The NFL Scouting Combine may be winding down, with most of the top prospects already showcasing their athleticism, but the buzz on Sunday had little to do with 40-yard dash times or bench press reps.
Instead, Gennings Dunker stole the spotlight, not for his performance but for his unforgettable hairstyle. The Iowa Hawkeyes offensive tackle became the talk of the NFL world thanks to his mullet, with fans in awe of his distinct look.
Gennings Dunker’s Mullet Steals the Show at NFL Combine
While Sonny Styles, Eli Stowers, and Taylen Green, among others, turned heads at the NFL Combine with their athletic traits, Dunker stood out for an entirely different reason. The Iowa lineman wowed the crowd with his red-haired mullet, quickly becoming a media favorite as his hair flowed in the wind during his 40-yard dash.
The 22-year-old sported a fiery mane with an amber tint, paired with a robust mustache that was equally distinctive, the look perfectly complementing his 6’5″, 315-pound frame.
Media personalities and fans alike were impressed. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport called it “a work of art.”
A work of art. pic.twitter.com/WS1YjH21Ml
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 1, 2026
Meanwhile, the NFL’s official page on X described it as “a thing of beauty.”
Iowa OL Gennings Dunker’s mullet is a thing of beauty 🎨
2026 NFL Combine on @nflnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/wpYY7tzZDx— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2026
NFL Network’s Rich Eisen also had high praise for the Iowa product: “Gennings Dunker of Iowa. Talk about the greatest mullet in the history of the combine!” he said on the broadcast.
“Gennings Dunker of Iowa. Talk about the greatest mullet in the history of the combine!” – High praise from Rich Eisen pic.twitter.com/NLjHexWnQO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 1, 2026
Sportswriter Jobe Morrison said, “Nothing like a groovy mullet. Iowa’s Gennings Dunker steals the show on the final day of the NFL Scouting Combine.”
Nothing like a groovy mullet.
Iowa’s Gennings Dunker steals the show on the final day of the NFL Scouting Combine.https://t.co/Y1t3lMfJny
— Jobe Morrison, M.S. (@Jobeyfootball) March 1, 2026
TheScore added, “Gennings Dunker wins best mullet of the 2026 NFL Combine. 🤌”
Gennings Dunker wins best mullet of the 2026 NFL Combine. 🤌
(🎥: @NFL) pic.twitter.com/SdsnsyB9K3
— theScore (@theScore) March 1, 2026
But Dunker is more than just his old-school red mane. Widely projected as a Day 2 pick, he strengthened his case by running an impressive 5.11-second 40-yard dash, a strong time for an offensive tackle.
Dunker’s hairstyle is inspired by former Iowa guard Connor Colby, now with the San Francisco 49ers. And according to Dunker, there may even be a competitive edge to the look.
“I did copy Colby because he had a season without one, a season with one. You know, he played a lot better with it,” he told The Daily Iowan in 2025. “There’s a correlation.”
Still, Dunker’s NFL future will not hinge on his hairstyle. He has emerged as one of the finest offensive linemen in college football over the past two seasons, with PFSN describing him as “a quality talent and a tone-setter who has quality starter upside at OG, and at least has experience and functional ability at OT.”
