If you are a fan of the NFL, you might have heard of the name Rypien. It belongs to two quarterbacks who have played in the league, one of them being a Super Bowl champion and MVP. But are they related? And what is their story? In this article, we will answer these questions and more.
Who is Mark Rypien?
Mark Rypien is a former NFL quarterback who played for 14 seasons from 1986 to 2001. He is best known for his time with the Washington Redskins, where he won two Super Bowls (XXII and XXVI) and was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXVI. He was also a two-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro in 1991.
Mark Rypien was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, but moved to Spokane, Washington, when he was three years old. He played college football at Washington State University, where he set several school records and led the Cougars to their first bowl game in 50 years. He was drafted by the Redskins in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft.
Mark Rypien had a successful career with the Redskins, throwing for over 15,000 yards and 101 touchdowns. He also holds the NFL record for the longest touchdown pass in Super Bowl history, a 80-yard strike to Gary Clark in Super Bowl XXVI. He later played for the Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks before retiring in 2001.
Mark Rypien is also the first Canadian-born quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl, as well as the first Canadian-born player to be named Super Bowl MVP. He is a member of the Washington Football Team Ring of Fame and the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Who is Brett Rypien?
Brett Rypien is a current NFL quarterback who plays for the Los Angeles Rams. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019 after playing college football at Boise State University. He made his NFL debut in 2020 and started one game for the Broncos, a win over the New York Jets.
Brett Rypien is the nephew of Mark Rypien, as he is the son of Mark’s brother Tim. He was born in Spokane, Washington, and attended Shadle Park High School, where he broke several state records for passing yards, completions and touchdowns. He also graduated as a valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA.
Brett Rypien followed his uncle’s footsteps and played college football at Boise State University, where he became one of the most prolific quarterbacks in school history. He threw for over 13,000 yards and 90 touchdowns and won several awards, including the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. He also led the Broncos to four consecutive bowl games and three conference championships.
Brett Rypien went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft but signed with the Broncos as a free agent. He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad but was promoted to the active roster in 2020 due to injuries to other quarterbacks. He made his first NFL appearance in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replacing Jeff Driskel in the fourth quarter. He then started his first NFL game in Week 4 against the Jets, throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions. He helped the Broncos secure their first win of the season with a late drive that set up a field goal.
Brett Rypien was waived by the Broncos in August 2021 but was re-signed to their practice squad. He was then signed by the Rams off the Broncos’ practice squad in October 2021 after Matthew Stafford suffered an injury. He is currently serving as Stafford’s backup.
Conclusion
Brett Rypien and Mark Rypien are related by blood, as they are uncle and nephew respectively. They both share a passion for football and have played quarterback at high levels. They also have some similarities in their careers, such as being late-round or undrafted picks, playing for multiple teams and winning their first NFL starts.
However, they also have some differences, such as their nationality (Mark is Canadian-born while Brett is American-born), their college teams (Mark played for Washington State while Brett played for Boise State) and their achievements (Mark has two Super Bowl rings and an MVP award while Brett is still looking for his first playoff appearance).
Regardless of their differences, they both represent the Rypien name with pride and honor in the NFL. They are part of a quarterback legacy that spans generations and borders.
