Eric Steinbach Week 1 Honorary Captain

Former Hawkeye O-Lineman Being Inducted into UI Sports Hall of Fame

UI Athletics

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Former Iowa offensive lineman Eric Steinbach will serve as honorary captain when the Hawkeyes host Utah State on Saturday on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11:03 a.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on FS1.

Steinbach, who was a four-year lettermen from 1999-2002, started all 13 games at left guard on a team that won a share of the 2002 Big Ten Championship and appeared in the program’s first Bowl Championship Series invitation (Orange Bowl). Steinbach and the rest of the Hawkeye offensive line yielded only 12 sacks in 2002, a Big Ten best.

Steinbach’s efforts garnered the senior All-America honors after being named first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Associated Press, Sporting News and ESPN. He was honored as the 2002 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Steinbach was part of an offense that led the Big Ten in scoring in consecutive seasons, leading to first-team All-Big Ten accolades in 2001 and 2002. Steinbach and the 2001 Hawkeyes won seven games, including a 19-16 triumph over Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl.

The native of Joliet, Illinois, was the first player selected in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft when he was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals. Steinbach played nine seasons in the NFL in the state of Ohio, starting 124 of 125 games for Cincinnati (2003-06) and Cleveland (2007-11).

Steinbach, who will be inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend, will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Saturday’s pregame coin toss. He will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game.