Riley Nowakowski

Riley Nowakowski (born June 30, 2002) is an American professional football fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2020 to 2024 before transferring to the Indiana Hoosiers in 2025 where his team won the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. Nowakowski was selected by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Early life Nowakowski attended Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he played football as a linebacker and running back. He was named first-team all-state as a senior and earned the John Anderson Award, given to the best senior linebacker in the state of Wisconsin. Nowakowski also competed in track and field and basketball in high school.

College career Nowakowski began his college career as a walk-on player for the Wisconsin Badgers and redshirted the 2020 season recording one tackle. He played in two games in 2021, including in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl against the Arizona State Sun Devils. He appeared in 13 games in 2022, converting to fullback and playing special teams. as Wisconsin's new head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo eliminated the team's fullback position. He was also awarded a scholarship. he played in nine games, including his first career start against the Ohio State Buckeyes, filling a role vacated by Zach Horton, who graduated after 2024. He earned the team's starting tight end role and served as one of the team's rotating game-day captains in six games. Nowakowski scored his first touchdown with Indiana on a one-yard rush in a 56–9 win over the Kennesaw State Owls and made critical blocks on multiple other touchdowns in the game; head coach Curt Cignetti awarded Nowakowski the game ball for his performance, recognizing him as the team's offensive player of the game. In a victory against his former team, the Wisconsin Badgers, Nowakowski scored a touchdown on a 21-yard reception from quarterback Fernando Mendoza. In Indiana's 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship win against the Miami Hurricanes, Nowakowski scored the first touchdown of the game on a one-yard rush. Nowakowski was named second-team All-Big Ten for the 2025 season.

Statistics

!! !! !! !! !! 2020 !! Wisconsin

2021 !! Wisconsin

2022 !! Wisconsin

2023 !! Wisconsin

2024 !! Wisconsin

2025 !! Indiana

Nowakowski was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round (169th overall) of the 2026 NFL draft.