Former Iowa tight ends George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson are supporting a new professional curling venture called the Rock League. The initiative aims to modernize the sport and attract a wider audience by leveraging Olympic momentum. Backed by NFL Hall of Famer Jared Allen and funded by Canadian entrepreneur Nic Sulsky, the league plans to feature global teams and mixed play.
The University of Iowa has long been renowned for producing elite NFL tight ends, with a notable run from 2012 to 2018. George Kittle played for Iowa from 2012 to 2016, while T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant both joined in 2016-2018. Fant and Hockenson were selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, highlighting the program's success in developing talent at the position.
Now, Kittle and Hockenson are venturing into a different sport altogether. According to reports, they are teaming up with Jared Allen, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, to support the Rock League, a potential new professional curling circuit. The effort is led by Nic Sulsky, CEO of The Curling Group, a Canadian entrepreneur funding the project.
The Rock League seeks to capitalize on the surge in curling's popularity during the Winter Olympics. It plans to modernize the sport to appeal to broader audiences. The league will include six teams from around the world, each with five male and five female players, incorporating mixed competitions.
Operations are set to begin in April, shortly after the Olympics conclude, with a seven-day launch event in Toronto. This will be followed by a five-stop season in 2027. With strong financial support and celebrity endorsement from NFL stars, the initiative has generated buzz, though its long-term success remains to be seen.
