He was the Lions' leading rusher for four consecutive years and was a member of the club's 1952 and 1953 NFL championship teams.

The Professional Football Researchers Association named Hoernschemeyer to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2008.

He was assigned to the Bainbridge Navy Training Center in Maryland, but he was granted a "special order discharge" allowing him to return to Indiana in the fall of 1944, pending his entry into the United States Military Academy.

[7][8] After returning to the starting lineup, he helped lead the 1944 Hoosiers to shutout victories over Michigan (20–0), Nebraska (54–0), Iowa (32–0), and Pittsburgh (47–0).

[9] Playing at the quarterback position, he helped lead the 1945 Navy Midshipmen football team to a 7–1–1 record and a #3 ranking in the final AP Poll, with the only loss coming to #1 Army.

"[10] In July 1946, Hoernschemeyer signed to play with the Chicago Rockets in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).

[2] After playing the first two games of the 1947 season with the Rockets, Hoernschemeyer was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers in a three-team deal that sent the league's 1946 MVP Glenn Dobbs from the Dodgers to the Los Angeles Dons and 1943 Heisman Trophy winner Angelo Bertelli to the Rockets.

[2] When the Dodgers merged with the New York Yankees in early 1949, Hoernschemeyer was assigned to the Chicago team by then known as the Hornets.

[15] When the AAFC folded, Hoernschemeyer, with five years experience, held the league record for total offense as a passer and rusher.

[2] On Thanksgiving Day 1950, he set two Detroit club records, rushing for 198 yards and a 96-yard touchdown run against the New York Yankees.

[2] He suffered a shoulder separation against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 13, 1955, ending his NFL career at age 30.