Ex-PF football star Tofflemire dies
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 14 years, 3 months AGO
The Press has received reports that former Post Falls High School, University of Arizona and Seattle Seahawks star Joe Tofflemire died yesterday.
According to sources, Tofflemire was found unconscious in his Post Falls area home and died later at Kootenai Health. He was 46.
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department responded and performed CPR until medical personnel arrived, KCSD spokesman Stu Miller said. He didn't have further information.
Tofflemire was a 1984 graduate of PFHS and was named to the all-state team as a center both his junior and senior years. He was also named Idaho's Offensive Lineman of the year his senior season.
Tofflemire earned the nickname "Joe the Toe" at PFHS because of his kicking ability.
"Originally all he wanted to do was kick; he wasn't interested in the physicality of the game," said Nick Menegas, Tofflemire's coach at PFHS. "But he grew into a man, and this man became a giant of a football player. I was just blessed to be his coach. The guy was a flat-out legend.
"He was the first one in the weight room and the last one to leave. But more importantly, he had such a tender, caring compassionate personality."
He competed in track at PFHS and finished second in the shot put his senior year at the state meet. He set the school records in both the shot put and discus.
At the University of Arizona, Joe started four years at center, being named to the All Pac-10 team three years, and the All-American team his junior and senior years.
He won the Morris Trophy his senior year, which is given to the most outstanding offensive lineman in the Pac-10. He was also named captain of the team and MVP his senior year.
Since Graduating from Arizona, he has been named to the Pac-10 all 80's team, and has been elected to the university's Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1997 he was named to the Wildcat Stadium Ring of Honor. In 2000, he was named one of the top 100 athletes to attend the University of Arizona and was also named to the All-Century team as well as the Arizona All-Time, All Pac-10 First Team.
Tofflemire was the 44th player chosen in the 1989 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks, playing for seven years starting at center before retiring in 1995.