Andre Tippett facts for kids
Tippett in 2008
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
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| Born: | December 27, 1959 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 231 lb (105 kg) | ||||||||||
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| High school: | Barringer (Newark, New Jersey) | ||||||||||
| College: | Iowa | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1982 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41 | ||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Andre Bernard Tippett Sr. (born December 27, 1959) is a famous American former football player. He was a linebacker for the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at the University of Iowa, where he was recognized as one of the best college players in 1981.
Tippett was picked in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft. He played in five Pro Bowl games and was named a top player (first-team All-Pro) twice. Since 2007, he has worked for the Patriots, helping with community events. He was honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Early Life and College Years
Andre Tippett was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He went to Barringer High School in Newark, New Jersey. He started his college football career at Ellsworth Community College in 1978.
Playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes
Tippett was an All-American defensive end at the University of Iowa. He played there for three years. He was also chosen for the All-Big Ten team twice (1980 and 1981).
In 1981, he helped the Hawkeyes have their first winning season in a long time. They also won their first Big Ten title and played in their first Rose Bowl in two decades. He was part of a strong defense that allowed very few points and rushing yards. This defense set school records that still stand today.
Tippett was a team captain in 1981. He holds the Iowa record for tackles that caused the other team to lose yards in a single season. After his senior year, he played in special games like the Hula Bowl. He is a member of the University of Iowa's Varsity Hall of Fame. He said it was "one of the greatest honors" he ever had.
Professional Football Career
The New England Patriots chose Andre Tippett in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft. He became one of the best defensive players of his time.
Top Player in the NFL
Tippett is part of the NFL's 1980s All-Decade team. This means he was one of the best players in the league during that time. He was chosen for five Pro Bowls in a row from 1984 to 1988.
From 1984 to 1985, Tippett had the most sacks by any linebacker in NFL history over two seasons. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing quarterback before they can throw the ball. He had 18.5 sacks in 1984 and 16.5 sacks in 1985. These are still some of the highest sack totals for a linebacker in a single season.
Tippett holds the Patriots' team record with 100.0 career sacks. He also has the top three single-season sack performances in Patriots history. When he retired in 1993, he was seventh on the all-time sacks list. He averaged 0.662 sacks per game, which is still one of the best marks for a linebacker.
After his first year, Tippett was always one of the top two players on his team in sacks for 10 seasons. He led the team in sacks six times. He had 30 games where he got more than one sack. He also recovered 18 fumbles from opponents, which ties him for the Patriots' all-time record. He also forced 17 fumbles.
Awards and Recognition
Tippett was named the AFC's Linebacker of the Year for three years in a row (1985-1987). He was also chosen for the Associated Press All-NFL First-team twice. He was named the co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1985.
He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week awards twice. One time, he stopped the New York Jets three times near the goal line. Another time, he had 3 sacks, defended a pass, and blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown. He played his entire 11-year career with the Patriots. He helped them reach the playoffs three times, including the 1985 AFC Championship.
Honors and Hall of Fame
Andre Tippett has received many honors for his amazing career.
- He was selected for the Patriots' 35th Anniversary Team in 1994.
- He was also chosen for the Patriots Team of the Century in 2000.
- In 1999, he was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
- The University of Iowa inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2007.
- In 2008, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is one of the highest honors in football.
- He was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
- In 2012, he joined the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
- On November 13, 2021, Andre Tippett was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Andre Tippett is married to Rhonda Tippett. They have three daughters, Janea, Asia, and Madison, and one son, Coby. Andre Tippett converted to Judaism. He lives in Sharon, Massachusetts, and coaches Pop Warner football for young players.
He has also studied martial arts for over 30 years. He holds a seventh-degree black belt in Uechi-ryu karate. He is certified by an organization in Okinawa, Japan.
Currently, he works as the executive director of Community Affairs for the New England Patriots. This means he helps the team connect with and support the community.
His son Coby played football for the University of Rhode Island. He was a kick returner and defensive back. Coby also played for teams in the XFL.
See also
- List of select Jewish football players
