Mark Rypien facts for kids
Rypien in 2017
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | October 2, 1962 Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Shadle Park (Spokane, Washington, U.S.) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Washington State (1981–1985) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1986 / Round: 6 / Pick: 146 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Mark Robert Rypien (born October 2, 1962) is a former professional football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Mark played college football for the Washington State Cougars. The Washington Redskins picked him in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL draft. He was named Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXVI with the Redskins. He also played for several other NFL teams during his career. His nephew Brett also plays in the NFL.
Contents
Mark Rypien's Early Life and High School Sports
Mark Rypien was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on October 2, 1962. His family moved to the United States when he was three years old. They settled in Spokane, Washington.
Mark was a talented athlete at Shadle Park High School. He excelled in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. His jersey numbers for all three sports were later retired by the school. This is a special honor for outstanding athletes.
College Football Career at Washington State
As a high school senior, Mark earned "Parade All-American" honors. This meant he was recognized as one of the best high school players in the country. He received many scholarship offers. He chose to accept a football scholarship to Washington State University.
In 1982, a knee injury caused him to "redshirt" for the season. This means he didn't play in games but still practiced and learned. He almost left football in 1983. However, he decided to stay and became a first-team All-Pac-10 player in 1984. He was inducted into Washington State University's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.
Mark Rypien's Professional Football Journey
Mark Rypien was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1986. He was the 146th player picked overall.
Starting with the Washington Redskins
Mark spent his first two years in the NFL on the injured list. He had a knee injury in 1986 and a back injury in 1987. He watched from the sidelines as the Redskins won Super Bowl XXII in 1988.
In 1988, Mark became the second-string quarterback. He got his first chance to start in Week 4 when the main quarterback was injured. He threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns in that game. In his six starts that season, he won three games. He finished the year with 1,730 passing yards and 18 touchdowns.
Becoming a Star Quarterback
Mark was named the starting quarterback for the 1989 season. He had a great year, throwing for 3,768 yards and 22 touchdowns. He helped the Redskins achieve a 10–6 record. Even though the team missed the playoffs, Mark was chosen for the Pro Bowl.
Mark was known for his amazing accuracy when throwing long passes. He made the Pro Bowl in his first full season as a starter.
Super Bowl Champion and MVP
The 1991 was Mark Rypien's best year. He threw for 3,564 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. He led the Redskins to a fantastic 14–2 regular season record. This led them to Super Bowl XXVI.
In Super Bowl XXVI, Mark was named the MVP of the game. He passed for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He led his team to a 37–24 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Mark Rypien, being from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, became the first player born outside the United States to win the Super Bowl MVP award. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in both 1989 and 1991.
Later Years with the Redskins
After their championship season, Mark signed a big contract. However, the team faced challenges with older players and injuries in 1992. They finished with a 9–7 record and barely made the playoffs. Mark's passing yards were still good, but his performance rating dropped. The Redskins won a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings. But they lost a tough game against the San Francisco 49ers. This marked the end of Mark's main era with the Redskins.
In 1993, Mark injured his knee early in the season. The team struggled, finishing with a 4–12 record. When he returned, he shared playing time with another quarterback. The Redskins released him in 1994.
Playing for Other NFL Teams
After leaving the Redskins, Mark played for several other NFL teams:
- Cleveland Browns (1994): He signed with the Browns to be a backup quarterback. He played in six games and started three, winning two of them.
- St. Louis Rams (1995): He joined the Rams as a backup. He started the last three games of the season.
- Philadelphia Eagles (1996): He signed with the Eagles due to an injury to their starter. He threw his last NFL touchdown pass while playing for the Eagles.
- St. Louis Rams (1997): He returned to the Rams for a second time, playing in five games.
- Atlanta Falcons (1998): He signed with the Falcons but did not play any games. He retired from football for a time due to personal family reasons.
- Indianapolis Colts (2001): After a three-year break, Mark returned to football. He played in four games for the Colts.
- Seattle Seahawks (2002): He signed with the Seahawks as a backup but was released before the regular season began.
Final Professional Game
Mark Rypien's last professional game was on June 10, 2006. He played for the Rochester Raiders in a smaller football league as a special event.
In his 11 NFL seasons, Mark completed 1,466 passes out of 2,613 attempts. He threw for 18,473 yards, 115 touchdowns, and 88 interceptions. He also rushed for 166 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Mark Rypien's NASCAR Involvement
Mark Rypien also had a short time as a team owner in NASCAR racing. He was the first owner of the No. 97 team. This team later won the 2004 Nextel Cup championship with driver Kurt Busch. Mark sold the team in 1997.
NFL Career Statistics
Here are some of Mark Rypien's statistics from his regular season NFL career:
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Super Bowl MVP | |
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | ||
| 1988 | WAS | 9 | 6 | 3−3 | 114 | 208 | 54.8 | 1,730 | 8.3 | 18 | 13 | 85.2 |
| 1989 | WAS | 14 | 14 | 9−5 | 280 | 476 | 58.8 | 3,768 | 7.9 | 22 | 13 | 88.1 |
| 1990 | WAS | 10 | 10 | 7−3 | 166 | 304 | 54.6 | 2,070 | 6.8 | 16 | 11 | 78.4 |
| 1991 | WAS | 16 | 16 | 14−2 | 249 | 421 | 59.1 | 3,564 | 8.5 | 28 | 11 | 97.9 |
| 1992 | WAS | 16 | 16 | 9−7 | 269 | 479 | 56.2 | 3,282 | 6.9 | 13 | 17 | 71.7 |
| 1993 | WAS | 12 | 10 | 3−7 | 166 | 319 | 52.0 | 1,514 | 4.7 | 4 | 10 | 56.3 |
| 1994 | CLE | 6 | 3 | 2−1 | 59 | 128 | 46.1 | 694 | 5.4 | 4 | 3 | 63.7 |
| 1995 | STL | 11 | 3 | 0−3 | 129 | 217 | 59.4 | 1,448 | 6.7 | 9 | 8 | 77.9 |
| 1996 | PHI | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 13 | 76.9 | 76 | 5.8 | 1 | 0 | 116.2 |
| 1997 | STL | 5 | 0 | — | 19 | 39 | 48.7 | 270 | 6.9 | 0 | 2 | 50.2 |
| 2001 | IND | 4 | 0 | — | 5 | 9 | 55.6 | 57 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 | 74.8 |
| Total | 104 | 78 | 47−31 | 1,466 | 2,613 | 56.1 | 18,473 | 7.1 | 115 | 88 | 78.9 | |
Mark Rypien's Personal Life and Family
On June 8, 2006, Mark Rypien was honored. He was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
Mark has several relatives who are also athletes. His cousins, Rick Rypien and Shane Churla, played in the NHL. His nephew, Brett Rypien, is also an NFL quarterback.
Mark's daughter, Angela, played football in the Legends Football League.
Mark enjoys playing golf. He often takes part in charity golf tournaments across the country. He has played in a few professional golf events. He is a regular competitor at the American Century Championship. This is a yearly golf competition for sports and entertainment celebrities. Mark won the first event in 1990. He won again in 2014, 24 years later. He has finished in the top ten 11 times in this tournament.
See also
In Spanish: Mark Rypien para niños
