It’s been a weird couple of days for fans following the Michigan Panthers. While many sources on Twitter including Hafford’s former team the IFL’s Massachusetts Pirates made announcements and posts about Hafford’s recent transaction however, the league had yet to announce the move until late Monday night.
Hafford has had a well-traveled career since coming out of Division-II Tarleton State. After a quick stint with the Patriots for Seven days after the NFL Draft, Hafford spent the final weeks of the 2022 USFL season with Pittsburgh Maulers, before returning to New England for training camp in August for six days before being released once more by Bill Belichek’s team.
In November of 2022, the Houston Roughnecks would select him in the XFL draft however, Houston would release Hafford in January in the XFL’s first round of training camp player cuts. Hafford would find a home with the Argos of the CFL on January 31st, only to be released on May 17th, and subsequently would sign with the IFL’s Massachusetts on May 26th until the Panthers signed the former Division-II All American.
With an injury to KiAnte Hardin, and the recent acquisition of Eric Abojei, it appears the Panthers removed Corey Hoelck from their roster per the Fox Sports website to make room for Hafford, thought the team has not formerly announced the corresponding move. For Hafford the Panthers are his 6th Professional Team across his 5th Professional League since coming undrafted in 2022. For The Panthers and Hafford’s sake let’s hope he sticks around a while with a bit more success than his previous endeavors.
**UPDATE**
The Panthers announced on Tuesday Night that Corey Hoelck was officially released.
