on his teammates with his humor.
😂 Aaron Rodgers explains how offensive meetings start w #Steelers rookie Gennings Dunker telling a joke. And he kills it pic.twitter.com/xvqUVWOtqn
— 93.7 The Fan (@937theFan) October 14, 2026
It didn't go as well as expected for Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh offense in his first season with the organization last year, but they are trying to get it right in a second and final go-around. Dunker was brought in to beef up Rodgers' protection, but it is something he does off the field that earned a shoutout from the future Hall of Famer. Rodgers admitted Dunker has a special responsibility, and since training camp, he has been expected to start offensive meetings with a joke. That has continued into the regular season and has become a staple. Whether it's a joke or a fun fact, Dunker has been a consistent source of humor for the Steelers, hitting on "about 95 percent" of his jokes.
Although it is an intense sport, football is, at its core, a game and should be fun. Rodgers is one of the game's most intense and strict leaders, and if he appreciates Dunker's jokes, he is definitely doing something right. The locker room vibes are clearly high, and Dunker is a major part of that. It is unclear whether his jokes directly affect the team's play, but he keeps things light, which seems to translate to solid on-field play. The Steelers rank in the middle of the pack in passing and running, but the offense is more balanced this season. When the running game wasn't working last season, the offense went cold, but the Steelers have been more competitive in both phases early this season.
Dunker has spent some time on the sidelines with an injury, but he is clearly making an impact both on and off the field. Every organization needs players like Gennings Dunker, and the Steelers have found another gem from the University of Iowa program.
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