Joel Hilgenberg was drafted No. 97 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1984 NFL Draft out of Iowa. 142 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #97
- Round
- 4
- Draft class
- 1984
- NFL games
- 142
- Years as starter
- 7
- Career AV
- 5117th at Iowa
- Pro Bowls
- 1
The pick
How Joel Hilgenberg came off the board in 1984.
- Position
- Center C
- College
-
Iowa
Big Ten at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
142 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value
- Games played
- 142
- Seasons as a starter
- 7
- Career approximate value
- 5117th among Iowa picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 51100% of career value
- Final season
- 19939 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 1× Pro Bowl
Around pick 97
Who came off the board on either side of Joel Hilgenberg.
Illinois College
SMU
Louisville
UConn
Iowa in the 1984 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other C picks from Iowa
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Joel Hilgenberg in the 1984 NFL Draft
Joel Hilgenberg is a Center out of Iowa selected No. 97 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1984 NFL Draft. 142 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value Iowa has produced 164 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Joel Hilgenberg drafted?
Joel Hilgenberg was selected No. 97 overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1984 NFL Draft (Rd 4). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1984/joel-hilgenberg.
What college did Joel Hilgenberg play for?
Joel Hilgenberg played college football at Iowa in the Big Ten. See every Iowa draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/iowa-hawkeyes.
How did Joel Hilgenberg's NFL career turn out?
142 regular-season games · 7 seasons as a starter · 51 career approximate value Accolades: 1× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1984/joel-hilgenberg.