Jim Hobbins

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]

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]

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]

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