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 played as a linebacker for 11 seasons with the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL).
Andre Tippett played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was recognized as one of the best college players in 1981. The Patriots picked him in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft. During his career, he was chosen for five Pro Bowls. He was also named a first-team All-Pro player twice. Since 2007, he has worked as the Patriots' executive director of community affairs. He was honored by being put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Early Life and College Football Journey
Andre Tippett was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He went to Barringer High School in Newark, New Jersey. Before attending the University of Iowa, he played football at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls in 1978.
Playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes
Tippett was an All-American defensive end at the University of Iowa. He played for three years and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection in 1980 and 1981. In 1981, he helped the Hawkeyes have their first winning season in 20 years. They also won their first Big Ten title and played in their first Rose Bowl in two decades.
The 1981 Iowa defense was very strong. They allowed only 129 points, which was the lowest since 1965. This was the 9th-best total in the school's history. They also allowed only 86.9 rushing yards per game, which is still a school record. The defense allowed just 253 total yards per game, the fewest since 1959. This made it the 4th-best defense in school history for total yards. Against Northwestern on October 3, 1981, the Hawkeye defense allowed only 78 total yards. This is the 6th-best defensive performance in team history.
Tippett was a team captain in 1981. He holds the Iowa record for tackles that caused lost yardage in a season. He had 20 such tackles for 153 yards lost in 1980. After his senior year, he played in the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl in 1982. He was voted as a defensive end on Iowa's all-time football team in 1989. He is also a member of the University of Iowa's Varsity Hall of Fame.
Andre Tippett's NFL Career with the Patriots
The New England Patriots chose Andre Tippett in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft. He became a key player for them.
Top Defensive Player
Tippett is part of the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team. This means he was one of the best players of 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 a linebacker in NFL history over two seasons. He had 35.0 sacks during those two years. His 18.5 sacks in 1984 are the third most by any linebacker in a single season. His 16.5 sacks in 1985 are tied for the sixth most by any linebacker in NFL history.
Tippett holds the Patriots' team record with 100.0 career sacks. He also has the top three single-season sack performances in Patriots history. These were 18.5 sacks in 1984, 16.5 in 1985, and 12.5 in 1987. When he retired in 1993, he was seventh on the all-time sacks list. He was also third among linebackers. Over his career, Tippett had 100 sacks in 151 games. This is an average of 0.662 sacks per game. This mark is currently fourth in NFL history among linebackers.
After not getting a sack in his first year in 1982, Tippett was either first or second on the team in sacks for his last 10 seasons. He led the team in sacks six times and was second four times. Tippett had 30 games where he recorded multiple sacks. He sacked a total of 41 different quarterbacks. He also recovered 18 fumbles from opponents. This ties him for first on the Patriots' all-time list. He also forced 17 fumbles during his career.
Awards and Recognition
The NFL Players Association named Tippett the AFC's Linebacker of the Year for three years in a row. This was from 1985 to 1987. The Associated Press chose him for their All-NFL First-team twice (1985 and 1987). He was also on the Second-team twice (1986 and 1988). NFL Films also named him to their All-Pro team in 1984.
He was voted the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1985. He shared this award with Raider Howie Long. He was also named the 1985 UPI AFL-AFC Defensive Player of the Year.
Tippett won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award twice. The first time was in a 20–13 win over the New York Jets on October 20, 1985. He stopped the Jets three times inside the 10-yard line. The next time was in a 21–7 win over the Houston Oilers on October 18, 1987. In that game, Andre had three sacks, defended a pass, and blocked a field goal attempt. That blocked kick was returned for a touchdown by Raymond Clayborn. He had 1.5 sacks in his final game on January 2, 1994, against the Miami Dolphins.
Andre Tippett played his entire 11-year career with the Patriots. He was part of three playoff teams, including the 1985 AFC Champions.
Honors and Hall of Fame Inductions
Andre Tippett has received many honors for his amazing football career.
Patriots Team Honors
In 1994, Tippett was chosen for the Patriots' 35th Anniversary Team. He was also selected for the Patriots Team of the Century in 2000. He was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999.
Hall of Fame Inductions
Tippett was inducted into the University of Iowa Hall of Fame on September 7, 2007. In January 2008, a group of former NFL players and coaches voted him onto Pro Football Weekly's All-Time 3–4 defensive team. He was named alongside other great players like Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor.
He was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007 and 2008. Many people believed he deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson said, "I think it is about time Andre Tippett is in the Hall of Fame." He was officially selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the class of 2008.
Tippett was also inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in April 2009. In May 2012, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. On November 13, 2021, Andre Tippett was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Personal Life and Interests
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.
Tippett has also studied martial arts for over 30 years. He has a seventh-degree black belt in Uechi-ryu karate. He is certified by the Okinawa Karate-do Association in Japan.
He currently works as the executive director of Community Affairs for the New England Patriots. His son Coby played football for the University of Rhode Island. He was a kick returner and defensive back. Coby was invited to Rookie Mini Camp with the New England Patriots. He has also played for the Arlington Renegades and Houston Roughnecks in the XFL.
See also
- List of select Jewish football players
