Jim Hobbins

Jim Hobbins (born June 4, 1964) is an American former football guard who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for 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).

Jim Hobbins

No. 78
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Born:	(1964-06-04) June 4, 1964 (age 60) 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, Wisconsin)
College:	Minnesota (1982–1986)
Undrafted:	1987
Career history
Green Bay Packers (1987) Green Bay Bombers (1998)
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big Ten (1986) Second-team All-PIFL (1998)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 3 Games started: 3 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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

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

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

Hobbins married Amy Lou Murto in January 1986, and they had a child later that year.^[6][21]

References

1. "Jim Hobbins Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
2. "Preble (Green Bay, WI) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. "Jim Hobbins Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. "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.
17. "Jim Hobbins Career Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
18. "Jim Hobbins NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
19. 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.
20. "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.
21. "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.