# Mitch Hoopes > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mitch_Hoopes > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mitch_Hoopes.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Hoopes > Source revision: 1320472012 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Mitchell Kent Hoopes** (July 8, 1953 – August 11, 2020) was an American professional [football](/source/American_football) [punter](/source/Punter_(American_football)) in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) for the [Dallas Cowboys](/source/Dallas_Cowboys), [San Diego Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers), [Houston Oilers](/source/Houston_Oilers), [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions) and [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles). He also was a member of the [Boston Breakers](/source/Boston_Breakers) in the [United States Football League](/source/United_States_Football_League) (USFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) at the [University of Arizona](/source/University_of_Arizona). ## Early life Hoopes attended [Benson High School](/source/Benson_High_School_(Arizona)) in [Benson, Arizona](/source/Benson,_Arizona), where he played as a [halfback](/source/Halfback_(American_football)) in Class B [football](/source/American_football). He received All-Conference, All-State and All-Star honors. He also practiced [basketball](/source/Basketball) and [baseball](/source/Baseball). As a senior, he contributed to the team winning the 1971 2A state basketball championship, with a 75-59 victory over [Wickenburg High School](/source/Wickenburg_High_School). ## College career Hoopes enrolled at [Eastern Arizona Junior College](/source/Eastern_Arizona_College). He transferred after his sophomore season to the [University of Arizona](/source/University_of_Arizona) to play as a [defensive back](/source/Defensive_back) and [punter](/source/Punter_(football)). As a junior in 1973, he ended up concentrating on [punting](/source/Punter_(football)) and was among [college football](/source/College_football)'s leaders with a 43.9 average, second in school history at the time.[1] As a senior in 1974, he averaged 41.8 yards, with a long of 59. ## Professional career ### Dallas Cowboys Hoopes was selected by the [Dallas Cowboys](/source/Dallas_Cowboys) in the eighth round (200th overall) of the [1975 NFL draft](/source/1975_NFL_draft), also known as the [Dirty Dozen draft](/source/Dirty_Dozen_(American_football)). That season he and [Burton Lawless](/source/Burton_Lawless) were the only rookies to earn starting jobs. Facing 4th and 13 in the season opener against the [Los Angeles Rams](/source/Los_Angeles_Rams), he ran for a critical [first down](/source/First_down) without informing [head coach](/source/Head_coach) [Tom Landry](/source/Tom_Landry) and helped the team achieve an 18–7 upset victory.[2] He averaged 39.4 yards per [punt](/source/Punter_(football)) and also completed one out of 3 passing attempts for 21 yards. Playing in [Super Bowl X](/source/Super_Bowl_X) with less than 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarters, the Cowboys led 10-7 when Steelers backup [running back](/source/Running_back) [Reggie Harrison](/source/Reggie_Harrison) broke through the middle of the [offensive line](/source/Offensive_line) and blocked a Hoopes' punt out of the [end zone](/source/End_zone) for a [safety](/source/Safety_(gridiron_football_score)), cutting the lead to 10-9. The Steelers went on to win 21-17. On August 3, [1976](/source/1976_NFL_season), with the arrival of [Danny White](/source/Danny_White) who could play [quarterback](/source/Quarterback) and [punt](/source/Punter_(football)), he was traded to the [San Diego Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers) in exchange for an eight-round draft choice (#208-Al Cleveland) in the [1977 NFL draft](/source/1977_NFL_draft).[3] ### San Diego Chargers On November 9, [1976](/source/1976_NFL_season), Hoopes was released mid-season after averaging 38.8 yards per punt and running from a punt formation on a fourth and 17 against the [Houston Oilers](/source/Houston_Oilers).[4] ### Houston Oilers On November 12, [1976](/source/1976_NFL_season), he was signed by the [Houston Oilers](/source/Houston_Oilers). On November 21, he was released after one game, for averaging only 31 yards a [punt](/source/Punter_(football)).[5] ### Saint Louis Cardinals On May 18, [1977](/source/1977_NFL_season), Hoopes signed with the [Saint Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals_(NFL)).[6] He was waived on September 9.[7] ### Detroit Lions On September 10, [1977](/source/1977_NFL_season), he was claimed off waivers by the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions).[8] On September 22, he was released after one game, in which he had a punt blocked and another one returned for a touchdown.[9] ### Philadelphia Eagles On June 7, [1978](/source/1978_NFL_season), he signed as a [free agent](/source/Free_agent) with the [Philadelphia Eagles](/source/Philadelphia_Eagles).[10] He became part of a revolving door at [punter](/source/Punter_(football)) with [Rick Engles](/source/Rick_Engles), where he was signed three times during the season.[11] ### Boston Breakers On November 20, 1982, he was signed by the [Boston Breakers](/source/Portland_Breakers) of the [United States Football League](/source/United_States_Football_League).[12] He tore his right hamstring during mini-camp. Even though he was able to recover, he later re-injured the hamstring. He announced his retirement after the 13th game of the [1983 season](/source/1983_NFL_season). He registered 23 punts for 866 yards (37.7-yard avg.) with a long of 60 yards. ## Personal life Hoopes died on August 11, 2020, aged 67.[13] ## References 1. ["Rookies' Gamble Keys Ram Upset"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19750925&id=5XhPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5606,4817885). Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Many Doubted Cowboys"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19760110&id=SBRZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YEYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4863,1610751). Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Stram On The Carpet"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19760804&id=bPBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6758,973251). Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Transactions"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/77602038/). November 10, 1976. Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Blount Uses Horse Cure"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19761122&id=aIBIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2998,2383640). Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Cardinals sign Hoopes"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/24506786/). May 19, 1977. Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Transactions"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19770910&id=5d9NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3021,1429004). Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Lions sign Mitch Hoopes"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19770911&id=F_VLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1e0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5925,4655672). Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Lions Give Hoopes Boot, Sign 5th Punter of Year"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/98589983/). September 23, 1977. Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Eagles place Thorns on waivers"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/50888459/). June 8, 1978. Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Plunkett, Jury Waived"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19780829&id=FFddAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xlsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2914,3370449&hl=en). Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Transactions"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140068040/). November 21, 1982. Retrieved April 30, 2020. 1. ["Former Arizona Wildcat and NFL punter Mitch Hoopes passes away"](https://www.kgun9.com/sports/local-sports/former-arizona-wildcat-and-nfl-punter-mitch-hoopes-passes-away). Retrieved August 15, 2020. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mitch Hoopes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Hoopes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Hoopes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.