- Mike Phipps
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Mike Phipps Position(s)
QuarterbackJersey #(s)
15Born January 9, 1947
Shelbyville, IndianaCareer information Year(s) 1970–1981 NFL Draft 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3 College Purdue Professional teams Career stats TD-INT 55-108 Yards 10,506 QB Rating 52.6 Stats at NFL.com Career highlights and awards - N/A
Michael Elston Phipps (born January 19, 1947) is a former professional American football quarterback who played collegiately for the Purdue University Boilermakers (1967–1969), and professionally for both the Cleveland Browns (1970–1976) and Chicago Bears (1977–1981).
Contents
College career
After playing high school for Columbus High School in Columbus, Indiana, Phipps began his college career in the difficult role of replacing Bob Griese. The rifle-armed thrower first made his mark by helping lead a 28-21 upset of the defending national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 30, 1967. Combining strong passing skills with excellent mobility helped Phipps establish a new school single-season record for total offense and earn the Boilermakers a share of the Big Ten Conference title.
The following year, Phipps suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of two games, and was overshadowed by teammate Leroy Keyes, a running back who spent all season in contention for the Heisman Trophy. The Boilermakers were the top-ranked team in the country until the Ohio State Buckeyes upset them 13-0 on October 12.
In 1969, Phipps became the focal point of Purdue's offense, throwing for five touchdowns in a 36-35 thriller over Stanford University on October 4, including throwing for a two-point conversion with three minutes left. His exploits put him in contention for the Heisman Trophy, but he finished runner-up to Oklahoma University's Steve Owens.
Pro career
As with his career at Purdue, Phipps' professional career began in a pressurized situation when the Browns traded all-pro wide receiver Paul Warfield on January 27, 1970, in order to obtain his draft rights. Despite being the third pick in the draft, Phipps saw limited action during his first two seasons. In the team's third game of the 1970 NFL season, Phipps came off the bench to lead a 15-7 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his lone start of the year would be a 14-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on November 15, 1970 as the rookie finished with 529 passing yards on the season. The following year, Phipps threw for only 179 yards and started just one contest: a 13-7 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs on November 14.
In 1972, Phipps again began the season on the sidelines, but became the team's starting quarterback after a disappointing 26-10 opening game loss to the Green Bay Packers on September 17. He threw for 13 touchdowns and nearly 2,000 yards, helping the Browns reach the NFL playoffs, with his improved leadership most evident in the November 13 game against the San Diego Chargers, when he led a last-minute drive to win the 21-17 contest. In the team's playoff clash against the undefeated Miami Dolphins on December 24, Phipps had led the team to a 14-13 fourth quarter lead, but his five interceptions helped end hopes of a possible upset.
The following year, he threw for nine touchdowns, but was intercepted 20 times. Despite these struggles, he engineered two late-season comebacks in a win over the Steelers and a tie against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the Browns missed the playoffs with a 7-5-2 record. In 1974, the team collapsed with a 4-10 record, and Phipps was briefly replaced by Brian Sipe at mid-season.
The 1975 season was even more disastrous as the Browns dropped their first nine games and Phipps working under the tutelage of quarterback coach Blanton Collier. The team's first victory came in a 35-23 of the Cincinnati Bengals on November 23 as Phipps threw for a personal high of 298 yards. Two other victories helped give hope for a turnaround the following season.
In the team's 1976 opener against the New York Jets, Phipps started the game, but suffered a separated shoulder after being tackled by the Jets' Shafer Suggs. By the time he had recovered from the injury, Sipe had established himself as the team's new leader and Phipps' time in Cleveland was soon to come to an end.
That finish came on May 3, 1977, when Phipps was traded to the Bears for a first round draft pick in 1978. He saw minimal action during the 1977 NFL season, threw for two touchdowns (along with 10 interceptions) the next year, but saw his most extensive action in 1979. During that year, he threw for 1,535 yards and nine touchdowns, as he battled teammates Bob Avellini and Vince Evans for playing time.
Phipps threw for a pair of touchdown in each of the next two seasons, but his limited role and the arrival of both quarterback Jim McMahon in the 1982 NFL draft and new coach Mike Ditka resulted in his release.
Phipps was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.[1]
Mike Phipps currently resides in Lighthouse Point Florida. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Carole, they have five children: Ryan, Russell, Natalie, Andrew, and Casey.
References
External links
Preceded by
Bob GriesePurdue Boilermakers Starting Quarterbacks
1967-1969Succeeded by
Gary DanielsonPreceded by
Bill NelsenCleveland Browns Starting Quarterbacks
1972-1976Succeeded by
Brian SipePreceded by
Bob AvelliniChicago Bears Starting Quarterbacks
1979Succeeded by
Vince EvansPreceded by
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Lee Evans
Calvin Hill
William C. Hurd
Leroy Keyes
Jim RyunSilver Anniversary Awards (NCAA)
Class of 1995
Lesley Bush
Larry Echohawk
Kwaku Ohene-Frempong
Bob Lanier
Mike Phipps
Mike ReidSucceeded by
Marty Liquori
Thomas Lewis Lyons
Cliff Meely
Kurt L. Schmoke
Joe Theismann
Jack YoungbloodSammy Baugh Trophy winners 1959: Norman | 1960: Stephens | 1961: Miller | 1962: Trull | 1963: Trull | 1964: Rhome | 1965: Sloan | 1966: Griese | 1967: Hanratty | 1968: Hixson | 1969: Phipps | 1970: Sullivan | 1971: Reaves | 1972: Strock | 1973: Freitas | 1974: Sheide | 1975: Swick | 1976: Kramer | 1977: Benjamin | 1978: Dils | 1979: Wilson | 1980: Herrmann | 1981: McMahon | 1982: Elway | 1983: Young | 1984: Bosco | 1985: McClure | 1986: Testaverde | 1987: McPherson | 1988: Walsh | 1989: George | 1990: Klingler | 1991: Detmer | 1992: Grbac | 1993: Dilfer | 1994: Collins | 1995: Wuerffel | 1996: Sarkisian | 1997: Leaf | 1998: Culpepper | 1999: Pennington | 2000: Weinke | 2001: Carr | 2002: Kingsbury | 2003: Symons | 2004: LeFors | 2005: Quinn | 2006: Brennan | 2007: Harrell | 2008: Bradford | 2009: Keenum | 2010: Jones
Chicago Tribune Silver Football (Big Ten Conference football MVP) 1924: Grange | 1925: Lowry | 1926: Friedman | 1927: Rouse | 1928: Bennet | 1929: Glassgow | 1930: Fesler | 1931: Munn | 1932: Newman | 1933: Laws | 1934: Lund | 1935: Berwanger | 1936: Huffman | 1937: Davis | 1938: Weiss | 1939: Kinnick | 1940: Harmon | 1941: Graf | 1942: Schreiner | 1943: Graham | 1944: Horvath | 1945: Cline | 1946: Agase | 1947: Elliott | 1948: Murakowski | 1949: Wilson | 1950: Janowicz | 1951: Reichardt | 1952: Giel | 1953: Giel | 1954: Ameche | 1955: Cassady | 1956: Ploen | 1957: J. Pace | 1958: Duncan | 1959: Burrell | 1960: Brown | 1961: Stephens | 1962: Vander Kelen | 1963: Butkus | 1964: Timberlake | 1965: Grabowski | 1966: Griese | 1967: Keyes | 1968: Johnson | 1969: Phipps | 1970: Adamle | 1971: Allen | 1972: Armstrong | 1973: Griffin | 1974: Griffin | 1975: C. Greene | 1976: Lytle | 1977: Bethea | 1978: Leach | 1979: Clifford | 1980: Herrmann | 1981: Schlichter | 1982: Carter | 1983: Thorp | 1984: Byars | 1985: Long | 1986: Harbaugh | 1987: White | 1988: Thompson | 1989: Thompson | 1990: Bell | 1991: Howard | 1992: Gissendaner | 1993: Moss | 1994: Collins | 1995: George | 1996: O. Pace | 1997: Woodson | 1998: Germaine | 1999: Dayne | 2000: Brees | 2001: Randle El | 2002: Banks | 2003: Perry | 2004: Edwards | 2005: Robinson | 2006: Smith | 2007: Mendenhall | 2008: S. Greene | 2009: Clark & Graham | 2010: Robinson
1970 NFL Draft First Round Selections Terry Bradshaw · Mike McCoy · Mike Phipps · Phil Olsen · Al Cowlings · Steve Zabel · Mike Reid · Larry Stegent · Cedrick Hardman · Ken Burrough · Bobby Anderson · John Small · Jim Files · Doug Wilkerson · Walker Gillette · Rich McGeorge · Bruce Taylor · Norm Bulaich · Steve Owens · Steve Tannen · Bob McKay · Jack Reynolds · Duane Thomas · Raymond Chester · John Ward · Sid SmithDraft years
70 · 71 · 72 · 73 · 74 · 75 · 76 · 77 · 78 · 79 · 80 · 81 · 82 · 83 · 84 · 85 · 86 · 87 · 88 · 89 · 90 · 91 · 92 · 93 · 94 · 95 · 96 · 97 · 98 · 99 · 00 · 01 · 02 · 03 · 04 · 05 · 06 · 07 · 08 · 09 · 10 · 11Cleveland Browns first-round draft picks Carpenter • Konz • Rechichar • Agganis • Atkins • Garrett • Bauer • Burris • Carpenter • Brown • Shofner • Kreitling • Houston • Crespino • Collins • L. Jackson • Hutchinson • Warfield • Morin • Matheson • Upshaw • Johnson • Phipps • McKay • Scott • Darden • Holden • Adams • Mitchell • Pruitt • R. Jackson • Newsome • Matthews • Adams • White • Dixon • Banks • Rogers • Junkin • Charlton • Metcalf • Turner • Vardell • Everitt • Langham • Alexander • Powell • Couch • Brown • Warren • Green • Faine • Winslow • Edwards • Wimbley • Thomas • Quinn • Mack • Haden • TaylorAFC East: BUF · MIA · NE · NYJ • North: BAL · CIN · CLE · PIT • South: HOU · IND · JAC · TEN • West: DEN · KC · OAK · SD
NFC East: DAL · NYG · PHI · WAS • North: CHI · DET · GB · MIN • South: ATL · CAR · NO · TB • West: ARI · STL · SF · SEAPurdue Boilermakers quarterbacks Allen • Brees • Campbell • Danielson • Dawson • DeMoss • Dicken • Evans • Everett • Elliott • Fitchner • George • Gorgal • Griese • Gutman • Harmeson • Hance • Henry • Herrmann • Hunter • Johansen • Kiepert • Kirsch • Marve • Orton • Painter • Pardonner • Peele • Phipps • Piebes • Reeves • Robinson • Samuels • Smerke • Spoo • Stephens • TerBush • Terrizzi • Trefzger • Vacanti • Vitali • WellmanCleveland Browns starting quarterbacks Anderson • Couch • Danielson • Delhomme • Detmer • Dilfer • Dorsey • Frye • Garcia • Gradkowski • Graham • Holcomb • Kosar • Lewis • Mays • McCown • McCoy • McDonald • Nelsen • Ninowski • O'Connell • Pagel • Pederson • Philcox • Phipps • Plum • Quinn • Ratterman • Ryan • Rypien • Sipe • Strock • Testaverde • Tomczak • Wallace • Wynn • ZeierDecatur Staleys / Chicago Bears starting quarterbacks Avellini • Blanda • Bratkowski • Brown • Bukich • Burris • Carter • Chandler • Collins • Concannon • Conzelman • Cutler • Douglass • Dressen • Driscoll • Evans • Flutie • Fuller • Griese • Grossman • Harbaugh • Huff • Hutchinson • Kramer • Krenzel • Krieg • Landry • Lisch • Luckman • Lujack • Masterson • Matthews • McMahon • McNown • Miller • Mirer • Molesworth • Moreno • Orton • Phipps • Quinn • Stenstrom • Stewart • Tomczak • Wade • Walsh • WillisCategories:- 1947 births
- Living people
- Purdue Boilermakers football players
- American football quarterbacks
- Cleveland Browns players
- Chicago Bears players
- College Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Purdue University alumni
- Players of American football from Indiana
- People from Shelby County, Indiana
- People from Broward County, Florida
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