Husky Legend: Steve Hoffmann
September 06, 2019 | Football
By Tanner Kay
Steve Hoffmann came to the University of Washington expecting a family feel. His brother, linebacker Dave Hoffmann, was already dominating for the Huskies, so he knew he had him to lean on. But, Hoffmann would find so much more. By the time Hoffmann left UW he had met his future wife and made friendships that would last a lifetime.
One of those lasting friendships is with UW radio analyst and Director of External Relations, Damon Huard. So it was only fitting that it was Huard that informed Hoffmann that he had been selected as the Husky Legend to be recognized during the California game.
"That was really neat," Hoffmann said. "Damon and I were roommates when we first came in for double days as freshmen. He sent me a note letting me know, and I'll tell you, that was a thrill for me."
Hoffmann came to the University of Washington during the Huskies' undefeated 1991 season. He spent that year as a redshirt, but in the following year Hoffmann was given the chance to start late in the season and was able to help UW to a nine-win season and Rose Bowl appearance.
"I started towards the end of my freshman year, and that allowed me start with my brother in the Rose Bowl," Hoffmann said. "We had a chance to play together for a couple of years and that was really special."
Following the 1992 season Dave left for the NFL, and looking back now, Steve cites playing with his brother as one of his fondest memories.
"Playing with Dave was a thrill. It's kind of fun now cause we're able to tell our kids about it and they laugh at us and give us a hard time. Especially if there is a video that shows us playing out there. We look a lot younger and more in shape," he laughed.
In 1993 Hoffmann was injured early in the season and was forced to have surgery sidelining him until the following spring. Returning in 1994, Hoffmann was able to start and play in all 11 games the Huskies played in. One of those games in particular stands out to Hoffmann.
"That Whammy in Miami game was a very special game. That's one that us guys still reflect on," Hoffmann said.
"We grabbed that tombstone off of the Orange Bowl and brought that back to the Hall of Fame. Those are memories that nobody can take away from you."
In Hoffmann's senior year, he was unfortunately hampered by injuries again, limiting him to six games played during the 1995 season. His many injuries over such a short span could have been discouraging for Hoffmann, but he was able to bounce back every time.
"I was still able to comeback. It's not a pat on my back, but just to be able to come back and to start each of my four years, that really was nice," he said.
Helping Hoffmann making his comeback were many different people and coaches, including legendary coaches Don James and Randy Hart.
"I look back on it and I'm very thankful that I got to play in a place that had such a solid, not only head coach in Don James, but position coach in Randy Hart," Hoffmann said. "To have the kind of stability we had in that program, having a coach like Randy, who was obviously very passionate, but also very caring, I learned a lot from those guys, I learned a lot from my professors up the hill, but I learned equally as much from my coaches."
But James and Hart were not the only mentors Hoffmann had at Washington.
"During double days my freshman year, Coach James matched us up with a person in the community that we could use as a mentor," he said. "My mentor was Wayne Gittinger. He and I developed a friendship that lasted 23 years, until he passed away in 2014. He was a person whom I called for advice for many years, well past my football days. That connection continues to this day, through my friendship with his widow, Anne Gittinger."
After graduating from UW, Hoffmann tried out for the San Diego Chargers. Hoffmann made it to final cuts but didn't earn a spot on the final roster.
"I felt I wanted to give it one good shot, and if I made it great, and if I didn't, that's not the end of the world," Hoffmann said.
While at UW Hoffmann started working for GLY Construction during the summers. In 1996, after his tryout with the Chargers, Hoffmann returned to Seattle and began work at the GLY Construction full time. He's been there ever since and has gone from part-time laborer to owning part of the company. Construction is something that Hoffmann feels is right in the wheelhouse of a former defensive linemen.
"In our row, we had linebackers and defensive linemen, and tight ends," he explained. "And the coaches would always come down our row, and call it blue collar row. We were the guys who were going to bring our lunch pails to work and get after it."
As Hoffmann reflects on his time at UW, he knows how fortunate he was to not only play with his family at UW, but to meet someone he would one day start a family of his own with.
"In terms of memories, I was able to start dating a really pretty basketball player in college," he said of his wife, the former Heidi Hills. "We met in college and became great friends and got married."
As Hoffmann returns to Montlake, he will again walk onto Husky Field in front of thousands of screaming fans. But this time, he will get to soak in the adoration of the crowd with a family of his own by his side.
Steve Hoffmann came to the University of Washington expecting a family feel. His brother, linebacker Dave Hoffmann, was already dominating for the Huskies, so he knew he had him to lean on. But, Hoffmann would find so much more. By the time Hoffmann left UW he had met his future wife and made friendships that would last a lifetime.
One of those lasting friendships is with UW radio analyst and Director of External Relations, Damon Huard. So it was only fitting that it was Huard that informed Hoffmann that he had been selected as the Husky Legend to be recognized during the California game.
"That was really neat," Hoffmann said. "Damon and I were roommates when we first came in for double days as freshmen. He sent me a note letting me know, and I'll tell you, that was a thrill for me."
Hoffmann came to the University of Washington during the Huskies' undefeated 1991 season. He spent that year as a redshirt, but in the following year Hoffmann was given the chance to start late in the season and was able to help UW to a nine-win season and Rose Bowl appearance.
"I started towards the end of my freshman year, and that allowed me start with my brother in the Rose Bowl," Hoffmann said. "We had a chance to play together for a couple of years and that was really special."
Following the 1992 season Dave left for the NFL, and looking back now, Steve cites playing with his brother as one of his fondest memories.
"Playing with Dave was a thrill. It's kind of fun now cause we're able to tell our kids about it and they laugh at us and give us a hard time. Especially if there is a video that shows us playing out there. We look a lot younger and more in shape," he laughed.
In 1993 Hoffmann was injured early in the season and was forced to have surgery sidelining him until the following spring. Returning in 1994, Hoffmann was able to start and play in all 11 games the Huskies played in. One of those games in particular stands out to Hoffmann.
"That Whammy in Miami game was a very special game. That's one that us guys still reflect on," Hoffmann said.
"We grabbed that tombstone off of the Orange Bowl and brought that back to the Hall of Fame. Those are memories that nobody can take away from you."
In Hoffmann's senior year, he was unfortunately hampered by injuries again, limiting him to six games played during the 1995 season. His many injuries over such a short span could have been discouraging for Hoffmann, but he was able to bounce back every time.
"I was still able to comeback. It's not a pat on my back, but just to be able to come back and to start each of my four years, that really was nice," he said.
Helping Hoffmann making his comeback were many different people and coaches, including legendary coaches Don James and Randy Hart.
"I look back on it and I'm very thankful that I got to play in a place that had such a solid, not only head coach in Don James, but position coach in Randy Hart," Hoffmann said. "To have the kind of stability we had in that program, having a coach like Randy, who was obviously very passionate, but also very caring, I learned a lot from those guys, I learned a lot from my professors up the hill, but I learned equally as much from my coaches."
But James and Hart were not the only mentors Hoffmann had at Washington.
"During double days my freshman year, Coach James matched us up with a person in the community that we could use as a mentor," he said. "My mentor was Wayne Gittinger. He and I developed a friendship that lasted 23 years, until he passed away in 2014. He was a person whom I called for advice for many years, well past my football days. That connection continues to this day, through my friendship with his widow, Anne Gittinger."
After graduating from UW, Hoffmann tried out for the San Diego Chargers. Hoffmann made it to final cuts but didn't earn a spot on the final roster.
"I felt I wanted to give it one good shot, and if I made it great, and if I didn't, that's not the end of the world," Hoffmann said.
While at UW Hoffmann started working for GLY Construction during the summers. In 1996, after his tryout with the Chargers, Hoffmann returned to Seattle and began work at the GLY Construction full time. He's been there ever since and has gone from part-time laborer to owning part of the company. Construction is something that Hoffmann feels is right in the wheelhouse of a former defensive linemen.
"In our row, we had linebackers and defensive linemen, and tight ends," he explained. "And the coaches would always come down our row, and call it blue collar row. We were the guys who were going to bring our lunch pails to work and get after it."
As Hoffmann reflects on his time at UW, he knows how fortunate he was to not only play with his family at UW, but to meet someone he would one day start a family of his own with.
"In terms of memories, I was able to start dating a really pretty basketball player in college," he said of his wife, the former Heidi Hills. "We met in college and became great friends and got married."
As Hoffmann returns to Montlake, he will again walk onto Husky Field in front of thousands of screaming fans. But this time, he will get to soak in the adoration of the crowd with a family of his own by his side.
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