Former Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski is a free agent again after the Miami Dolphins released him from their practice squad.
The Dolphins announced the move Tuesday as they reshuffled the taxi squad, adding veterans including former first-round picks Clelin Ferrell and Mazi Smith.
Gronowski had been signed to the practice squad only a day earlier after clearing waivers following final roster cuts.
It is the latest twist in a whirlwind first NFL summer for the Naperville, Ill., product. Gronowski signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent in May after one season in Iowa City.
He was waived in early August, brought back later that month, waived again at the 53-man deadline, and briefly parked on the practice squad before Tuesday’s release. He is now free to sign with any team’s 53-man roster or practice squad.
Hawkeye fans watched the dual-threat quarterback closely last fall. After five seasons and two FCS national titles at South Dakota State, Gronowski transferred to Iowa for 2025 and started for Kirk Ferentz. He completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 1,741 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
His bigger imprint came on the ground: 545 rushing yards and a Big Ten-leading 16 rushing scores, giving Iowa a physical option that fit the program’s identity. He also earned East-West Shrine Bowl offensive MVP honors after the season.
That production did not immediately translate in Miami. In limited preseason work, Gronowski completed 6 of 13 passes for 98 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and added modest rushing production.
The Dolphins ultimately prioritized other quarterbacks—Malik Willis as the starter, plus Kyle McCord and Brady Cook—and used practice-squad spots on experienced defensive players.
For Iowa followers, the story is familiar: a Hawkeye who carved out an NFL chance as an undrafted player, then hit the league’s roster churn. Gronowski’s college résumé remains notable.
Across SDSU and Iowa, he started 67 games, threw for more than 12,000 yards and 103 touchdowns, and rushed for 53 scores. Some outlets have called him the winningest starting quarterback in college football history by combined victories.
What comes next is open. Practice-squad quarterbacks often bounce between teams, and Gronowski’s mobility and experience could still appeal to a club looking for a developmental or emergency option.
Iowa, meanwhile, has already moved on at the position, with Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown competing to replace him this season.
Gronowski’s Hawkeye chapter was short but productive. His NFL chapter is still being written—just not, for now, in Miami.
