Mike Phipps
Encyclopedia
Michael Elston Phipps 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).
. 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.
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.
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.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who played collegiately for the Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
Boilermakers (1967–1969), and professionally for both the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1970–1976) and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1977–1981).
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 GrieseBob Griese
Robert Allen "Bob" Griese is a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins...
. The rifle-armed thrower first made his mark by helping lead a 28-21 upset of the defending national champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
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
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
title.
The following year, Phipps suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of two games, and was overshadowed by teammate Leroy Keyes
Leroy Keyes
Marvin Leroy Keyes is a former American football running back and safety who played five seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue...
, a running back who spent all season in contention for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
. The Boilermakers were the top-ranked team in the country until the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
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
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
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 WarfieldPaul Warfield
Paul Dryden Warfield is a former professional American football wide receiver in the 1960s and 1970s known for his speed, fluid moves, grace, jumping ability and hands.- Football career :...
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
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
, Phipps came off the bench to lead a 15-7 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. However, his lone start of the year would be a 14-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
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
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
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
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
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
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, when he led a last-minute drive to win the 21-17 contest. In the team's playoff clash against the undefeated Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. 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
Brian Sipe
Brian Winfield Sipe is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League from 1984 to 1985....
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
Blanton Collier
Blanton Long Collier was an American football coach who led the University of Kentucky and the Cleveland Browns...
. The team's first victory came in a 35-23 of the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
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
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Phipps started the game, but suffered a separated shoulder after being tackled by the Jets' Shafer Suggs
Shafer Suggs
Shafer Suggs is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft...
. 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
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
, 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
Bob Avellini
Robert Hayden Avellini was a quarterback in the NFL. For most of his career, he played for the Chicago Bears before finishing with the New York Jets. His nickname was "Slow-Mo".-Pro career:...
and Vince Evans
Vince Evans
Vincent Tobias Evans is a former professional American football quarterback who was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL Draft...
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
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
in the 1982 NFL draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
and new coach Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
resulted in his release.
Phipps was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2006.
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.