Selected by the Michigan Panthers in the third round (34th selection overall) in the 1983 USFL Draft, Bobby Hebert came to the league by way of Cut-Off, Louisiana and his alma mater, Northwestern Louisiana State University.  Establishing himself not only as a quarterback capable of starting in the USFL, but capable of winning in it as well.

The "Cajun Cannon," aided by receivers such as rookies Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway along with veteran tight end Mike Cobb, a running game featuring Ken Lacy, and protected by an offensive line which included former Pittsburgh Steeler Ray Pinney, threw for over 3,500 yards and 27 touchdowns in his rookie campaign, leading the Michigan Panthers to a 12-6-0 record and the USFL Central Division title.  The team then went on to defeat the Oakland Invaders in the divisional playoffs and upset the Philadelphia Stars 24-22 in the inaugural USFL Championship Game, where Hebert's performance (20 of 39 for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns) earned him MVP honors.  1984 proved even more fruitful for Hebert statistically as he threw for 3,758 yards and another 24 touchdowns, leading the Panthers back to the playoffs.  Unlike 1983 though the Panthers were derailed in the playoffs by the L.A. Express in the longest game in pro football history, a 27-21 triple overtime thriller.

In 1985 Hebert moved west with other members of the Panthers as the team was merged with the Oakland Invaders.  The Invaders, vastly improved with Hebert's addition, went 13-4-1 and advanced to the USFL Championship Game, where Hebert once again faced the Stars.  This time however, Louisiana Lightning wasn't enough to stop the Stars, who won what would be the USFL's final game ever, 28-24.

Hebert moved on to the NFL, playing with his "hometown" team, the New Orleans Saints from 1985 to 1992 where among his coaches was Jim Mora - the coach he twice squared off against for USFL titles.  After the 1992 season he signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent, playing another four years before retiring after the 1996 season.  Over the course of his pro career Hebert threw for over 30,000 yards and 175 touchdowns.

Inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Louisiana Supers Hall of Fame the following year, today Hebert is a sports talk-show host on WWL radio in New Orleans.

BOBBY HEBERT

Michigan Panthers, Oakland
Invaders (shown in WWL
publicity photo)
.

<< Return to "Key Players" <<

USFL.INFO - Copyright © 2007 - The McIntire Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.
The names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, slogans, photographs, audio and video recordings, and any other intellectual properties
utilized in USFL.INFO are used on a "Fair Use" basis, without intent of profit.  Such intellectual properties are retained by their respective holders.