Joel Hilgenberg was born into the “First Family” of Iowa football. One of the most impressive features of Joel’s resume is the fact that every time Joel joined a team, that team immediately became a contender- that is no coincidence. Joel was the anchor of the offensive lines that marked the rise of the Fry era of Hawkeye football in the early 80s. While at Iowa, Joel was a two-time All-Big 10 center and 2nd team All-American in 1983. In 1984 Joel was drafted in the 4th round by the Saints, and during his 10-year career, New Orleans enjoyed one of their most successful eras in franchise history. After retirement, Joel moved back to Iowa City, where he and his wife, Jeanie, live with their daughter Anna. In 2006 Joel was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame and was an offensive line coach for Green Bay from 2011 to 2014.