If you are a fan of American football, you might have heard of the name Rypien. It belongs to two quarterbacks who have played in the National Football League (NFL): Mark Rypien and Brett Rypien. But are they related? And what is their connection to the sport? Let’s find out.
Mark Rypien: The Super Bowl MVP
Mark Rypien is a Canadian-born former professional football player who was a quarterback for 14 seasons in the NFL. He played college football at Washington State and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He was the first Canadian-born quarterback to both start in the NFL and be named Super Bowl MVP, doing so in Super Bowl XXVI with the Redskins.
Mark Rypien had a successful career with the Redskins, leading them to two Super Bowl titles (XXII and XXVI) and earning two Pro Bowl selections (1989 and 1991). He also played for several other NFL teams, including the Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks. He retired from the NFL in 2002 with 18,473 passing yards, 115 touchdowns, and 88 interceptions.
Brett Rypien: The Nephew of Mark Rypien
Brett Rypien is the nephew of Mark Rypien, who was the Super Bowl XXVI MVP. They are both quarterbacks. Brett Rypien can try to add to the Rypien legacy in the NFL. He is also the cousin of former LFL quarterback Angela Rypien.
Brett Rypien was born in Spokane, Washington, where he attended Shadle Park High School. He set several Washington state records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and attempts. He was rated as a four-star recruit by both Rivals and Scout coming out of high school.
Brett Rypien played college football at Boise State from 2015 to 2018. He was a four-year starter and finished as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (13,581), completions (1,036), and touchdowns (90). He also won several awards, including the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2018), MWC Freshman of the Year (2015), and three-time first-team All-MWC (2015-2016, 2018).
Brett Rypien signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He made his NFL debut in 2020 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, replacing an injured Jeff Driskel. He threw his first touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy in that game. He also started his first game against the New York Jets, leading the Broncos to a 37-28 win and throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023, he joined the Los Angeles Rams as a backup quarterback.
Conclusion
Brett Rypien is related to Mark Rypien as his nephew. They both share a passion for football and have played as quarterbacks in the NFL. Mark Rypien is a Super Bowl champion and MVP, while Brett Rypien is still trying to make his mark in the league. They are both part of the Rypien family legacy in American football.
