“I walked off of the football field and into the front office,” Hobley said. “I spent three years as the Player Program Coordinator, spending a lot of time with the coaches in the film room and in the community working with different organizations and foundations … I was lucky to get in without an undergrad degree.”
Spotlight
Liffort Hobley
Former defensive back Liffort Hobley is always looking to maximize his opportunities.
After a 7-year career with the Miami Dolphins and St. Louis Cardinals, Hobley leveraged his contacts within the Dolphins organization to land a role in the front office despite lacking an undergraduate degree.
“ I walked off of the football field and into the front office. ”
Nearly 20 years later, the former safety has seen the benefits available to players change drastically since he left the NFL in 1993, and has made an effort to take advantage of the resources available to him.
Despite working as a software consultant for over 18 years, Hobley is enrolling in classes at LSU this summer through The Trust’s Scholarship Award Benefit. And as the president of the NFL Alumni chapter in Dallas, Hobley is hoping to encourage his other chapter members to utilize the benefits they’ve earned.
In addition to his education goals, Hobley also recently took part in The Trust’s Milestone Wellness Benefit, a medical benefit designed to assess the health needs of players who have been out of the league for over 15 years.
“I thought it would be great if an NFL Alumni president goes first and takes the opportunity to bring back the information to make other former players feel a little more comfortable,” Hobley said.
“ I thought it would be great if an NFL Alumni president goes first and takes the opportunity to bring back the information to make other former players feel a little more comfortable. ”
Hobley was able to take the assessment at Tulane, with a familiar group of doctors from his football days at LSU. Following a thorough physical examination, which included a psych evaluation, dental consult, CAT scan and full-body X-Ray, Hobley said that the experience was an eye-opener.
“A lot of those things weren’t uncomfortable, but rather eye-opening. At first I was nervous, but I felt a lot more comfortable the more we got into it … It felt great to see where I am at 55, especially based on my career and lifestyle.”
As chapter president, Hobley has already passed along feedback about his experience onto his peers, with several other former players following in his footsteps.
“Sharing information may help get players moving a little faster and get their tails down to New Orleans or one of the other centers,” Hobley said. “During a chapter meeting, a player expressed interest in contacting The Trust. He ended up going to Cleveland Clinic in Florida and said it was unbelievable. He was so happy he did it.”
“ Sharing information may help get players moving a little faster and get their tails down to New Orleans or one of the other centers. ”
Hobley’s advice for other players on taking advantage of their benefits?
“The Trust is a great program to attach yourself to and get a lot out of. If you aren’t, you’re doing yourself an injustice."
The Trust is here to support you.
Ready to learn how?