Drew Plitt

Drew Plitt is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Ball State Cardinals.

Early life

Plitt grew up in Loveland, Ohio, and attended Loveland High School, where he played basketball and football. As a junior, he passed for 1,346 yards and 13 touchdowns. Plitt committed to play college football for the Ball State Cardinals over offers from Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, and Lafayette.

College career

Plitt redshirted his true freshman season at Ball State. He mostly served as the Cardinals' backup during the following two seasons. Plitt passed for 2,918 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions as a redshirt junior. He completed 65.6% of his pass attempts for 2,164 yards and 17 touchdowns to six interceptions in eight games during the team's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season and was named second-team All-Mid-American Conference. Plitt was named the Offensive MVP of the 2020 MAC Championship Game after completing 20 of 32 pass attempts for 263 yards and three touchdowns and also rushing for a touchdown in the Cardinals' 38–28 win over Buffalo. He was also named the MVP of the 2020 Arizona Bowl as Ball State beat 22nd-ranked San Jose State 34–13 in the first bowl game win in program history.
Plitt decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and return to Ball State for a sixth season. In his final season, he passed for 2,541 yards and 18 touchdowns while also rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Professional career

Cincinnati Bengals (first stint)

Plitt went unselected in the 2022 NFL draft and participated in minicamps as a tryout player for several teams, including for the Cincinnati Bengals in May 2022. The Bengals eventually signed him as an undrafted free agent on July 27. In the team's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Plitt completed all six of his pass attempts for 76 yards and one touchdown to register a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Plitt was waived by the Bengals on August 23, 2022.

Arlington Renegades (first stint)

Plitt was assigned to the Arlington Renegades of the XFL on November 15, 2022. He was placed on the reserve list by the team on April 3, 2023, due to a knee injury. He finished the season with five games played, three starts, 63 completions for 100 attempts, 668 passing yards, three touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 71.6 QBR. He was activated off of the reserve list on May 16. Plitt was released from his contract on November 20.

Cincinnati Bengals (second stint)

After a season ending injury to Joe Burrow, the Bengals signed Plitt to their practice squad on November 20, 2023. He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired.

Arlington Renegades (second stint)

On February 8, 2024, Plitt re-signed with the Renegades. He was released by the Renegades on March 10.

St. Louis Battlehawks

On May 16, 2024, Plitt signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League. He was released on May 22.