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 January 1986, and they had a child later that year.^[6][21]