| No. 78 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Guard | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | June 4, 1964 Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 275 lb (125 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Preble (Green Bay) | ||||||
| College | Minnesota (1982–1986) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 1987: undrafted | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
| |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Jim Hobbins (born June 4, 1964) is an American former professional football player who was a guard for one season in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and also was a member of the Green Bay Bombers in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL).
Early life
[edit]Hobbins was born on June 4, 1964, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[1] He attended Preble High School in Green Bay and is one of four of their alumni to play in the NFL.[2] He was a letterman in three sports: football, basketball and track and field.[3] As a senior in 1981, Hobbins was named first-team all-conference on offense at tackle and second-team on defense at end; he also was selected first-team (offense) and second-team (defense) all-metro and was a second-team all-state choice.[3][4][5] He graduated in 1982 as ninth in a class of 572.[3][6]
College career
[edit]Hobbins enrolled at the University of Minnesota and began playing for their Golden Gopher football team after he graduated from Preble.[3] He had been highly recruited and joined Minnesota over offers from other schools such as Wisconsin and Iowa.[7][8] He saw limited action as a true freshman but started the season finale against Wisconsin.[9] He became a full-time starter at left tackle in the 1983 season but played for a Golden Gopher team described as "possibly the poorest collegiate team in the country."[9]
Hobbins broke his foot on the first day of practice entering the 1984 season and missed the entire year as a redshirt.[10] He returned as a starter in 1985 and helped Minnesota have one of the top rushing offenses nationally.[11] As a senior in 1986, he remained a starter and was named second-team All-Big Ten Conference, also participating in the Liberty Bowl.[6] During his time at Minnesota, Hobbins was also a first-team Academic All-Big Ten selection.[6] He graduated with a degree in business finance.[12]
Professional career
[edit]Hobbins went unselected in the 1987 NFL draft.[13] He was subsequently signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent, attempting to become the first Green Bay native to play for the Packers in 13 years.[14] He was limited by injury throughout the offseason and was released during roster cuts.[12][15] He signed a strike option contract, however, after being cut, allowing him to re-join the Packers as a replacement player when the NFLPA went on strike later that season.[16] He made his NFL debut against the Minnesota Vikings and ultimately started all three strike games as a guard before being released, posting a fumble recovery as his only statistic.[1][17][18]
Hobbins was then out of football until 11 years later, when he made the roster of the Green Bay Bombers in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL).[19] Nicknamed "Grandpa", he was the oldest player on the team at the age of 34.[19] He earned $200 per game with the Bombers while also working at Arbon Equipment when not playing.[19] He was selected second-team all-league at the end of the season.[20]
Personal life
[edit]Hobbins married Amy Lou Murto in January 1986, and they had a child later that year.[6][21]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Jim Hobbins Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
- ^ "Preble (Green Bay, WI) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c d White, Brian (April 19, 1987). "Drafted or not, Hobbins will get a chance". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 75. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kohl, Tom (November 12, 1981). "Cards blanked on Valley team". The Reporter. p. 26. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Turnquist, Bill (November 18, 1981). "Nelsen, Reed head 1981 All-Metro". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 21. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d Barreire, Dan (December 30, 1986). "Hobbins an exception to the football stereotype". Star Tribune. p. 38. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Grall, Dennis (February 7, 1982). "Linemen lead the way among state prospects". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 37. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Grall, Dennis (February 10, 1982). "Hobbins picks UM". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 19. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Grall, Dennis (October 29, 1983). "Gopher ball: Hobbins endures dismal football season at Minnesota". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 15, 17. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ White, Brian (December 2, 1984). "Pro scouts taking notice of Dollinger". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 39. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ White, Brian (November 7, 1985). "Hobbins easily psyched for Badgers". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 37, 40. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b McGinn, Bob (August 28, 1987). "Injured Hobbins ponders future". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 17, 20. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jim Hobbins Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ McGinn, Bob (May 2, 1987). "Hobbins comes home for tryout". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 17. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ McGinn, Bob (August 31, 1987). "Woodley, Hobbins among 12 players cut by Packers". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 49. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Packer replacements excited about Vikings' game". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. Associated Press. September 30, 1987. p. 11. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jim Hobbins Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Jim Hobbins NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c Murphy, Patrick Jr. (April 9, 1998). "Bombers' 'Grandpa' played for Packers". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 21, 26. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Five Bombers players are all-league first team". The Post-Crescent. August 5, 1998. p. 38. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Murto-Hobbins". Green Bay Press-Gazette. March 5, 1986. p. 42. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
