- Brian Sipe
Infobox NFLretired
position=Quarterback
number=17
birthdate=birth date and age|1949|8|8San Diego, California
debutyear=1974
finalyear=1983
draftyear=1972
draftround=13
draftpick=330
college=San Diego State
teams=
*Cleveland Browns (1974-1983)
*New Jersey Generals (USFL) (1984 )
*Jacksonville Bulls (USFL) (1985 )
stat1label=TD-INT
stat1value=154-149
stat2label=Yards
stat2value=23,713
stat3label=QB Rating
stat3value=74.8
nfl=SIP415291
highlights=
* 1xPro Bowl selection (1980)
* 1980NFL MVP
* 1980PFWA MVP
* 1980UPI AFL-AFC Offensive Player of the Year Brian Winfield Sipe (born
August 8 ,1949 , inSan Diego, California ) is a former professionalAmerican Football quarterback who played in theNational Football League between 1974-83 and theUnited States Football League in 1984-85. He was a collegiate football star for San Diego State University (SDSU), where he also studiedarchitecture . He also competed in the 1961Little League World Series forEl Cajon, California .Playing career
National Football League
Drafted in the 13th round of the
1972 NFL Draft by theCleveland Browns , Sipe spent the first two years of his career as a member of the team's reserve squad, seeing no action on the field.In 1974, Sipe started four games after helping the Browns come back from a 12-point deficit against the
Denver Broncos onOctober 27 . However, after winning just one of the four contests (a 21-14 victory against theNew England Patriots onNovember 11 ), he was replaced byMike Phipps .The team's disastrous 1975 season saw Sipe enter the starting lineup after three consecutive losses in which the Browns were outscored 124-26. Sipe's three starts reduced the margin of defeat for the squad, but still resulted in a trio of defeats, sending him back to the sidelines. The following year, he finally moved into a consistent starting role following an opening game injury to Phipps on
September 12 , 1976. As the team's signal caller that season, he led them to a 9-5 record, a six-game improvement over the previous season.During the first half of the 1977 season, he led the team to five wins in their first seven games. However, on
November 13 of that year, Sipe suffered a season-ending injury atThree Rivers Stadium against thePittsburgh Steelers . Sipe came back the following year to throw for more than 2,900 yards and 21 touchdown passes, but the team's overall inconsistency resulted in an 8-8 finish.Serving as the catalyst for many thrilling moments during the 1979 and 1980 seasons, Sipe helped the team earn the nickname "
Kardiac Kids ." The designation was in recognition of their tendency to produce heart-stopping comeback victories in the final minutes of many games.1980 MVP award winning season
In 1980, Sipe passed for 4,132 yards and 30 touchdowns, helping lead the team to its first postseason berth since 1972. Individually, his efforts earned him the Associated Press' NFL MVP award and a selection to the NFL Pro Bowl. However, an interception in the final minute of the
January 4 ,1981 playoff game against theOakland Raiders brought the exciting season to an abrupt end. The play call, "Red Right 88 " would be immortalized in Cleveland sports infamy.1981-82 seasons
Despite throwing for 3,876 yards the following year, Sipe was at the controls as the team staggered to a 5-11 mark. In 1982, Sipe and the Browns won just two of the team's first six games in the strike-marred NFL season, and Sipe was benched in favor of third-year signal caller Paul McDonald.
United States Football League
Sipe regained his starting role the following year, but angered Browns management by negotiating with
Donald Trump 's USFLNew Jersey Generals during the season. Sipe finished the campaign with 3,566 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes. Sipe did eventually sign with Trump after the season, playing for the Generals in 1984, before concluding his career with theJacksonville Bulls in 1985. His shift to Jacksonville came about after Trump signedHeisman Trophy winnerDoug Flutie to a multi-million dollar contract.Post playing career
Sipe now resides in
San Diego, California , and coacheshigh school football at Santa Fe Christian School in Solana Beach.Career Stats
Key to Abbreviations
GP= Games Played
Att= Passes attempted
Com= Passes Completed
Pct=Completion percentage
Yds= Yards
TD=Touchdown s
Int=Interception s
Rate=Passer rating
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