Steelers Add Wetjen to Roster
The Steelers selected Kaden Wetjen from Iowa with the 121st overall pick. The selection occurred in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Wetjen played in 40 games for Iowa, starting in seven of them. Over three seasons, he recorded 23 receptions for 197 yards and one touchdown.
Wetjen’s Special Teams Prowess
Wetjen has demonstrated his abilities as a punt returner. He totalled 954 return yards, averaging 17.7 yards per return, and scored four touchdowns.
As a kickoff returner, he had 56 returns for 1,538 yards. His average was 27.5 yards per return, including two touchdowns.
Collegiate Achievements at Iowa
- Returned 54 punts for 954 yards, averaging 17.7 yards per punt, and scored four touchdowns.
- Returned 56 kickoffs for 1,538 yards, averaging 27.5 yards per kickoff, and scored two touchdowns.
- Caught 23 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown.
- Rushed 23 times for 132 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, and scored two touchdowns.
Wetjen’s career punt return average of 17.7 yards ranks first in Big Ten history. His career kickoff return average of 27.5 yards ranks third, and his total career punt return yards of 954 rank 10th in Big Ten history.
He is the only player in program history to score a rushing, receiving, kickoff return, and punt return touchdown in the same season. Wetjen’s six returns for touchdowns, including four punts and two kickoffs, is a school record.
His two kickoff returns for touchdowns are tied for first, and his four punt returns for touchdowns are tied for second in program history. He is tied for first in Big Ten single-season history with three punt return touchdowns in 2025 and ranked third in league history for career punt return touchdowns with four.
Wetjen is one of two players in school history with three 80+ yard return touchdowns. He posted six career games with 100+ return yards and set an Iowa single-season record for punt return yards with 563 in 2025.
During a 47-7 win over UMass in 2025, Wetjen returned four punts for 182 yards, including a career-high long return of 95 yards for a touchdown. The 95-yard return tied an Iowa and Big Ten record and was the longest return in Kinnick Stadium history, while the 182 punt return yards ranked fourth in Big Ten single-game history.
He returned the opening kickoff in a 38-28 win at Rutgers for 100 yards and a touchdown, tying a school and Big Ten record. It was the sixth 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in program history and the second of his career, making him the second Hawkeye to return an opening kickoff for a touchdown. It was also the 45th 100-yard kickoff return in Big Ten history and the 25th in a league game.
Wetjen is a two-time winner of The Jet Award.
2025 Honours
Wetjen was a consensus All-American in 2025. He was recognised with first-team All-America honours from Walter Camp, AFCA, Sporting News, FWAA, USA Today, On3, and PFF and second-team All-America honours from The Athletic.
He earned the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year award for the second straight season, becoming the first two-time recipient since the award was created in 2015. He was also first-team All-Big Ten by coaches and media, as well as AP first-team All-Big Ten.
Wetjen was named Jet Award winner, becoming the first two-time recipient since the award was created in 2011. He was also a Permanent Team Captain for special teams.
The Steelers have added a player recognised as a Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year to their ranks.