Mitch Hoopes

Facing 4th and 13th in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, he ran for a critical first down without informing head coach Tom Landry and helped the team achieve an 18–7 upset victory. He averaged 39.4 yards per punt and also completed one out of 3 passing attempts for 21 yards.

In 1978, he signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles and became part of a revolving door at punter with Rick Engles, where he was signed three times during the season.

The next year with the arrival of Danny White who could play quarterback and punt, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers in exchange for an eight-round draft choice (#208-Al Cleveland) in the 1977 NFL draft.

In 1977, Hoopes signed with the Saint Louis Cardinals but was waived on September 9.

In 1977, he was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions, but was released after one game.

In 1976, Hoopes was released in mid season after averaging 38.8 yards per punt.

The Houston Oilers signed him in 1976, but released him after one game, for averaging only 31 yards a punt.

Hoopes was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the eighth round (200th overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft, also known as the Dirty Dozen draft. That season he and Burton Lawless were the only rookies to earn starting jobs.

In 1973, he ended up concentrating on punting and was among college football's leaders with a 43.9 average, second in school history at the time. The next year he averaged 41.8 yards, with a long of 59.

Mitchell Kent Hoopes (born July 8, 1953) is a former American football punter in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of Arizona.