| Joe Stepanek | |
| Number: | 73 |
| Position: | Defensive tackle |
| Birth Date: | 6 November 1963 |
| Birth Place: | Tama, Iowa, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 5 |
| Weight Lb: | 268 |
| High School: | Regis |
| College: | Minnesota |
| Undraftedyear: | 1986 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Statlabel1: | Safeties |
| Statvalue1: | 1 |
| Pfr: | StepJo20 |
Joseph Paul Stepanek (born November 6, 1963) is a former American football defensive tackle. He played college football for the Waldorf Warriors in Iowa before transferring to play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 1984.[1] He played for the Warriors from 1982 to 1983 and for the Golden Gophers from 1984 to 1985, lettering both years with the latter.[2]
Stepanek began his professional career in 1986 by joining the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) but did not make the team.[3] In the 1987 off-season, he had stints in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.[3] [4] When the NFL Players Association went on strike, Stepanek was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as a replacement player.[5] He played only one game for the Vikings, starting against the Green Bay Packers at defensive tackle, and recorded a safety; he finished tied for the league lead in that category even though he played only one of 15 possible games.[5] [6] He was released by the team after the strike and later had a short stay with the New York Jets, but never played professionally again.[2] [3]