The third week of the NFL season is officially in the books. And what a weekend it was.
There were plenty of thrilling finishes, clutch plays, and game-changing moments scattered throughout the slate of games. Some of those big plays came from former Iowa football stars. These Hawkeyes represented their alma mater well by showing up and making those plays.
From career-best performances to vintage showings, here's a look at which former Hawks starred in Week 3 of the NFL season.
Drew Stevens, Washington Commanders
Drew Stevens gets a 57-yarder to go as the half expires!
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 27, 2026
📺: FOX/FOX One pic.twitter.com/RHWv1cp5En
Stevens was a perfect 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts on Sunday in the Commanders' surprising 33-31 win over the Seahawks. That included a career-long 57-yarder right before
halftime. It's been an up-and-down start to the 2026 season for Stevens, but this game should be a big confidence booster for him. He was a huge reason why Washington pulled the upset.
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Kittle extending the lead 📈
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 27, 2026
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/iQXUbg6nGF
As usual, Kittle turned in another big performance when his team needed him. The 32-year-old tight end had six receptions for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 49ers' 36-30 win over the Cardinals. Both of his scores came in the fourth quarter to help San Francisco pull away. Kittle already has three touchdown grabs this season and looks primed for another strong year.
Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions
CHUCK CLARK STRIPS IT, JACK CAMPBELL SCOOPS IT, LIONS WIN IT pic.twitter.com/DnWc0A6Hkr
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 27, 2026
It wasn't the craziest performance of Campbell's career, but he made a big play in the clutch. He pounced on a fumble in the final minute of the game to help the Lions get a 31-24 win over the Jets. The 26-year-old All-Pro linebacker finished the game with six total tackles and that fumble recovery. Even on a slow day by his standards, Campbell found a way to make one of the biggest plays of the game.
Noah Fant, New Orleans Saints
Is it National TE Day?
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 27, 2026
Four TDs, two to Juwan, two to Noah Fant
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/LyvvCembr8
Just like Kittle, Fant found the end zone twice on Sunday in the Saints' 35-27 loss to the Raiders. He finished the game with four receptions for 33 yards and those two touchdowns. The 28-year-old tight end has already scored three times this year and is only one touchdown reception short of his career-high in a single season. He's carving out a nice role for himself in New Orleans.
Anthony Nelson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A Nelly takes him down 😤 pic.twitter.com/UXkHfgr3eG
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 27, 2026
Nelson got home for his first sack of the season in the Buccaneers' 23-16 loss to the Vikings. The 29-year-old defensive end now has 22.5 career sacks, all with Tampa Bay. He's never been a flashy NFL player, but Nelson has quietly carved out a role across eight seasons. He's won a Super Bowl and been a consistent contributor for years. Nelson is a great example of how doing things the right way can pay off.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football in the NFL: Week 3 recap
