Kurt Ploeger is a former defensive end and defensive end in the National Football League.
Education
Ploeger attended Le Sueur High School, where he practiced football, basketball, and track. He was named the starter at right defensive tackle as a junior and finished with 96 tackles, 7 quarterback sacks, 6 blocked passes, one fumble recovery and a blocked punt.
Career
He currently serves on the staff of an Evangelical Free Church in Mesa, Arizona called Grace Church. He accepted a football scholarship from Gustavus Adolphus College, where he was moved to defensive tackle. He received National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II All-American, All-MIAC and All-District 13 honors.
Ploeger improved his production as a senior, registering 113 tackles (45 solos and 11 for loss), 8 quarterback sacks, 4 blocked passes, and one fumble recovery.
He earned Division III All-American and All-MIAC honors. In 2002, he was inducted into the Gustavus Adolphus College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Dallas Cowboys
Ploeger was drafted in the sixth round (144th overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He was placed on the injured reserve list with a thigh injury in August, 1985.
He was originally waived on September first, 1986, but was re-signed on September 9 and played in 3 games, before being released again to make room for Mike Renfro, who was activated from the injured reserve list.
Green Bay Packers
He was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers on October 13, 1986. He was cut on October 21. Buffalo Bills
On December 17, 1986, he signed with the Buffalo Bills.
He was waived on August 31, 1987.
Minnesota Vikings
After the players went on a strike on the third week of the 1987 season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. Ploeger was signed to be a part of the Minnesota Vikings replacement team
He played in one game, but suffered a career ending back injury.