Meet The 2026 Iowa Hawkeye Football Kid Captains!

On a football team, it is an honor to be selected as a team captain. But at the University of Iowa, the real stars are the Kid Captains from the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital!

2026 Iowa Hawkeye Kid Captains Announced

The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the Stead Family Children's Hospital announced the Kid Captains for the 2026 Iowa Hawkeye football season. The group of 12 kids represents current and former patients at the children's hospital that sits right across from Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. This will be the 18th year for the Kid Captain program.

The Gazette reports that this year's Hawkeye Kid Captains are;

• Harlow Taube (6 years old), Orion, IL — Iowa vs. Northern Illinois on Sept. 5
• Charlie Prince (10 years old), Cedar Rapids, IA — Iowa vs. ISU on Sept. 12
• Beau Harvey (15 years old), Cascade, IA — Iowa vs. Northern Iowa on Sept. 19
• Lily Lee (11 years old) Fort Dodge, IA — Iowa at Michigan on Sept. 26
• Eliana Gual (9 years old) Peosta, IA — Iowa vs. Ohio State on Oct. 3
• JJ Ward (6 years old) Davenport, IA — Iowa at Washington on Oct. 10
• Kaelyn O’Brien (13 years old), Jesup, IA — Iowa at Minnesota on Oct. 24
• Charley Rasmussen (14 years old), Marion, IA — Iowa vs. Wisconsin on Oct. 31
• Ellie Walker (4 years old), Clinton, IA — Iowa at Northwestern on Nov. 7
• Beau Byers (7 years old), Swisher, IA — Iowa vs. Purdue on Nov. 14
• Henry Jaeger (12 years old), Keota, IA — Iowa at Illinois on Nov. 21
• Isaac Raue (15 years old), Coggon IA — Iowa vs. Nebraska on Nov. 28

According to the Gazette, Ellie Walker from Clinton passed away earlier this summer, but her family has decided to continue to honor her and will take part in the Kid Captain program this season.

The Hawkeyes will introduce the Kid Captains during Kids Day at Kinnick Stadium on August 15th.