Gary Hogeboom

Gary Hogeboom was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1980 after a four-year career at Central Michigan University. Hogeboom was a little-used back up to Danny White until the 1982 NFC Championship game when White was knocked out and Hogeboom passed for two touchdowns off the bench in a 31-17 loss to the Washington Redskins. Dallas coach Tom Landry then began giving Hogeboom more playing time backing up White until the 1984 season. In one of Coach Landry's most controversial decisions, Hogeboom was named the opening-day starting quarterback in 1984. The Cowboys got off to a 4-1 start that year, but injuries and ineffective play by Hogeboom caused the team to tail off and finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Hogeboom was cut by the Cowboys after the 1985 season and immediately signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He was actually cut before the 1987 season, but the NFL players' strike forced the Colts to re-sign him as a replacement player. Hogeboom went 2-1 as a starter, the Colts made the trade for Eric Dickerson shortly after, and Hogeboom was kept for the remainder of the season as backup to Jack Trudeau. As a result, the Colts won the AFC East, their first division title since the 1978 season. In 1989, his one full season as a starter with the Phoenix Cardinals, Hogeboom passed for a career-high 2,549 yards with 14 TDs. He went to pre-season camp with the Redskins in 1990, but was cut. Today, Hogeboom is retired and owns a prosperous land-development business.