TAMPA – Before hoisting the ReliaQuest Bowl’s Most Valuable Player trophy on the stage at midfield, Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski was sure to call up the group that helped pave the way for him all season long — the offensive line.
One of the first people Gronowski thanked during his MVP speech was the unit that won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line in the country. The act exemplified the leadership qualities that Gronowski’s teammates and coaches rave about.
“He’s a freaking winner, man,” center Logan Jones said about his quarterback. “He just competes and competes, and he’ll never stop.”
“[He] just competes out there tooth and nail,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “A big part of the reason we won today was obviously his leadership and his impact on the game.”
Gronowski completed 16 of 22 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns in the Hawkeyes’ 34-27 win over No. 14 Vanderbilt, marking the first time the South Dakota State transfer has thrown for over 200 yards this season.
Gronowski added a touchdown and 54 yards on the ground, including a 44-yard scramble after narrowly escaping a sack on a third and 7 during Iowa’s opening drive.
Offensive coordinator Tim Lester was one of the main reasons Gronowski wanted to transfer to Iowa for his final season, and the connection between the two was on full display in Gronowski’s final collegiate game.
“He’s taught me a lot about just continuing to be aggressive in the game, continue to be aggressive on pass plays,” Gronowski said about Lester. “There’s just been a lot of growth with receivers, growing with the guys on the team. Not just in the game of football, but trying to build relationships.”
The 2025 Iowa football season has been full of ups and downs, with close losses to ranked teams such as Iowa State, Indiana, Oregon, and USC.
Pair those losses with a knee injury that easily could have sidelined Gronowski for weeks, the adversity he has faced this season seemed insurmountable. Gronowski, however, never backed down as the team kept a “no quit” mentality.
“We have so many great people here that have the ‘no quit’ mentality,” Gronowski said. “They always want to play for the guy next to them. There’s so much love amongst this team that everyone wants to make everybody better, especially at practice.”
While Gronowski’s time at Iowa comes to an end, the new standard he’s helped create will continue. One player who has an opportunity to carry that standard is DJ Vonnahme, with whom Gronowski developed a connection late in the season.
Vonnahme finished the season as Iowa’s leading receiver, logging 29 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns. 237 of those yards came in the final two games, including a 146-yard day in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Vonnahme knew Gronowski was a good leader by simply seeing his success at South Dakota State, saying that players don’t win that many games by accident.
Gronowski’s leadership and physical abilities on the field have led Iowa to another successful season, but his qualities as a teammate and friend off the field have delivered an even bigger impact on his teammates.
“To have him on this team this year, it’s been awesome,” Jones said. “He’s been a great guy and a great teammate, most importantly. He’s the best.”
As Gronowski reflected on his lone season with the Hawkeyes, there wasn’t any particular memory that sticks out, but he’s extremely grateful for having the opportunity to play for a program that he’s always looked up to.
“I can’t put my finger on one thing that is going to be the most memorable thing, but this opportunity that I was given, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”