PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie guard Gennings Dunker is already used to wearing black and gold. A standout at Iowa (a school that adopted its color scheme in the 1970s to emulate the success of the Steelers and Pirates), Dunker was selected in the third round of the 2026 Draft with the 96th overall pick.
A native of Lena, Ill., Dunker spent all five years of his college career at Iowa, a rarity in the modern CFB landscape. He redshirted as a freshman due to injury, and rotated in and out of the lineup in 2022, taking snaps at right guard and left guard.
But in 2023, the Hawkeyes moved Dunker to right tackle full-time, and became the primary starter for three straight seasons. He started in four bowl games in his Hawkeye career, and in 2025 helped lead Iowa to a 9-4 overall record, including a win over Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Dunker has a signature look and flair that drew attention even during the pre-draft process. He sports shoulder-length red hair, a mustache, and two half-sleeves of tattoos. His gritty Midwestern appearance and demeanor reflected a gritty, Midwestern work ethic, as Dunker seemed from the get-go to be a perfect cultural match for Pittsburgh. Multiple mock drafts, including some from ESPN and Bleacher Report, correctly predicted Dunker landing with the Steelers.
"It's kind of funny almost," Dunker said. "It's an awesome city… I had to ask around if you can swim in the river, you're not supposed to do that."
Bleacher Report ranked Dunker as the 7th-best interior offensive lineman in his class. The Iowa product brings size, strength, and athleticism to a Steelers offensive line that has been somewhat in flux.
The team has reclassified Dunker to guard, and he is ranked third on the depth chart at the left-guard spot, behind Spencer Anderson and Brock Hoffman .
Dunker is already becoming something of a fan-favorite in the Steel City, and for him, the affectionate feeling is mutual.
"It's so awesome to be part of an organization that has such a winning culture," Dunker said. "I couldn't ask for a better fit, honestly, for me."
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Gennings Dunker after a rookie minicamp practice on May 9, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Acquired:The Steelers drafted Dunker with the 96th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In May, Dunker signed a four-year, $6.7 million contract with $1.35 million guaranteed.
Last Year:In his fifth and final season in Iowa City, Dunker was a stud on the Hawkeye O-line, allowing just two sacks all season. He was clean as well, committing just three penalties.
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (67) looks on before the game against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Kinnick Stadium on Sep 13, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa. — Jeffrey Becker / Imagn Images
Dunker was a three-year starter in the Big Ten, starting every game of those three seasons at right tackle. In 2023, Dunker posted an average run-blocking grade of 65.1 and a pass-blocking grade of 74.7, according to PFF. He secured Academic All-Big Ten honors, and helped the team rush for 254 yards against Western Michigan.
In 2024, Dunker improved his run-blocking grade to 90.2. He made second-team All-Big Ten in the coaches' pool, and third-team All-Big Ten in the media poll. The Hawkeyes ran for over 200 rushing yards in seven different games.
In 2025, Dunker made first-team All-Big Ten in the media poll. The offensive line of which he was a part won the Joe Moore Award, which is given to the nation's best O-line unit each year. Dunker allowed 11 sacks in his time at Iowa.
| Year |
College |
GP |
GS |
Pos |
Snaps |
Sack |
PEN |
PFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 |
Iowa |
8 |
1 |
LG, RG |
180 |
2 |
4 |
46.3 |
| 2023 |
Iowa |
13 |
13 |
RT |
712 |
5 |
3 |
69.5 |
| 2024 |
Iowa |
11 |
11 |
RT |
588 |
2 |
1 |
90.2 |
| 2025 |
Iowa |
13 |
13 |
RT |
729 |
2 |
3 |
81.6 |
Measured at the NFL Combine: 6-foot-5, 319 pounds; 5.18-second 40-yard dash, 3.03-second 20-yard split, 1.83-second 10-yard split; 4.63-second shuttle, 7.58-second three-cone drill; 32.5-inch vertical, 9-foot broad jump.
Dunker earned a 9.61 Relative Athletic Score out of 10.
Dunker is on a $6.7 million, four-year rookie deal. He will take up 0.4% of the cap this year and is set to earn $1.2 million in his first season.
Dunker's senior season of high school football was canceled due to COVID, but in the three years he did play, his team went 39-2 and won two state titles. He has two younger brothers, Gage and Gannon. The Hawkeyes went 35-18 in the four years Dunker played.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Gennings Dunker Brings Distinctive Personality, Exciting Traits to Steelers O-Line
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