Brett Rypien Bio
Brett Robert Rypien is an American professional football quarterback who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. Born on July 9, 1996, in Spokane, Washington, Rypien played college football at Boise State University where he became one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Mountain West Conference history. After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, he signed with the Denver Broncos and has since become a journeyman quarterback, also spending time with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts. Rypien is known for his exceptional passing accuracy and leadership abilities that have helped him earn multiple All-Conference honors throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Rypien was born to Tim and Julie Rypien in Spokane, Washington. His father played minor league baseball, which influenced Brett’s early athletic interests. Growing up, Brett was a multi-sport athlete, participating in football and baseball. The football field became his primary focus, and he attended Shadle Park High School in Spokane where he would make his mark as a standout quarterback.
During his four years at Shadle Park High School, Rypien set numerous Washington state records. He accumulated 13,044 career passing yards, 1,006 pass completions, 4,552 single-season passing yards, 50 single-season touchdowns, 613 single-game passing yards, and 44 single-game pass completions. Many of these records were previously held by former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore. Rypien graduated early with a 4.0 grade point average and earned valedictorian honors, demonstrating his academic dedication alongside his athletic achievements.
Path to American Football
Rypien was highly regarded as a recruit, earning four-star ratings from both Rivals and Scout recruiting services. He verbally committed to Boise State University in April 2014 and officially enrolled in January 2015, choosing to begin classes early to participate in spring practices. This early enrollment would prove pivotal in his development as a Bronco.
Upon arriving at Boise State, Rypien entered a quarterback competition following the departure of Grant Hedrick. Ryan Finley was named the starter for the 2015 season, but Rypien’s opportunity came when Finley suffered a broken ankle in the third game against Idaho State. Rypien entered the game and led the offense to scores on each of his four possessions, burning his redshirt status. He became the first true freshman quarterback to play in a game for Boise State since 1993, marking the beginning of his remarkable collegiate career.
Brett Rypien Career
College Career at Boise State (2015-2018)
Rypien’s freshman season in 2015 showcased his exceptional talent immediately. In his first three starts, the Broncos averaged over 50 points per game while Rypien averaged over 300 passing yards per contest and totaled eight touchdowns. Against UNLV, he set the Boise State freshman record with 469 passing yards, breaking Kellen Moore’s previous mark of 414 yards. He then surpassed his own record by passing for 506 yards against New Mexico. For his efforts, Rypien earned First-Team All-Mountain West honors as a freshman, becoming the first freshman to achieve this feat in the conference’s 17-year history, and was awarded Mountain West Freshman of the Year. The Broncos finished 9-4 and won the Poinsettia Bowl against Northern Illinois, with Rypien earning offensive MVP honors.
Entering 2016 as a sophomore, Rypien faced a new challenge with a quarterback competition after Ryan Finley transferred to North Carolina State. He was named a team captain before the season, becoming the first sophomore captain at Boise State in over a decade. Despite personal loss with the passing of both grandmothers during the season, Rypien led the Broncos to a 5-0 start and earned conference offensive player of the week honors after throwing for 391 yards and five touchdowns in the first half against New Mexico. Boise State finished 10-2 in the regular season, and Rypien earned Second-Team All-Mountain West honors for the second consecutive year.
The 2017 season brought more roster turnover with offensive coordinator changes, and Rypien suffered an injury against Washington State that forced him to miss a game. However, he led the Broncos to a 10-3 regular season record and a Mountain West Championship victory over Fresno State. He earned Second-Team All-Conference honors and helped Boise State finish 11-3 with a win in the Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon. In his senior season of 2018, Rypien was named preseason conference offensive player of the year and received additional recognition as he threw for 12 touchdowns with zero interceptions through the first four games. He earned Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors and First-Team All-Conference recognition for the third time. He finished his career as the all-time Mountain West leader in passing yards (13,581), completions (1,036), and 300-yard passing performances (21).
Denver Broncos Era (2019-2022)
After his impressive collegiate career, Rypien went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019, for a guaranteed salary of $146,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus. His relationship with offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was a significant factor in his decision. Rypien spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad, being promoted to the active roster in November as a backup after starter Joe Flacco suffered a neck injury.
In September 2020, Rypien was named the starter for Week 4 against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football. In his first NFL start, he led the Broncos to a 37-28 victory, throwing for 242 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Later that season, he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after coming into close contact with a teammate who tested positive. He appeared in several games over the following seasons with the Broncos, earning two starts in 2022 when Russell Wilson was ruled out with injury. Against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15 of 2022, Rypien passed for 197 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 24-15 victory.
League Journey (2023-2025)
Rypien signed with the Los Angeles Rams in May 2023 but was released during roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. He was waived by the Rams in November after losing his starting debut against the Green Bay Packers. The Seattle Seahawks signed him to their practice squad in November 2023, and he was elevated to the active roster later that month. In December 2023, the New York Jets signed Rypien off the Seahawks practice squad.
In March 2024, Rypien signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears but was released during final roster cuts in August. The Minnesota Vikings signed him on August 29, 2024. He was waived in January 2025 to make room for Daniel Jones but re-signed to the practice squad two days later. After being released again in August 2025, Rypien signed with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in September as Jake Browning’s backup following Joe Burrow’s injury but was released after the team acquired Joe Flacco. Rypien then joined the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad in October 2025 before being signed to the active roster in December. The Minnesota Vikings claimed him off waivers on December 23, 2025, for his second stint with the team.
Playing Style and Strengths
Rypien is known for his accuracy on all three levels of the passing game and his experience playing from under center. NFL analysts have noted his comfort operating in traditional offensive schemes and his ability to make precise throws. His experience starting 50 games at Boise State provided him with extensive game experience that has translated to his professional career.
Brett Rypien Career Statistics
Throughout his collegiate and professional career, Rypien has accumulated impressive statistics that reflect his consistent performance as a passing quarterback. His collegiate records in the Mountain West Conference demonstrate his ability to sustain high-level production over multiple seasons.
College Highlights
Rypien finished his Boise State career as the all-time Mountain West leader in passing yards (13,581), completions (1,036), and 300-yard passing games (21). He ranks second all-time at Boise State in passing yards, passing touchdowns (90), completions, and attempts (1,618). His 2018 season earned him Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors, and he was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2015. Rypien earned First-Team All-Mountain West honors three times (2015, 2016, 2018) and Second-Team All-Mountain West honors once (2017).
NFL Career Statistics
Through the 2025 season, Rypien has appeared in multiple NFL games across his seven teams. His career passing statistics include 168 passing attempts, 98 completions, 950 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, a 58.3% completion percentage, and a 59.9 passer rating.
| Competition | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| College (Boise State) | 37 | 50 | 0 |
Brett Rypien Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Rypien comes from a distinguished football family. He is the nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, who enjoyed a successful professional career including a Super Bowl championship. He is also the cousin of former LFL quarterback Angela Rypien and a cousin-once-removed of the late Rick Rypien, an NHL enforcer who spent his entire seven-year career with the Vancouver Canucks before his passing in 2011. On his mother’s side, Rypien is the nephew of Chris Tormey, who has worked as an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Redblacks. This family legacy in athletics provided Rypien with both inspiration and guidance throughout his development as a quarterback.
Personal Life
Rypien graduated from Shadle Park High School as valedictorian with a 4.0 grade point average, demonstrating his commitment to academic excellence alongside his athletic pursuits. In 2019, reports indicated he was working to formally secure Canadian citizenship due to his father’s Canadian citizenship, which would make him eligible for dual citizenship. Rypien maintains an active presence on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account @brettryp.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a particularly eventful chapter in Rypien’s professional career as he navigated through multiple team changes. Beginning the year with the Minnesota Vikings, he was waived in early January before re-signing to the practice squad days later. After being released during the Vikings’ final roster cuts in August, Rypien joined the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad. His promotion to the active roster in September came as Jake Browning’s backup following Joe Burrow’s injury, providing him with an opportunity to contribute during a critical stretch of the season.
Following his release from the Bengals after the team acquired Joe Flacco, Rypien signed with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad in October. He earned a promotion to the Colts’ active roster in December, reflecting the organization’s confidence in his abilities as a reliable backup quarterback option. Later that month, the Minnesota Vikings claimed Rypien off waivers, bringing him back for a second stint with the team and providing continuity in his journeyman NFL career.