Brock Hoffman Bio
Brock Hoffman (born July 2, 1999) is an American professional football center for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 302 pounds, Hoffman plays along the interior of the offensive line and has appeared at both center and guard during his NFL career. After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, he signed with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Dallas Cowboys later that year. He has since developed into a dependable depth piece who has stepped into starting roles when called upon.
Hoffman played college football at Coastal Carolina University and Virginia Tech, earning academic recognition at both programs. He signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent in April 2022 and was signed to the Cowboys practice squad in November 2022. He signed a reserve/future contract with Dallas in January 2023 and has remained with the organization since, contributing on both the practice squad and the active roster.
Early Life and Background
Brock Hoffman was born on July 2, 1999, in Statesville, North Carolina. He grew up in the same region where he would eventually build his athletic reputation, attending high school locally and developing into one of the more reliable interior offensive linemen in the state.
He attended West Iredell High School before transferring to Statesville High School after his freshman year. As a junior, he was named the starter at center and earned All-North Piedmont Conference honors. As a senior, he received first-team NCPreps.com 3A All-State recognition, second-team American Family Insurance All-North Carolina (all divisions) honors, and All-North Piedmont Conference honors. Those accomplishments helped him earn a college opportunity, first at Georgia Southern University, before he moved on to Coastal Carolina.
Path to Professional Football
Hoffman originally committed to Georgia Southern University but spent only six months there before accepting a football scholarship from Coastal Carolina University. The decision to enroll at Coastal Carolina gave him an early opportunity to compete at the college level and proved to be a defining step in his development as an offensive lineman.
As a freshman at Coastal Carolina, Hoffman started all 12 games at center, becoming the first true freshman to start at center in school history and just the third true freshman to start along the offensive line. He was named to the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List for achieving at least a 3.5 GPA in 2017-18. The following season, he started all 12 games at right guard and did not allow a sack, helping the Chanticleers average 198.7 rushing yards per game, which ranked fourth in the Sun Belt Conference.
Brock Hoffman Career
College Career (2017-2021)
Hoffman played at Coastal Carolina from 2017 through 2018 before transferring to Virginia Tech in 2019. He sat out the 2019 season after his appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility through a family hardship waiver was denied, a case that drew national attention because his mother had recently undergone surgery to remove a non-cancerous brain tumor. Despite the setback, he returned to the field in 2020 and resumed his role as a starter at center.
As a junior at Virginia Tech, he started all 11 games at center and helped the offense lead the ACC Conference with 240.1 yards per game. He was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice and earned All-ACC Academic Team honors. As a senior, he posted 10 starts at center and one at left guard, and also moved to right tackle against West Virginia when starter Silas Dzansi left with an injury, showcasing his positional flexibility along the offensive line.
Virginia Tech Breakthrough (2020-2021)
Hoffman’s two seasons at Virginia Tech established him as one of the most reliable interior linemen in the ACC. His ability to start every game at center as a junior demonstrated his durability and understanding of the position. He was recognized for his consistency in both pass protection and run blocking.
During his senior year, he continued to start at center and produced strong tape against ACC competition. His willingness to slide to right tackle mid-game and hold his own against Power 5 competition further boosted his draft profile. Although he ultimately went undrafted, his versatility and game experience helped him land a free agent deal shortly after the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cleveland Browns Era (2022)
Hoffman signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022, following the conclusion of that year’s NFL Draft. He participated in the Browns’ rookie minicamp and offseason program, working to earn a role on the offensive line. Cleveland waived him on August 30, 2022, but quickly re-signed him to the practice squad the following day as he continued to develop.
His time with the Browns came to an end on November 7, 2022, when he was released from the practice squad. The short stint in Cleveland, however, gave him his first professional experience and set the stage for his next opportunity in Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2022-Present)
On November 16, 2022, Hoffman was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on December 29 and again on January 21, 2023, for the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. On January 23, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Cowboys, formally securing his place with the organization.
In 2023, he was waived on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster during the first three weeks of the season. He started at center in place of Tyler Biadasz in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals and was signed to the active roster on September 30. He also started at right guard in place of Zack Martin in the season finale against the Washington Commanders, with the NFC East title on the line. In 2024, he took over at right guard for an injured Zack Martin in the fourth quarter of Week 10 against the Houston Texans and started the remaining games of the season. He also stepped in at center during a Week 14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals after Cooper Beebe was ruled out with a concussion, then remained the starter at center in Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers.
Playing Style and Strengths
Hoffman is valued for his positional flexibility along the interior offensive line, having started games at center, right guard, and right tackle. His college track record of not allowing a sack as a sophomore at Coastal Carolina and his ability to help an offense rank among the league’s best in rushing demonstrate his effectiveness in the run game. He has also shown poise in pass protection and the football IQ to take over a starting role mid-game against Power 5 competition.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Hoffman’s most significant moments came in 2024 when he replaced future Hall of Famer Zack Martin at right guard and held the job for the rest of the season after Martin underwent right ankle surgery and eventually retired. He started the final seven contests and helped Rico Dowdle become the first undrafted free agent in Cowboys history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. He also appeared in a Cowboys playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers in January 2023.
Brock Hoffman Career Highlights
Hoffman has built a professional resume that features starts at center and right guard, plus an emergency start at right tackle during his senior season at Virginia Tech. His most prominent NFL contribution to date has been his 2024 stretch run with the Dallas Cowboys, where he stepped in for Zack Martin and helped the team clinch a winning finish.
NFL Highlights
Hoffman’s first NFL start came at center for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 of the 2023 season against the Arizona Cardinals. He went on to start at right guard in the 2023 season finale against the Washington Commanders with the NFC East title on the line. In 2024, he started the final seven games of the season, contributing to a productive Cowboys offense down the stretch.
College Highlights
At Coastal Carolina, Hoffman became the first true freshman to start at center in school history and was part of an offense that ranked fourth in the Sun Belt in rushing. At Virginia Tech, he helped the Hokies lead the ACC in total offense in 2020 and earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors twice, including after games against Louisville and NC State.
Brock Hoffman Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Hoffman’s family life became part of his public story during his college career. In 2019, he transferred from Coastal Carolina to Virginia Tech to be closer to his mother, who had undergone surgery two years earlier to remove a non-cancerous brain tumor. His subsequent waiver request for immediate eligibility was denied by the NCAA, a case that drew national attention.
2025 Season Outlook
Hoffman is expected to remain a key depth piece along the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line heading into the 2025 season. His ability to play both center and guard makes him a valuable option behind projected starters Cooper Beebe and the rest of the interior group. With Zack Martin now retired, Hoffman could be in line for an expanded role in the rotation at right guard and as a swing center.
Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he started the final seven games and helped Rico Dowdle reach 1,000 rushing yards, Hoffman has momentum heading into 2025. The Cowboys will likely lean on his versatility and game experience as they sort out the lineup along the interior. If he continues to develop, he could push for a full-time starting role and further establish himself as a long-term contributor in Dallas.