Brett Rypien Bio
Brett Robert Rypien is an American professional football quarterback currently listed on the Minnesota Vikings roster in the National Football League (NFL). Born in Spokane, Washington, he played college football for the Boise State Broncos from 2015 through 2018 before entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2019. Across his career, Rypien has also spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts. He is a third cousin once removed of the late NHL player Rick Rypien and the nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien.
Early Life and Background
Brett Robert Rypien was born on July 9, 1996, in Spokane, Washington, to Tim and Julie Rypien. Growing up in a sports-minded household, he played multiple sports as a youth, including football and baseball, the latter of which his father Tim had played at the minor league level. The family environment in Spokane helped shape his early interest in quarterback play and competitive athletics.
Rypien attended Shadle Park High School in Spokane, where he started at quarterback for all four years. By the time he graduated, he had set Washington state records for career passing yards, with 13,044, and pass completions, with 1,006, marks that had previously belonged to former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore. He also held state single-season records for passing yards, with 4,552, and touchdowns, with 50, along with single-game records of 613 passing yards and 44 completions. Rypien finished high school as a 4.0 student and was named valedictorian of his graduating class.
Rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals and Scout, Rypien verbally committed to Boise State University in April 2014 and enrolled in January 2015 to take part in spring practices. His strong senior production and academic profile made him one of the most decorated high school quarterbacks in Washington history.
Path to American Football
Enrolling early at Boise State gave Rypien a chance to learn the Broncos’ offensive system from day one. With two-year starting quarterback Grant Hedrick graduating, Rypien competed for the starting job during his first spring on campus. Although Ryan Finley was named the starter in August 2015, Rypien quickly became part of the team’s plan when Finley suffered a broken ankle early in the season.
Rypien’s performance as a true freshman in 2015 was historic. He took over during the third game of the year and led the offense to scores on each of his first four possessions, becoming the first true freshman quarterback to play for Boise State since 1993. In his first three starts, the Broncos averaged more than 50 points per game while he threw for more than 300 yards in each contest, including a 469-yard game against UNLV that set a Boise State freshman record previously held by Kellen Moore. He finished the year as the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-Mountain West selection, the first freshman in conference history to earn that quarterback honor.
Across his four college seasons from 2015 to 2018, Rypien developed into one of the most productive passers in Mountain West history, leading the conference in career passing yards, completions, and 300-yard games. He earned three first-team All-Mountain West honors and one second-team selection, finishing his career as the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2018.
Brett Rypien Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
During the 2015 season, Rypien’s debut campaign, he closed the year with a 9–4 team record and a win in the Poinsettia Bowl over Northern Illinois, taking offensive MVP honors for that performance. He became a regular starter the following year, when he was named to watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award. Rypien was also elected by his teammates as one of four team captains, the first Boise State sophomore captain in more than a decade.
In 2016, Rypien led the Broncos to a 10–2 regular season before a Cactus Bowl matchup against Baylor, which Boise State lost. He earned first-team All-Mountain West honors for the second consecutive season and averaged strong production through the air while serving as a clear leader of the offense.
Boise State Breakthrough (2017–2018)
The 2017 season brought new challenges after co-offensive coordinator Scott Huff left for the University of Washington, leaving Zak Hill as the lone play caller. With Tommy Stuart announcing his transfer, Rypien entered the year as the only quarterback on the roster with prior playing experience. He was named to four award watch lists and selected as a team captain for the third consecutive season. Rypien and the Broncos finished 10–3 in the regular season, captured the Mountain West Championship against Fresno State, and closed the year with a Las Vegas Bowl win over Oregon to reach an 11–3 final record.
As a senior in 2018, Rypien was placed on six major award watch lists, including the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien, Wuerffel Trophy, Walter Camp, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and Manning Award lists. He was chosen as the Mountain West’s preseason offensive player of the year and started the year by throwing 12 touchdowns with no interceptions through the first four games. He set a school record with 21 career 300-yard passing games, surpassing Kellen Moore, and closed his career as the FBS active leader in career passing yards with 13,581. Boise State finished 10–3 in the regular season before falling in overtime to Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship, and Rypien earned MW Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Mountain West honors for a third time.
Denver Broncos Era (2019–2022)
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Rypien signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent, citing his relationship with offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello as a key reason for the choice. He spent much of his first season on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in November 2019 as the backup to Brandon Allen following a neck injury to starter Joe Flacco. Rypien appeared in spot duty that year and re-signed to a reserve/future contract in late December 2019.
In 2020, Rypien saw his most significant NFL action to date. He entered a Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in relief of Jeff Driskel and then made his first career start on September 29, 2020, on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets, leading Denver to a 37–28 win with 242 passing yards and two touchdowns. He later appeared in relief work during a Week 4 matchup and was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in late November before being activated in early December. Rypien remained with Denver through 2022, with a notable 24–15 start against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15 of 2022, throwing for 197 yards and a touchdown.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2023)
Rypien joined the Los Angeles Rams on May 4, 2023, beginning a stretch of rapid team changes. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad in late August before being promoted to the active roster on September 13, 2023. He was waived by the Rams on November 7, 2023, after a season-starting loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2023)
Just three days after his release from Los Angeles, Rypien signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on November 10, 2023. He was elevated to the active roster on November 23, 2023, providing depth at quarterback for the back end of the season.
New York Jets Era (2023)
On December 5, 2023, the New York Jets signed Rypien off the Seattle practice squad, marking his fourth team of the 2023 calendar year and underscoring his value as an experienced backup.
Chicago Bears Era (2024)
Rypien signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears on March 13, 2024. He was released on August 27, 2024, prior to the start of the regular season, ending a short stint with the team.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024–2025)
On August 29, 2024, Rypien signed with the Minnesota Vikings, where he served as a depth option at quarterback. He was waived on January 7, 2025, to create room for Daniel Jones, but returned to the Vikings’ practice squad on January 9, 2025. After being released on August 24, 2025, Rypien joined the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on September 16, 2025, as the backup to Jake Browning following an injury to Joe Burrow. He was released by Cincinnati on October 7, 2025, after the Bengals traded for Joe Flacco.
Rypien signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad on October 15, 2025, and was elevated to the active roster on December 10, 2025, before being released on December 22, 2025. One day later, on December 23, 2025, the Minnesota Vikings claimed him off waivers, returning him to the franchise for a second stint.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rypien is generally described as a poised, accurate passer who is comfortable operating from under center, with experience running a balanced, timing-based offense. Evaluators point to his pre-snap reads, three-level accuracy, and steady demeanor as primary strengths, while questions about arm strength and hand size have followed him since his Boise State days. His background in a pro-style Boise State attack has helped him transition between starter and backup roles across multiple teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key career moments include his 2015 Mountain West Freshman of the Year award, his 2018 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year award, and his first NFL start in 2020 against the New York Jets, which produced a 37–28 win. He also set Boise State freshman passing records during his debut season and ended his college career as the Mountain West’s all-time leader in passing yards, completions, and 300-yard passing games.
Brett Rypien Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Brett Rypien has accumulated wins as both a long-term starter at Boise State and as a backup with multiple NFL franchises. At Boise State, he was part of four bowl-winning or bowl-bound seasons, including a 2015 Poinsettia Bowl victory and a 2017 Las Vegas Bowl win over Oregon. In the NFL, his most notable regular-season victory to date came in his first career start, when he led Denver past the New York Jets in 2020, and he has since added a 2022 win over the Arizona Cardinals as a starter.
Boise State Highlights
Rypien’s four years at Boise State produced 9 wins in his redshirt-freshman year, 10 wins in both 2016 and 2017 regular seasons, and 10 wins in the 2018 regular season. He also won the 2015 Poinsettia Bowl, the 2017 Mountain West Championship against Fresno State, and the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl. He finished as the Mountain West all-time leader in career passing yards with 13,581 and 300-yard passing games with 21.
Other Wins and Performances
In the NFL, Rypien has started in spot duty, with his 2020 win over the Jets and 2022 win over the Arizona Cardinals serving as his two longest NFL starts to date. Across multiple practice-squad stints and short active-roster windows, he has been a reliable veteran presence for offenses needing a steady backup.
Brett Rypien Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Rypien is the nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, the Super Bowl XXVI Most Valuable Player, who had a long professional career. He is also the cousin of former Legends Football League quarterback Angela Rypien and a third cousin once removed of the late Rick Rypien, a National Hockey League enforcer who played for the Vancouver Canucks. On his mother’s side, Rypien is the nephew of Chris Tormey, an assistant in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Personal Life
Rypien’s father, Tim, played baseball at the minor league level, and the family has deep ties to professional sports in both the United States and Canada. In 2019, prior to the NFL and CFL drafts, Rypien was reported to be working on formally securing Canadian citizenship through his father, which would have made him eligible for dual nationality. He grew up in Spokane, Washington, the same region where he attended high school and developed into a record-setting passer.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been the most turbulent year of Brett Rypien’s professional career, marked by a series of rapid team changes. After being released by the Vikings in late August, he joined the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad and was promoted to the active roster in mid-September, serving as the primary backup to Jake Browning during Joe Burrow’s injury absence. Rypien was released by the Bengals in early October after the team acquired Joe Flacco via trade.
He landed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad in mid-October and was elevated to the active roster in December, adding another short window of game-day experience. Rypien was released by the Colts on December 22, 2025, before being claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings the following day, returning him to a familiar organization for the back end of the season.
Looking ahead, Rypien is expected to compete for a depth role in Minnesota and possibly elsewhere in 2025, leveraging his experience as a steady practice-squad and short-term starter across multiple franchises. His ability to move between systems and serve as an immediate backup has made him a recognizable journeyman presence in NFL quarterback rooms.
