Brett Rypien's Career Stats and Highlights Through the 2024 NFL Season

Quick Answer

Brett Rypien, nephew of Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, has carved out a journeyman quarterback career since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Through the 2024 season, Rypien has served as a backup for the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, and Indianapolis Colts before landing with the Houston Texans on a one-year contract.

His career is defined less by starting opportunities and more by reliable depth play, with his most notable moment coming during a 2020 Denver Broncos start against the New York Jets.

Key Facts

• Born July 9, 1996, in Spokane, Washington; stands 6-foot-2 and weighs approximately 200 pounds
• Played college football at Boise State, where he threw for more than 8,500 yards and 90 touchdowns in his first three seasons
• Signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2019
• Nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, Super Bowl XXVI MVP
• Made his first NFL start in 2020 with the Broncos, completing 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns
• Signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Houston Texans with a cap hit of $1.075 million
• Currently on the Houston Texans roster as of the 2026 offseason
• Throws right-handed; attended Shadle Park High School in Spokane, Washington

The Boise State Foundation More Than a Family Name

Brett Rypien arrived at Boise State with a surname that carried weight in the Pacific Northwest. His uncle, Mark Rypien, had won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins, and Brett's high school career at Shadle Park HS in Spokane had already generated attention.

By the time he finished his first three seasons at Boise State, Rypien had thrown for more than 8,500 yards and 90 touchdowns, breaking the Greater Spokane League record of 4,965 passing yards held by his uncle.

College Production That Translated

The numbers from Boise State tell a story of consistency rather than flash. Rypien's 8,500-plus yards through three seasons demonstrated an ability to sustain production across multiple years, not just a single breakout campaign.

That durability and reliability became the template for his professional career. Teams in the NFL do not typically sign undrafted quarterbacks expecting them to become franchise cornerstones.

They sign them hoping to find a player who understands the offense, protects the football, and can step in when needed without the offense collapsing. Rypien fit that profile.

His college tape showed a quarterback who processed coverages quickly, made accurate throws on time, and rarely put his team in bad situations. Those traits do not always translate to stardom at the professional level, but they do translate to job security as a backup.

The Family Football Connection

The Rypien family tree extends beyond Mark. Brett is the cousin of former Lingerie Football League quarterback Angela Rypien and a cousin-once-removed of the late Rick Rypien, an NHL enforcer who played for the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.

That mix of football quarterbacks and a hockey enforcer gave the family a unique athletic pedigree, but Brett's path to the NFL was never guaranteed. Being a nephew of a Super Bowl MVP opens doors for attention, not for roster spots.

Rypien still had to earn every opportunity through performance.

The NFL Grind From Undrafted to Reliable Backup

The 2019 NFL Draft came and went without Brett Rypien hearing his name called. That outcome was not surprising for a quarterback with his profile—productive college career, solid but not elite physical tools, and questions about arm strength.

What Rypien did next mattered more than the draft slight. He signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent and went to work.

The 2020 Start That Changed Perceptions

Rypien spent his rookie season on the Broncos roster learning the system and absorbing NFL life without seeing meaningful game action. Then came 2020, a season unlike any other in league history due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Broncos found themselves in an unprecedented situation when their quarterback room was decimated by health and safety protocols. With the team's top quarterbacks unavailable, Rypien was thrust into a starting role against the New York Jets.

That game became the defining moment of his career to that point. Rypien completed 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

He did not just manage the game; he made plays. The performance showed that when given a genuine opportunity, Rypien could function as a competent NFL starting quarterback.

It also cemented his reputation as a player who stays ready despite limited practice reps with the first team.

The Backup Life Seattle and Indianapolis

After his stint with the Broncos, Rypien moved on to the Seattle Seahawks and then the Indianapolis Colts. These were classic journeyman backup moves—short-term deals, competition for roster spots, and the constant reality that a single injury elsewhere on the roster could change everything.

For a quarterback in Rypien's position, the goal is not to win a starting job in training camp. The goal is to be the guy the coaches trust enough to keep on the roster and dress on game days.

Rypien's value in those settings came from preparation. Backup quarterbacks rarely get first-team reps during the week.

They run the scout team, mimic the opposing quarterback's tendencies, and stay ready for the moment their number gets called. That requires a specific mindset—selfless, disciplined, and professional.

Rypien built his NFL career on exactly that foundation.

Houston Texans Era A New Chapter at Age 30

The Houston Texans signed Brett Rypien to a one-year contract worth $1.3 million with a cap hit of $1.075 million. For a backup quarterback in the modern NFL, that is a modest but standard deal.

It signals that the Texans view Rypien as a depth piece, not a starter. At 30 years old, Rypien has settled into the stage of his career where he knows his role and plays it well.

What Rypien Brings to the Texans

The Texans have invested significant resources in their quarterback position, but every NFL roster needs a third quarterback who can step in during an emergency. Rypien brings veteran experience to that role.

He has seen NFL defenses from multiple offensive systems, worked with different coaching staffs, and understands that the mental side of the position matters as much as physical ability at his career stage. His 2020 start against the Jets remains the best evidence of what he can do when pressed into duty.

That game showed poise, accuracy, and the ability to make throws under pressure. Those are the qualities teams look for in a relief pitcher at quarterback.

The Physical Profile

At 6-foot-2 and around 200 pounds, Rypien has an average frame for the position. He throws right-handed and does not possess elite arm strength by NFL standards.

What he lacks in raw physical tools, he compensates for with anticipation and timing. His college numbers at Boise State—more than 8,500 yards and 90 touchdowns in three seasons—demonstrate that he knows how to produce within a structured offense.

What the Future Holds for a Journeyman Quarterback

The reality of the NFL quarterback market is that there are only 32 starting jobs, and most of those jobs are locked down by franchise players or high draft picks. The backup market is where careers like Brett Rypien's are made.

Teams constantly cycle through backup options, looking for players who understand the game, prepare professionally, and can keep a season alive if the starter goes down.

The Value of Staying Ready

For Rypien, the path forward involves continuing to do what got him this far: showing up, preparing, and being ready. His career statistics will never place him among the league's greats, but that was never the expectation.

He has carved out a multi-year NFL career as an undrafted free agent, which is an accomplishment in itself. The average NFL career lasts roughly three years.

Rypien has already exceeded that benchmark and continues to collect NFL paychecks.

Coaching Potential and Post-Playing Career

As Rypien approaches the later stages of his playing career, the traits that have kept him employed—football intelligence, preparation habits, and communication skills—also point toward a potential future in coaching. Players who spend years as backups often transition into coaching roles because they understand the game from a strategic perspective rather than relying on physical dominance.

Whether Rypien pursues that path remains to be seen, but the foundation is there.

Frequently Asked Questions

What team does Brett Rypien currently play for?

Brett Rypien is currently on the Houston Texans roster. He signed a one-year contract with the team worth $1.3 million, with a cap hit of $1.075 million.

Who is Brett Rypien related to in professional sports?

Brett Rypien is the nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, who won Super Bowl XXVI MVP with the Washington Redskins. He is also the cousin of former Lingerie Football League quarterback Angela Rypien and a cousin-once-removed of the late Rick Rypien, an NHL enforcer.

What were Brett Rypien's college statistics at Boise State?

In his first three seasons at Boise State, Brett Rypien threw for more than 8,500 yards and 90 touchdowns. He also broke the Greater Spokane League record of 4,965 passing yards previously held by his uncle, Mark Rypien.

What was Brett Rypien's most notable NFL performance?

Rypien's most notable NFL performance came in 2020 when he started a game for the Denver Broncos against the New York Jets. He completed 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.

How tall is Brett Rypien and how much does he weigh?

Brett Rypien is 6-foot-2 and weighs approximately 200 pounds. He throws right-handed.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

Verify with official sources before acting.