The Cowboys took a hit on the offensive line when center Cooper Beebe sustained an ankle injury just two weeks into the 2025 season. Luckily, an experienced player is ready to step into Beebe’s role.
Brock Hoffman is expected to take over as the Cowboys’ starting center while Beebe recovers. Hoffman is no stranger to the position, previously lining up at the center and guard spots. Here are five things to know about Hoffman as he steps into the spotlight:
1. The basics
Name: Brock Hoffman
Cowboys
Position: Offensive lineman
Height: 6-4 Weight: 302 pounds
NFL experience: 3 years
College: Virginia Tech
Hometown: Statesville, North Carolina
2. He’s a versatile player
Hoffman has played multiple positions since joining the Cowboys in 2022. He started two games for the Cowboys in 2023, stepping in at center and right guard. He played center when Tyler Biadasz sustained an injury and right guard when Zack Martin missed the team’s regular-season finale due to illness.
Hoffman had another display of versatility in 2024 when he started seven games, mainly at right guard for an injured Martin.
The Cowboys closed out their Week 2 victory over the Giants with Hoffman at center after losing Beebe to an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.
3. He’s an intense guy on and off the field
According to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, Hoffman has an intense mentality on and off the field. That should fit well with the physical style Schottenheimer is trying to implement in Dallas.
“At practice, he does it. On gameday, from the sideline, he does it. So when he’s out there, it’s just maybe more noticeable for everybody else,” Schottenheimer told reporters. “But the intensity the guy plays with, the trash that he talks is kind of fun and cool. He gets underneath the defenders, gets in their heads a little bit, but yeah, his play style, it’s he’s wired the right way, man. And our guys love him but he’s definitely one of the leaders in that room.”
Here’s an example of Hoffman’s in-game intensity:
4. He found his competitive edge when he was young
Back in December 2024, Hoffman reflected on a Pop Warner game he played in the third grade. In that game, his mom called him out.
“She called me soft,” Hoffman told reporters. “She called me another word [describing soft] and ever since then I wasn’t going to be a soft football player.”
Here’s more on Hoffman’s journey from The Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins:
His father was a tight end/defensive end at Catawba College. That’s where Hoffman learned about playing the game. Hoffman’s toughness and fight came from his mother.
In 2018, Hoffman’s mother needed a brain tumor removed. He wanted to transfer from Coastal Carolina to play at Virginia Tech which was located closer, about 100 miles from where his parents lived. Instead of sitting out, he applied to the NCAA for a family waiver to play in the 2019 season at Virginia Tech. The NCAA denied Hoffman’s request.
So he sat out.
“Early on when it first happened I was very frustrated,” Hoffman said. “That year I got to redshirt at VT and it helped me to develop, just growing throughout the game, and spent another year in the game. I’m thankful for that year.”
5. He got married ahead of the 2025 season
Hoffman got married in Colorado before the 2025 campaign began. The offensive lineman shared some photos from his wedding on his Instagram page.
“07/03/2025 – The day my life changed forever! I promise to love you forever @abbeyyhoffman you have always been my person and I can’t wait to spend eternity with you,” Hoffman wrote on social media.
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