# Mark Rypien
**Mark Rypien** (born 1962 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) quarterback who played in the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) from 1988 to 2001, best known for winning [Super Bowl XXVI](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xxvi) with the Washington Redskins and being named the game's Most Valuable Player.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RypiMa00.htm) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/04/14/guy-next-door-rises-to-hero-fades-to-the-odd-man-out/3fa5e2a8-8afe-43a6-8b7f-c3a05d24b54e/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962, Calgary, Alberta, Canada[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RypiMa00.htm) |
| College | Washington State University[3](https://www.commanders.com/news/mark-rypien-remembers-his-draft-day-experience-15203636) |
| NFL draft | Sixth round (146th overall), 1986, Washington Redskins[3](https://www.commanders.com/news/mark-rypien-remembers-his-draft-day-experience-15203636) |
| Super Bowl XXVI MVP | Threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-24 win over Buffalo[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/04/14/guy-next-door-rises-to-hero-fades-to-the-odd-man-out/3fa5e2a8-8afe-43a6-8b7f-c3a05d24b54e/) |
| Career passing | 18,473 yards, 115 touchdowns, 88 interceptions in 104 games[4](https://www.nfl.com/players/Mark-Rypien/stats/) |
| Pro Bowls | 1989 and 1991[5](https://www.commanders.com/news/mark-rypien-3447578) |
## Early life and college career
Rypien was born in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to [Spokane, Washington](https://www.edgepedia.org/spokane-washington), where he attended Shadle Park High School.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RypiMa00.htm) • [6](https://www.cougcenter.com/2017/9/6/16258814/brett-rypien-washington-state-mark-rypien-boise-state-pullman) He played college football at [Washington State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-state-university), where he threw for 4,573 yards over his four-year career and 2,174 yards with 14 touchdowns as a senior.[3](https://www.commanders.com/news/mark-rypien-remembers-his-draft-day-experience-15203636)
## Professional career
Rypien was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He spent his first two seasons on injured reserve and served as a backup before becoming the starter in 1989.[3](https://www.commanders.com/news/mark-rypien-remembers-his-draft-day-experience-15203636) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/04/14/guy-next-door-rises-to-hero-fades-to-the-odd-man-out/3fa5e2a8-8afe-43a6-8b7f-c3a05d24b54e/)
His best season came in 1991, when he threw for 3,564 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and posted a 97.9 passer rating, earning [Pro Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-bowl) honors.[4](https://www.nfl.com/players/Mark-Rypien/stats/) Washington finished 14-2 and advanced to Super Bowl XXVI, where Rypien threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-24 victory over the [Buffalo Bills](https://www.edgepedia.org/buffalo-bills) and was named the game's MVP.[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/04/14/guy-next-door-rises-to-hero-fades-to-the-odd-man-out/3fa5e2a8-8afe-43a6-8b7f-c3a05d24b54e/)
After his release from Washington in 1994, Rypien played for the [Cleveland Browns](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland-browns), Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, and [Indianapolis Colts](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-colts) before retiring after the 2001 season.[4](https://www.nfl.com/players/Mark-Rypien/stats/)
## Legacy
Rypien finished his career with 18,473 passing yards, 115 touchdowns, and 88 interceptions across 104 games.[4](https://www.nfl.com/players/Mark-Rypien/stats/) His nephew, [Brett Rypien](https://www.edgepedia.org/brett-rypien), played quarterback at Boise State and later in the NFL.[6](https://www.cougcenter.com/2017/9/6/16258814/brett-rypien-washington-state-mark-rypien-boise-state-pullman)
## References
1. [Mark Rypien Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RypiMa00.htm)
2. ["'Guy Next Door' Rises to Hero, Fades to the Odd Man Out," The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/04/14/guy-next-door-rises-to-hero-fades-to-the-odd-man-out/3fa5e2a8-8afe-43a6-8b7f-c3a05d24b54e/)
3. [Mark Rypien Remembers His Draft Day Experience, Commanders.com](https://www.commanders.com/news/mark-rypien-remembers-his-draft-day-experience-15203636)
4. [Mark Rypien Career Stats, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/Mark-Rypien/stats/)
5. [Mark Rypien, Commanders.com](https://www.commanders.com/news/mark-rypien-3447578)
6. [Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien talks about playing in Pullman, CougCenter](https://www.cougcenter.com/2017/9/6/16258814/brett-rypien-washington-state-mark-rypien-boise-state-pullman)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Quarterbacks › 1990s and 2000s quarterbacks*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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