Rusty Hilger

NFL player


Name=Rusty Hilger
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1962|05|9
Birthplace= Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DateofDeath=
Position=Quarterback
College=Oklahoma State
DraftedYear=1985
DraftedRound=6/ Pick 143
Stats=Y
DatabaseFootball=HILGERUS01
PFR=HilgRu00
ProBowls=
years=1985-87
1988
1991
teams=Los Angeles Raiders
Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts
Seattle Seahawks

Russell "Rusty" Todd Hilger (born May 9, 1962 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former professional American football player who played quarterback eight seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders (1985-1987), Detroit Lions (1988-1989), Indianapolis Colts (1990-1991) and Seattle Seahawks (1991-1992).

Hilger played collegiate football at Oklahoma State University and high school football at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Awards: Capital Conference "Player of the Year" (1980) in high school; First OSU QB to lead the OSU Cowboys to 3 consecutive Bowl appearances: Independence Bowl 1981, Blubonnet Bowl 1983, and Gator Bowl (1984)(*red shirt due to pre-season injury in 1982) Blubonnet Bowl MVP (1983) vs. Baylor; Big-8 Conference "Player of the Week" vs #2 ranked Arizona State (1984); All Big-8 Team (1984); Gator Bowl Champions (1984); Highest ranked team is OSU Cowboy history (6th); Selected to play in the "East vs West Shrine Game" in Palo Alto, CA. Detroit Lions "MVP" (1988).

Rusty Hilger was considered to be the "future of the Raiders" by team owner Al Davis, and he was named as the starting QB for the 1987 season while being mentored by three legendary NFL Quarterbacks: Jim Plunkett, Marc Wilson and Head Coach Tom Flores. After starting the season 2-0, the NFL Players Association halted the season by a "strike" against the owners and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). After the strike season, a knee surgery uncovered a complete loss of cartliage and Hilger's career with the Raiders came to an end.

Without knowledge of the career ending knee damage, in 1988, Hilger signed with the Detroit Lions. After 4 days of practice, he became the starting QB due to season ending injuries to Chuck Long and Eric Hipple. Perhaps his best season in the NFL, Hilger received the teams "Most Valuable Player" award was released in 1989 due to knee problems. The next three seasons Hilger was a reserve QB for the Indianapolis Colts & Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 1993.

Post-football career

In 1990 Hilger bought and restored the "SPLIT-T" restaurant (an Oklahoma City landmark and one of the oldest drive-thru restaurants in the USA [since 1953] ). Hilger and also bought the "T-Bar" in 1990 and began promoting 'live' music and musicians from the southwest region. Hilger sold the restaurant and Bar in 1994.

After 27 years of playing football (since age 6), Hilger's health was on the decline. In 1995, his focus was turned to "alternative medicine" as a means to prolong the quality of life. He began as a consumer and soon became a consumer advocate marketing water and air purification, non-toxic household goods, and break-through alternative medicine. "Today, americans are consuming more toxins, pesticides, and cancer causing foods than ever before in history, and I believe everyone should be educated to know the alternatives" Hilger said.

In 1998, Hilger was introduced to the "debt management" industry and in 2003 was hired to assist in the creation of U.S. Credit Management in Irving, Tx. "The business model was designed to be a "win-win" for debtors and creditors", Hilger said. "Consumers avoid bankruptcy by paying back a negotiated settlement or portion of their debt, while creditors receive partial returns on debts with no need for collection or loosing it all in bankruptcy court." After growing to over 4000 clients and 100+ employees, Hilger resigned from U.S Credit Management in February 2005 citing differences with the Board of Directors.

Hilger has also been involved in the construction industry since 1995. "My life-long" friends are firefighters and they taught me plumbing, roofing, electrical, masonry, and general contracting; along with the notion that 'hard work' doesn't stop after football", Hilger stated.

Nowadays, Hilger manages residential and commercial construction projects for Aztec Construction, one of the largest firms in the midwest. He can be found in neighborhoods and on rooftops managing "Storm Damage Restoration" for consumers, mortgage, and insurance companies.

Hilger lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and after work, he splits time among his two children; Talon and Tia, his wife Tera, as well as humanitarian projects.

CONTACT: [e-mail]