Mike Phipps

American football player (born 1947)

For the Hall of Fame polo player, see Michael Grace Phipps.

American football player

Mike Phipps

Phipps from 1969 Purdue yearbook

No. 15
Position:| Quarterback
Personal information
Born:|  (1947-01-09) January 9, 1947 (age 77)
Shelbyville, Indiana, U.S.
Height:| 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:| 208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:| Columbus North (Columbus, Indiana)
College:| Purdue
NFL draft:| 1970 / round: 1 / pick: 3
Career history

* Cleveland Browns (1970–1976)
* Chicago Bears (1977–1981)

Career highlights and awards

* Unanimous All-American (1969)
* Sammy Baugh Trophy (1969)
* Chicago Tribune Silver Football (1969)
* 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1967, 1969)

Career NFL statistics
| TD–INT:| 55–108

|

Passing yards:| 10,506
Passer rating:| 52.6
Player stats at PFR

College Football Hall of Fame

Michael Elston Phipps (born January 19, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1970s and 1980s. Phipps played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers, and was recognized as an All-American. He was the third overall pick in the 1970 NFL draft, and played professionally for the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears of the NFL.

## Early life

[edit]

Phipps was born in Shelbyville, Indiana. He attended Columbus High School in Columbus, Indiana, and played for the Columbus Bulldogs high school football team.[1]

## College career

[edit]

Phipps attended Purdue University, where he played for the Purdue Boilermakers football team. He began his college career when he replaced All-American Boilermakers quarterback Bob Griese. His first major victory was a 28–21 upset of 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.[2]

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. He also defeated Notre Dame for the third consecutive year. Phipps finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy to Oklahoma Sooners running back Steve Owens.[2] He was awarded the 1969 Sammy Baugh Trophy. Phipps declined a Rhodes Scholarship to concentrate on a professional football career.

## Professional career

[edit]

Phipps was picked third in the 1970 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, who had traded All Pro wide receiver Paul Warfield to the Miami Dolphins for their first round pick.[3] 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. In the November 13 game against the San Diego Chargers, 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. However, Phipps went 23 of 36 in the team's first victory, a 35–23 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on November 23 in Cleveland. Phipps threw for a personal high of 298 yards with 2 TD passes and no interceptions. 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, which turned out to be Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome. 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 touchdowns 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.[4]

## NFL career statistics

[edit]

Legend

| Led the league
Bold | Career high

### Regular season

[edit]

Year  | Team  | Games  | Passing  | Rushing  | Sacks

|
|
|
|
|

GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds
1970 | CLE | 14 | 1 | 0-1 | 29 | 60 | 48.3 | 529 | 8.8 | 53 | 1 | 5 | 49.9 | 11 | 94 | 8.5 | 26 | 0 | 7 | 86
1971 | CLE | 14 | 1 | 0-1 | 13 | 47 | 27.7 | 179 | 3.8 | 39 | 1 | 4 | 14.6 | 6 | 35 | 5.8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0
1972 | CLE | 14 | 13 | 10-3 | 144 | 305 | 47.2 | 1,994 | 6.5 | 80 | 13 | 16 | 61.0 | 60 | 256 | 4.3 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 183
1973 | CLE | 14 | 14 | 7-5-2 | 148 | 299 | 49.5 | 1,719 | 5.7 | 51 | 9 | 20 | 49.4 | 60 | 395 | 6.6 | 27 | 5 | 44 | 362
1974 | CLE | 14 | 9 | 2-7 | 117 | 256 | 45.7 | 1,384 | 5.4 | 55 | 9 | 17 | 46.7 | 39 | 279 | 7.2 | 19 | 1 | 33 | 280
1975 | CLE | 14 | 11 | 3-8 | 162 | 313 | 51.8 | 1,749 | 5.6 | 48 | 4 | 19 | 47.5 | 18 | 70 | 3.9 | 12 | 0 | 28 | 261
1976 | CLE | 4 | 2 | 2-0 | 20 | 37 | 54.1 | 146 | 3.9 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 90.6 | 4 | 26 | 6.5 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 6
1977 | CHI | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 5 | 1.0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 64.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26
1978 | CHI | 6 | 4 | 3-1 | 44 | 83 | 53.0 | 465 | 5.6 | 35 | 2 | 10 | 38.1 | 13 | 34 | 2.6 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 55
1979 | CHI | 12 | 10 | 9-1 | 134 | 255 | 52.5 | 1,535 | 6.0 | 68 | 9 | 8 | 69.6 | 27 | 51 | 1.9 | 12 | 0 | 15 | 145
1980 | CHI | 7 | 6 | 2-4 | 61 | 122 | 50.0 | 630 | 5.2 | 56 | 2 | 9 | 40.0 | 15 | 38 | 2.5 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 69
1981 | CHI | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | 11 | 17 | 64.7 | 171 | 10.1 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 137.1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 41
Career | 119 | 71 | 38-31-2 | 886 | 1,799 | 49.2 | 10,506 | 5.8 | 80 | 55 | 108 | 52.6 | 254 | 1,278 | 5.0 | 27 | 13 | 172 | 1,514

### Playoffs

[edit]

Year  | Team  | Games  | Passing  | Rushing  | Sacks

|
|
|
|
|

GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Sck | Yds
1971 | CLE | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 3 | 6 | 50.0 | 27 | 4.5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 62.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
1972 | CLE | 1 | 1 | 0-1 | 9 | 23 | 39.1 | 131 | 5.7 | 27 | 1 | 5 | 33.3 | 8 | 47 | 5.9 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 13
1979 | CHI | 1 | 1 | 0-1 | 13 | 30 | 43.3 | 142 | 4.7 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 30.1 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0
Career | 3 | 2 | 0-2 | 25 | 59 | 42.4 | 300 | 5.1 | 31 | 1 | 7 | 24.6 | 9 | 50 | 5.6 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 14

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Johnson, Bryan. "Mike Phipps: Boilermaker Quarterback from Shelbyville". Shelbyville, Indiana. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
2. ^ a b "Hall Call". CBS Interactive. May 16, 2006. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
3. ^ "1970 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". CTS Co. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
4. ^ "Hall Call". Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2011.

## External links

[edit]

* Mike Phipps at the College Football Hall of Fame

* v
* t
* e

Purdue Boilermakers starting quarterbacks

* Bolley (1887–89)
* Aldrich (1893)
* Sears (1897–1998)
* Jones (1899–1900)
* Waterman (1899–1900)
* Robertson (1899–1900)
* Johnston (1902–05)
* Shackleton (1904–05)
* Jacobs (1923)
* Taube (1923–205)
* Smiley (1924)
* Speidel (1926)
* Smiley (1926)
* Harmeson (1927–209)
* Weaver (1930)
* Pardonner (1931–33)
* Peelle (1931–33)
* Stalcup (1934–36)
* Shackleton (1937–39)
* Smerke (1940–42)
* Vacanti (1943)
* Schultz (1944)
* DeMoss (1945–48)
* Gorgal (1949)
* Schnaible (1949–50)
* Samuels (1950–52)
* Evans (1952)
* Froncie Gutman (1952–54)
* Dawson (1954–56)
* Spoo (1957–58)
* Fitchner (1959)
* Allen (1960)
* Maury Guttman (1960)
* DiGravio (1961–63)
* Meyer (1961–62)
* Hogan (1962)
* Griese (1964–66)
* Phipps (1967–69)
* Kiepert (1968)
* Piebes (1970)
* Danielson (1970–72)
* Bobrowski (1973)
* Terrizzi (1974)
* Vitali (1974–75)
* Nagel (1975)
* Vitali (1975–76)
* Metallic (1977)
* Herrmann (1977–80)
* Campbell (1981–83)
* Everett (1983–85)
* George (1986)
* Downing (1987)
* McCarthy (1987–88)
* Fox (1988)
* Lesniewich (1989)
* Letnich (1989)
* Hunter (1989–1991)
* Pike (1991–1993)
* Hunter (1992)
* Trefzger (1993–1996)
* Reeves (1996)
* Dicken (1996–1997)
* Brees (1997–2000)
* Hance (2001)
* Orton (2001–04)
* Kirsch (2002, 04-05)
* Painter (2005–08)
* Siller (2008, 10)
* Elliott (2009)
* Marve (2010–2012)
* Henry (2010, 13)
* Robinson (2010)
* TerBush (2011–12)
* Etling (2013–2014)
* Appleby (2014–2015)
* Blough (2015–2018)
* Sindelar (2017–2019)
* Plummer (2019–2021)
* O'Connell (2019–2022)
* Burton (2022)
* Card (2023–present)
* Meredith (2023)

* v
* t
* e

Cleveland Browns 1970 NFL draft selections

* Mike Phipps
* Bob McKay
* Joe Jones
* Jerry Sherk
* Rick Stevenson
* Steve Engel
* Mike Cilek
* Craig Wycinsky
* Honester Davidson
* Geoff Brown
* William Yanchar
* Gene Benner
* Jerry Sanders
* Larry Roberts
* Jim Tharpe
* Guy Homoly
* John Redebaugh
* Charley Tabb

* v
* t
* e

Cleveland Browns starting quarterbacks

* Cliff Lewis (1946–1947, 1949)
* Otto Graham (1946–1955)
* George Ratterman (1953–1956)
* Babe Parilli (1956)
* Tommy O'Connell (1956–1957)
* Milt Plum (1957–1961)
* Len Dawson (1961)
* Jim Ninowski (1962–1963, 1965)
* Frank Ryan (1962–1968)
* Gary Lane (1967)
* Bill Nelsen (1968–1972)
* Mike Phipps (1970–1976)
* Don Gault (1970)
* Brian Sipe (1974–1983)
* Will Cureton (1975)
* Dave Mays (1977)
* Terry Luck (1977)
* Paul McDonald (1982–1984)
* Gary Danielson (1985–1988)
* Bernie Kosar (1985–1993)
* Jeff Christensen (1987)
* Mike Pagel (1988, 1990)
* Don Strock (1988)
* Mike Tomczak (1992)
* Todd Philcox (1992–1993)
* Vinny Testaverde (1993–1995)
* Mark Rypien (1994)
* Eric Zeier (1995)
* Ty Detmer (1999)
* Tim Couch (1999–2003)
* Doug Pederson (2000)
* Spergon Wynn (2000)
* Kelly Holcomb (2002–2004)
* Jeff Garcia (2004)
* Luke McCown (2004)
* Trent Dilfer (2005)
* Charlie Frye (2005–2007)
* Derek Anderson (2006–2009)
* Brady Quinn (2008–2009)
* Ken Dorsey (2008)
* Bruce Gradkowski (2008)
* Jake Delhomme (2010)
* Seneca Wallace (2010–2011)
* Colt McCoy (2010–2011)
* Brandon Weeden (2012–2013)
* Thad Lewis (2012)
* Brian Hoyer (2013–2014)
* Jason Campbell (2013)
* Johnny Manziel (2014–2015)
* Connor Shaw (2014)
* Josh McCown (2015–2016)
* Austin Davis (2015)
* Robert Griffin III (2016)
* Cody Kessler (2016)
* DeShone Kizer (2017)
* Kevin Hogan (2017)
* Tyrod Taylor (2018)
* Baker Mayfield (2018–2021)
* Case Keenum (2021)
* Nick Mullens (2021)
* Jacoby Brissett (2022)
* Deshaun Watson (2022–present)
* Dorian Thompson-Robinson (2023)
* P. J. Walker (2023)
* Joe Flacco (2023)
* Jeff Driskel (2023)

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Bears starting quarterbacks

Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)

* Pard Pearce (1920–1921)
* Chuck Dressen (1920)
* Jimmy Conzelman (1920)
* Joey Sternaman (1922–1925, 1927–1929)
* Johnny Bryan (1923)
* Milton Romney (1926)
* Paddy Driscoll (1926–1929)
* Edward Sternaman (1927)
* Carl Brumbaugh (1930–1936)
* Keith Molesworth (1932–1936)
* Bernie Masterson (1935–1940)
* Ray Buivid (1937–1938)
* Gene Ronzani (1937–1938, 1944–1945)
* Sid Luckman (1939–1949)
* Charlie O'Rourke (1942)
* Bob Snyder (1943)
* Johnny Long (1944)
* Al Grygo (1945)
* Tom Farris (1946)
* Noah Mullins (1946–1948)
* Mike Jarmoluk (1947)
* Mike Holovak (1947)
* Ed Sprinkle (1948)
* Dick Flanagan (1948)
* Johnny Lujack (1949–1951)
* George Blanda (1949, 1952–1954)
* Bob Perina (1949)
* Steve Romanik (1951–1952)
* Bob Williams (1952)
* Zeke Bratkowski (1954, 1957–1960)
* Ed Brown (1955–1961)
* Bill Wade (1961–1965)
* Rudy Bukich (1964–1966)
* Jack Concannon (1967–1971)
* Larry Rakestraw (1967–1968)
* Virgil Carter (1968–1969)
* Bobby Douglass (1969–1975)
* Kent Nix (1971)
* Gary Huff (1973–1975)
* Bob Avellini (1975–1979, 1982, 1984)
* Mike Phipps (1978–1980)
* Vince Evans (1979–1981, 1983)
* Jim McMahon (1982–1988)
* Steve Fuller (1984–1986)
* Rusty Lisch (1984)
* Greg Landry (1984)
* Mike Tomczak (1986–1990)
* Doug Flutie (1986)
* Mike Hohensee (1987)
* Steve Bradley (1987)
* Jim Harbaugh (1988–1993)
* Peter Tom Willis (1992–1993)
* Will Furrer (1992)
* Steve Walsh (1994)
* Erik Kramer (1994–1998)
* Dave Krieg (1996)
* Rick Mirer (1997)
* Steve Stenstrom (1998)
* Moses Moreno (1998)
* Shane Matthews (1999–2000)
* Cade McNown (1999–2000)
* Jim Miller (1999–2002)
* Chris Chandler (2002–2003)
* Henry Burris (2002)
* Kordell Stewart (2003)
* Rex Grossman (2003–2008)
* Craig Krenzel (2004)
* Chad Hutchinson (2004)
* Jonathan Quinn (2004)
* Kyle Orton (2005, 2007–2008)
* Brian Griese (2007)
* Jay Cutler (2009–2016)
* Todd Collins (2010)
* Caleb Hanie (2011)
* Josh McCown (2011, 2013)
* Jason Campbell (2012)
* Jimmy Clausen (2014–2015)
* Brian Hoyer (2016)
* Matt Barkley (2016)
* Mike Glennon (2017)
* Mitchell Trubisky (2017–2020)
* Chase Daniel (2018–2019)
* Nick Foles (2020–2021)
* Andy Dalton (2021)
* Justin Fields (2021–2023)
* Trevor Siemian (2022)
* Nathan Peterman (2022)
* Tyson Bagent (2023)
* Caleb Williams (2024–present)

* v
* t
* e

1969 College Football All-America Team consensus selections

Offense|

* B Mike Phipps
* B Steve Owens
* B Jim Otis
* B Bobby Anderson
* E Jim Mandich
* E Walker Gillette
* E Carlos Alvarez

T Bob McKay
* T John Ward
* G Chip Kell
* G Bill Bridges
* C Rodney Brand

Defense|

* E Jimmy Gunn
* E Phil Olsen
* T Mike Reid
* T Mike McCoy
* MG Jim Stillwagon

LB Steve Kiner
* LB Dennis Onkotz
* LB Mike Ballou
* B Jack Tatum
* B Buddy McClinton
* B Tom Curtis

* v
* t
* e

Chicago Tribune Silver Football

* 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: O. Graham
* 1944: Horvath
* 1945: Cline
* 1946: Agase
* 1947: B. 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: M. Robinson
* 2006: Smith
* 2007: Mendenhall
* 2008: S. Greene
* 2009: Clark & B. Graham
* 2010: D. Robinson
* 2011: Ball
* 2012: Miller
* 2013: Miller
* 2014: Gordon
* 2015: E. Elliott
* 2016: Barkley & Barrett
* 2017: Barkley
* 2018: Haskins
* 2019: Young
* 2020: Fields
* 2021: Hutchinson
* 2022: Corum
* 2023: Harrison Jr.

* v
* t
* e

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 Smith

* v
* t
* e

Cleveland Browns first-round draft picks

* Carpenter
* Konz
* Rechichar
* Agganis
* Atkins
* B. Garrett
* Bauer
* Burris
* Carpenter
* J. Brown
* Shofner
* Kreitling
* Houston
* Crespino
* Collins
* L. Jackson
* Hutchinson
* Warfield
* Morin
* Matheson
* Upshaw
* Johnson
* Phipps
* McKay
* Scott
* Darden
* Holden
* Adams
* Mitchell
* Pruitt
* R. Jackson
* O. Newsome
* Matthews
* Adams
* White
* Dixon
* Banks
* Rogers
* Junkin
* Charlton
* Metcalf
* Turner
* Vardell
* Everitt
* Langham
* Alexander
* Powell
* Couch
* C. Brown
* Warren
* Green
* Faine
* Winslow
* Edwards
* Wimbley
* Thomas
* Quinn
* Mack
* Haden
* Taylor
* Richardson
* Weeden
* Mingo
* Gilbert
* Manziel
* Shelton
* Erving
* Coleman
* M. Garrett
* Peppers
* Njoku
* Mayfield
* Ward
* Wills
* G. Newsome

*[GP]: Games played
*[GS]: Games started
*[Record]: Record as a starter
*[Cmp]: Passes completed
*[Att]: Rushing attempts
*[Pct]: Completion percentage
*[Yds]: Yards lost due to sacks
*[Y/A]: Yards per passing attempt
*[Lng]: Longest rushing attempt
*[TD]: Rushing touchdowns
*[Int]: Interceptions
*[Rtg]: Passer rating
*[Avg]: Yards per rushing attempt
*[Sck]: Times sacked
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template