Mark Rypien
Encyclopedia
Mark Robert Rypien is a former American football
quarterback
in the National Football League
. He is the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL.
, Rypien played college football
at Washington State University
. He then left college early and was selected in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft
. He spent the next two years on the Washington Redskins
injured reserved list. He watched from the sidelines as the Redskins won Super Bowl XXII
under coach Joe Gibbs
in January 1988. With Doug Williams aging and the trading of Jay Schroeder
to the Los Angeles Raiders
, Rypien emerged. In his first full year as a starter, he threw for 3,768 yards with 22 touchdowns. He also gained his first Pro Bowl
berth, albeit as an injury replacement.
Rypien was best known for his accuracy as a deep passer, developing an incredible sense of timing with receivers downfield. Sports reporters in Washington would quip that he couldn't complete a pass to a backup quarterback during a warmup toss, but come game time, he could hit Art Monk
or Gary Clark
in perfect stride from fifty yards away. According to former head coach Joe Gibbs
, "Rypien's sideline throws would wobble and didn't look all that pretty. But that man could seriously throw the deep stuff." A 1992 Sport Magazine article touted him as one of the best deep passers ever.
1991 was Rypien's best season; he threw for 3,564 yards and 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, leading the Redskins to Super Bowl XXVI
after recording a 14-2 regular season record. He was named the MVP
(Most Valuable Player) of the game, passing for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns and leading his team to a 37-24 win over the Buffalo Bills
. Rypien, a native of Calgary, Alberta, became the first foreign born player to earn the honor. Rypien was named to the Pro Bowl
in both 1989 and 1991.
Rypien was one of several players to benefit from the team's success following their championship season. The Redskins signed him to a 3-year, $9 million deal entering the 1992 season. However, the team battled age and injuries and finished the regular season with a 9–7 record, barely making the playoffs. His passing yardage was a respectable 3,282 yards, but his passer rating fell from 97.9 in 1991 to 71.7 in 1992 and his interceptions outnumbered his touchdowns 17 to 13. Although a dominant team performance in the playoffs brought victory over the Minnesota Vikings
in an NFC Wild Card away game, the Redskins eventually lost on a rainy, muddy field in a bruising game vs. the San Francisco 49ers
, and the Rypien era was essentially over.
Under new Head Coach Richie Petitbon
, Rypien had his best training camp in 1993 and expectations were high following a Monday Night win over the defending Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys. However, Rypien injured his knee in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals
and the team began a precipitous slide toward a 4–12 season finish. When he was healthy enough to return, Rypien performed spot duty, sharing time with the newly acquired Rich Gannon
.
The Redskins hired Norv Turner
as their head coach in 1994. Rypien participated in off season workouts, but the team quickly decided to release him from his contract.
Rypien went on to become a backup, serving with the Cleveland Browns
in 1994, the St. Louis Rams
in 1995 and 1997, the Philadelphia Eagles
in 1996, and the Indianapolis Colts
in 2001.
His last touchdown pass came in relief of Eagles quarterback Ty Detmer
. It was an 8-yarder to Irving Fryar
with five seconds remaining in a 37-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts
.
His last professional game was June 10, 2006; as part of a promotional gig, Rypien played one game for the Rochester Raiders
of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League.
Key to Abbreviations
GP= Games Played
GS= Games Started
Att= Passes attempted
Com= Passes Completed
Pct= Completion percentage
Yds= Yards
TD= Touchdown
s
Int= Interceptions
Rate= Passer rating
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He is the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL.
Biography
After attending Shadle Park high school in Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, Rypien played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Washington State University
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
. He then left college early and was selected in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft
1986 NFL Draft
The 1986 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1986...
. He spent the next two years on the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
injured reserved list. He watched from the sidelines as the Redskins won Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII
Super Bowl XXII was an American football game played on January 31, 1988 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1987 regular season...
under coach Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs
Joe Jackson Gibbs is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins...
in January 1988. With Doug Williams aging and the trading of Jay Schroeder
Jay Schroeder
Jay Brian Schroeder is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins , Los Angeles Raiders , Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals .He attended Palisades High School and was a high school football teammate of actor...
to the Los Angeles Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Rypien emerged. In his first full year as a starter, he threw for 3,768 yards with 22 touchdowns. He also gained his first Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
berth, albeit as an injury replacement.
Rypien was best known for his accuracy as a deep passer, developing an incredible sense of timing with receivers downfield. Sports reporters in Washington would quip that he couldn't complete a pass to a backup quarterback during a warmup toss, but come game time, he could hit Art Monk
Art Monk
James Arthur "Art" Monk is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, New York Jets, and the Philadelphia Eagles...
or Gary Clark
Gary Clark
Gary C. Clark is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins , Phoenix Cardinals and Miami Dolphins .-Early life:...
in perfect stride from fifty yards away. According to former head coach Joe Gibbs
Joe Gibbs
Joe Jackson Gibbs is a former American football coach, NASCAR Championship team owner, and two time NHRA Pro Stock team owner. He was the 20th and 26th head coach in the history of the Washington Redskins...
, "Rypien's sideline throws would wobble and didn't look all that pretty. But that man could seriously throw the deep stuff." A 1992 Sport Magazine article touted him as one of the best deep passers ever.
1991 was Rypien's best season; he threw for 3,564 yards and 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, leading the Redskins to Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI
Super Bowl XXVI was an American football game played on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota to decide the National Football League champion following the 1991 regular season...
after recording a 14-2 regular season record. He was named the MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
(Most Valuable Player) of the game, passing for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns and leading his team to a 37-24 win over the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Rypien, a native of Calgary, Alberta, became the first foreign born player to earn the honor. Rypien was named to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in both 1989 and 1991.
Rypien was one of several players to benefit from the team's success following their championship season. The Redskins signed him to a 3-year, $9 million deal entering the 1992 season. However, the team battled age and injuries and finished the regular season with a 9–7 record, barely making the playoffs. His passing yardage was a respectable 3,282 yards, but his passer rating fell from 97.9 in 1991 to 71.7 in 1992 and his interceptions outnumbered his touchdowns 17 to 13. Although a dominant team performance in the playoffs brought victory over the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in an NFC Wild Card away game, the Redskins eventually lost on a rainy, muddy field in a bruising game vs. the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, and the Rypien era was essentially over.
Under new Head Coach Richie Petitbon
Richie Petitbon
Richard Alvin Petitbon is a former American football safety and head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League...
, Rypien had his best training camp in 1993 and expectations were high following a Monday Night win over the defending Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys. However, Rypien injured his knee in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the team began a precipitous slide toward a 4–12 season finish. When he was healthy enough to return, Rypien performed spot duty, sharing time with the newly acquired Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon
Richard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
.
The Redskins hired Norv Turner
Norv Turner
Norval Eugene Turner is the head coach for the National Football League's San Diego Chargers. He also has served as head coach of the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders, and as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers...
as their head coach in 1994. Rypien participated in off season workouts, but the team quickly decided to release him from his contract.
Rypien went on to become a backup, serving with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1994, the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in 1995 and 1997, the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1996, and the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in 2001.
His last touchdown pass came in relief of Eagles quarterback Ty Detmer
Ty Detmer
Ty Hubert Detmer is a former National Football League and NCAA quarterback. He starred at Brigham Young University, where he set many records and won the Heisman Trophy in 1990...
. It was an 8-yarder to Irving Fryar
Irving Fryar
Irving Dale Fryar is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League.Fryar grew up in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey and played high school football at Rancocas Valley Regional High School...
with five seconds remaining in a 37-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
His last professional game was June 10, 2006; as part of a promotional gig, Rypien played one game for the Rochester Raiders
Rochester Raiders
The Rochester Raiders are a professional indoor football team based in the Rochester, New York area. They are currently a member of the Indoor Football League and play their home games at the Dome Arena in the suburb of Henrietta...
of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League.
Passing statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Att | Com | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Washington Redskins | 9 | 6 | 208 | 114 | 54.8 | 1730 | 18 | 13 | 85.2 |
| 1989 | Washington Redskins | 14 | 14 | 476 | 280 | 58.8 | 3768 | 22 | 13 | 88.1 |
| 1990 | Washington Redskins | 10 | 10 | 304 | 166 | 54.6 | 2070 | 16 | 11 | 78.4 |
| 1991 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 16 | 421 | 249 | 59.1 | 3564 | 28 | 11 | 97.9 |
| 1992 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 16 | 479 | 269 | 56.2 | 3282 | 13 | 17 | 71.7 |
| 1993 | Washington Redskins | 12 | 10 | 319 | 166 | 52.0 | 1514 | 4 | 10 | 56.3 |
| 1994 | Cleveland Browns | 6 | 3 | 128 | 59 | 46.1 | 694 | 4 | 3 | 63.7 |
| 1995 | St. Louis Rams | 11 | 3 | 217 | 129 | 59.4 | 1448 | 9 | 8 | 77.9 |
| 1996 | Philadelphia Eagles | 1 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 76.9 | 76 | 1 | 0 | 116.2 |
| 1997 | St. Louis Rams | 5 | 0 | 39 | 19 | 48.7 | 270 | 0 | 2 | 50.2 |
| 2001 | Indianapolis Colts | 4 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 55.6 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 74.8 |
| Career Totals | |104 | 78 | 2613 | 1466 | 56.1 | 18473 | 115 | 88 | 78.9 |
Key to Abbreviations
GP= Games Played
GS= Games Started
Att= Passes attempted
Com= Passes Completed
Pct= Completion percentage
Yds= Yards
TD= Touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s
Int= Interceptions
Rate= Passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
See also
- List of NFL Quarterbacks who have passed for 400 or more yards
- List of NFL quarterbacks who have posted a perfect passer rating
- List of NFL quarterbacks who have posted a passer rating of zero
- List of 300-Yard Passing Games by NFL Quarterbacks