Babe Laufenberg
No. 12, 15, 16, 11 | |||||||||
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Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Burbank, California, U.S. | December 5, 1959||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 216 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Crespi Carmelite (Encino, California) | ||||||||
College: | Indiana | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 1983 / Round: 6 / Pick: 168 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Brandon Hugh "Babe" Laufenberg (born December 5, 1959) is an American former professional
Early years
Laufenberg grew up in
As a senior, he received Parade
College career
Laufenberg accepted a football scholarship from Stanford University, where Bill Walsh was the head coach at the time. He was redshirted as a freshman behind Steve Dils. The next year John Elway enrolled at the school, so Laufenberg decided to transfer to the University of Missouri after being listed third-string on the depth chart. At the time, Missouri had just implemented the veer offense and Phil Bradley was the starting quarterback, so he opted to transfer at the end of his first semester to Los Angeles Pierce College near his home.[1]
In 1980, Laufenberg passed for 1,590 yards and received offers from Big Ten Conference schools. He accepted a scholarship from head coach Lee Corso at Indiana University Bloomington, where he became a two-year starter at quarterback for the Hoosiers.[2]
As a junior, Laufenberg had a 3–8 record, registering 1,788 passing yards, 8 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In his final year, he posted a 5–6 record, 2,468 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, receiving honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors.[3]
Laufenberg finished his college career with school records for single-season passing yards (2,468), single-game passing yards (390), career pass completions (361), single-season pass completions (217), single-game pass completions (34), single-season attempts (364), career completion percentage (.586), single-season completion percentage (.596). He also was 2–0 against Purdue University.
Professional career
Washington Redskins (first stint)
Laufenberg was selected by the
In 1985, he competed with Jay Schroeder for the backup position behind Joe Theismann. He was waived on September 2, after the team decided to keep only two quarterbacks on the roster.
San Diego Chargers (first stint)
On October 1, 1985, Laufenberg was signed by the San Diego Chargers to backup Mark Herrmann after starter Dan Fouts suffered a knee injury,[4] but was cut on October 15, to make room for quarterback Joe Dufek.[5]
Washington Redskins (second stint)
On November 21, 1985, Laufenberg was signed to back up Jay Schroeder for the final five games of the season, after linebacker Lawrence Taylor broke Theismann's right leg on Monday Night Football.[6]
In 1986, he competed for a backup position in preseason against the recently signed Doug Williams and rookie Mark Rypien. He was released on August 26.[7]
Though he never appeared in a regular season or playoff game during his time with the Redskins, Laufenberg was a very popular player with the fans and the media. He was called "Mr. August" for his come-from-behind wins in preseason.[8]
New Orleans Saints
On August 28, 1986, Laufenberg was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints, but was released four days later, when the team decided to keep only two quarterbacks.[9] On September 22, he was brought back after Bobby Hebert suffered a broken foot and got a chance to play in his first regular-season game, coming in to run out the clock in a 38–7 win against Tampa Bay.[10][11]
Kansas City Chiefs
On May 28, 1987, Laufenberg was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs and was released on September 1.[12]
Washington Redskins (third stint)
On September 14,
Although he didn't cross the picket line, he was released when Schroeder returned to the lineup on October 27.[13] Because he was on the roster for only two games, he missed out on getting a Super Bowl share by one game.
San Diego Chargers (second stint)
On April 21,
Laufenberg started the first 6 games of season, before suffering 3 broken ribs against the New Orleans Saints.[16] He appeared in 8 games, registered 2 wins, while completing 69 of 144 passes for 778 yards with 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He was cut on April 17, 1989.[17]
Dallas Cowboys
In 1989, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys, reuniting with Rhome who was the team's quarterback coach. He would also make the roster by beating Scott Secules for the third-string quarterback job.[18]
In 1990, he was moved to the backup quarterback position after Steve Walsh was traded to the New Orleans Saints, 3 games into the season. The Cowboys had a 7–8 record and needed one win to secure a playoff berth, when Laufenberg was forced into action after quarterback Troy Aikman injured his right shoulder against the Philadelphia Eagles, resulting in a 17–3 loss.[19] Facing the Atlanta Falcons (4-11) in the last game of the year as the starter, he completed 10 passes in 24 attempts for 129 yards and one touchdown, in a 26–7 loss that positioned the Saints for the final playoff wild card spot.[20]
The next season, the team went into
Laufenberg is also credited with giving Daryl Johnston the nickname "Moose". In the offensive meetings, Johnston towered over the other fullbacks and Laufenberg said that he looked like, "A moose in a herd of deer".[22]
Ohio Glory (WLAF)
In
Personal life
Laufenberg was the lead sports anchor and Sports Director for
In 2019, Laufenberg's son, Luke, died at age 21 of lymphoma.[26]
References
- ^ "A Little Bit of History". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Have arm, will travel-anyplace". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Carter, Bostic, Lukens Top All-Big Ten Football Team". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Chargers Sign Laufenberg". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Chargers Sign QB Joe Dufek". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Theismann Progresses And Laufenberg Returns". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Laufenberg Expecting Exit Today". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Travels With the Babe". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Elder Joins Steelers". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Saints sign QB Laufenberg". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Babe Laufenberg 1986 Game Log".
- ^ "NFL Teams Release Laufenberg, Kramer". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Same Old Story Babe Strikes Out". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "For Babe Laufenberg, Charger Camp May Just Be Right Place at Right Time". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "All Things Considered, Laufenberg Is Just Happy to Get His First Start". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Malone Gets the Call to Start for Chargers : Laufenberg Still Out With Rib Injury". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Chargers Will Not Offer Contract to Laufenberg for the 1989 Season". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Laufenberg Lands This Time With the Cowboys". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Cowboy Hopes Dim After Losing, 17-3". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "From being backup to have back issues, Babe Laufenberg can relate to Cowboys' crisis". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Moose Gets Loose In Hearts Of Fans". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "World League Drafts Laufenberg, Pringle". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Laufenberg Injured in World League Game". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Texas Sportscasters of the Year list". Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ Heinz, Frank (August 22, 2019). "Luke Laufenberg, Son of Babe Laufenberg, Succumbs to Cancer". NBC 5. Retrieved 7 January 2020.