Iowa Hawkeyes Great Jay Higgins Shines in NFL Homecoming Victory
Former Iowa Hawkeyes star linebacker Jay Higgins IV returned to his Indianapolis hometown in style, helping the Baltimore Ravens defeat the Colts 41-23 in the 2026 NFL season opener at Lucas Oil Stadium. For Higgins, the game was far more than a win; it was a full-circle moment for a player who overcame long odds to reach the NFL.
Higgins, a Brebeuf Jesuit product who starred at Iowa from 2020 through 2024, estimated that roughly 60 friends and family members attended the game, many wearing his No. 49 Ravens jersey. The support meant everything to a player who went undrafted despite a decorated college career.
From Undrafted to NFL Linebacker
Higgins' path to the NFL was anything but conventional. At Iowa, he earned First Team All-Big Ten honors twice and was named the 2024 Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. Yet no team selected him in the NFL Draft, a slight that has fueled his determination ever since.
As a rookie in 2025, Higgins played in 11 games, recording three solo tackles and a forced fumble. This season, he serves as the second-string middle linebacker behind All-Pro Roquan Smith while making his mark on special teams.
“It was a full circle moment being able to come back here, playing in the National Football League,” Higgins said. “You just think about all the things it took to get to this point, all the naysayers and the people who said you couldn't play at this level.”
Grateful for the Village Behind Him
Higgins made clear that his success is shared with those who helped shape him, particularly the coaching staff at Brebeuf Jesuit. He specifically credited former Braves basketball coach Todd Howard, whose college-level structure and discipline prepared Higgins for the demands of Big Ten football.
“We were well coached at Brebeuf,” Higgins said. “That level of coaching, that level of detail was much needed. When I got to Iowa, that's how those coaches were. Football-wise, the staff gave me all the resources I needed to be the best football player, and that's exactly how Iowa was.”
Higgins added: “I definitely didn't get here by myself. I'm aware of everybody who contributed along the way. I'm just grateful that they saw something in me, something that sometimes I didn't see in myself.”
Winning at Lucas Oil Stadium Finally
Sunday's victory carried extra weight for Higgins, who had previously lost at Lucas Oil Stadium in the 2021 Class 3A state championship game with Brebeuf and twice in the Big Ten Championship Game with the Hawkeyes. The win marked his first at the venue.
A Role Model for the Next Generation
Higgins understands the platform he now has as a professional athlete. He wants to inspire young athletes from his community who dream of following in his footsteps.
“I'm always aware of the community I come from, the kids I inspire,” Higgins said. “You always just want to be an inspiration to the people who believe in you. I take that with honor; I don't take it lightly. It's my job to keep making those people who believe in me proud.”
Higgins was one of several former Big Ten standouts in the game. Former Ohio State defensive lineman Caden Curry made his NFL debut for the Colts, recording one tackle against the Ravens.
For Iowa fans, Higgins remains a point of pride, a testament to the Hawkeyes' player development and a reminder that hard work and loyalty still matter in modern football.