[1][2] Tofflemire was a 1984 graduate of Post Falls High School in northern Idaho,[1] where he was a four-year letterman in both track and football, and was inducted into the inaugural PFHS Hall of Fame, along with his best friend Rollin Putzier, who also was a lineman in the NFL.
[3] Joe set school records in both the shot-put and discus medaling at the Idaho state championships as well as being part of the sprint relay teams.
Highly recruited by many Division I teams, Tofflemire accepted a full-ride scholarship to the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Tofflemire was a 1989 graduate of the University of Arizona in Tucson, starting all four years at the position of Center becoming the best in Wildcat history.
Tofflemire was hurt the following year and was ultimately replaced by Ray Donaldson as the starter and the rest of his NFL career was plagued by injuries.
He retired after the 1994 season, not wanting to take a salary cut, putting an end to what many had thought would be a great NFL career coming out of college.
[11] Tofflemire died in 2011 at age 46 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, after being found unconscious and unresponsive in his Post Falls home.