Chiefs release Iowa football UDFA DE Ethan Hurkett

TL;DR

Ethan Hurkett, a former Iowa football defensive end, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. Despite a strong college career, he will now seek another opportunity in the NFL.

Key points

Ethan Hurkett was a productive defensive end at Iowa.
He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hurkett signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
He was released by the Chiefs shortly after signing.
Hurkett is looking for a new opportunity in the NFL.

Ethan HurkettKansas City ChiefsIowa Hawkeyes

Sticking onto an NFL roster after going undrafted is one of the hardest things for an athlete to accomplish. One former Iowa football star recently found that out the hard way.

Ethan Hurkett was a very productive defensive end for the Hawkeyes. After seeing sparse action during his first two seasons, Hurkett entered the defensive line rotation in 2023 and proceeded to put up numbers. He ended his Iowa career with 163 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. Despite his stats at a well-perceived place like Iowa, Hurkett went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Shortly after the draft, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. Unfortunately for Hurkett, his time in Kansas City was short-lived, as the team announced he was one of several cuts made on Monday.

Hurkett will now look to find a new home in the NFL with the rookie minicamps just around the corner. Given his production at Iowa and time to learn under Kirk Ferentz, the odds are pretty decent that a team will give Hurkett a chance to impress.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Chiefs release Iowa football UDFA DE Ethan Hurkett

Q&A

Why was Ethan Hurkett released by the Kansas City Chiefs?

Ethan Hurkett was released as part of the Chiefs' roster cuts following the 2026 NFL Draft.

What were Ethan Hurkett's college football statistics at Iowa?

During his career at Iowa, Ethan Hurkett recorded 163 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.

What are the chances of Ethan Hurkett finding another NFL team?

Given his productive college career and experience, there is a good chance that another NFL team will give Ethan Hurkett an opportunity to showcase his skills.