Iowa's Vander Zee Wears Bible Verse Hat
Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee wore a hat with a Bible verse designed by quarterback Hank Brown.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
Iowa third-year wide receiver Reece Vander Zee wore a cream-colored hat featuring the Hawkeye stripe and a reference to Acts 20:24 when he met with the media on Tuesday. The hat was designed by quarterback Hank Brown, who has the same verse tattooed on his arm.
Why it matters
The hat is part of a limited-time collection Brown created with MyPlayer, an online NIL merchandiser, showing how player-designed apparel is reaching teammates and fans. Brown said he did not know where Vander Zee obtained the hat.
The verse referenced is Acts 20:24, which appears on the hat's center stripe and on Brown's arm tattoo. The hat remains available in black, white, or cream.
The players
Reece Vander Zee
Reece Vander Zee is a third-year wide receiver for the University of Iowa football team.
Hank Brown
Hank Brown is a quarterback for the University of Iowa football team who designed the hat and collaborated on the limited-time collection.
MyPlayer
MyPlayer is an online NIL merchandiser that produced the limited-time collection with Hank Brown.
The details
Vander Zee showed up to the Hawkeyes' practice facility in Iowa City with the hat before Brown noticed it. Brown's entire family chose to get a tattoo of the verse after he spoke publicly about it last month.
Timeline
Last month: Brown spoke publicly about the Acts 20:24 verse.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Vander Zee met with media wearing the hat.
The day before Brown noticed the hat: Vander Zee first wore it to practice.
Season Trajectory
Under NIL rules that let college athletes sell their own merchandise, players are increasingly turning personal designs into licensed products, as Brown has done with MyPlayer. The arrangement shows how individual player brands are becoming part of the college football marketplace.
Fans who want the hat can still buy it in black, white, or cream through the limited-time collection. The hat is sold through MyPlayer's online storefront.
The takeaway
Player-designed merchandise is giving college athletes a direct way to share personal faith and identity with teammates and fans. For readers interested in similar apparel, checking the official collection listing is the most direct path.
Further reading
For more Hawkeye coverage, see Football news in Iowa City.
