Iowa Player Retires From The NFL Before Taking A Snap

Perhaps it was because he knew it was a long shot to make the team. Or maybe because his position in the NFL has been made nearly obsolete. And just maybe his body told him enough is enough. Either way, a former Iowa Hawkeye football standout ended his NFL career before it even began.

If you look up his stats at Iowa online, you won't be blown away. The fullback doesn't get the ball much at Iowa or on any other college football team these days. But Monte Pottebaum was a throwback. A blocking fullback who opened holes along the offensive line for some great Iowa runners during his four years in Iowa City. In his four years at Iowa, Pottebaum had 20 rushing attempts for 82 yards and one touchdown. He added 167 receiving yards and another touchdown. But you ask any Hawkeye who played from 2019-2022 and they'll tell you he was crucial to Iowa's success.

Fullbacks aren't drafted by NFL teams anymore and neither was Pottebaum. But he signed as an undrafted free agent with one of the new teams in the league that still values the position. The Pittsburgh Steelers. SteelersDepot.com reports that Pottebaum was the only true fullback on the roster since the Steelers released Derek Watt during the offseason. But on Sunday, the Steelers placed the man nicknamed Monte "The Mullet" on the reserve/retired list. Pottebaum's NFL career was over before it really even got started.

SteelersDepot reports that Pottebaum made it through Pittsburgh's rookie minicamp and OTA's and three days of training camp before deciding to hang it up. He got a $10,000 signing bonus as an undrafted free agent. Here is to whatever Monte Pottebaum has in store next, on or off the football field. Forever a Hawkeye.

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