sport.wikisort.org - Athlete

Eric Ellsworth Hipple (born September 16, 1957) is a public speaker and a retired professional American football player.

Eric Hipple

Hipple at a book signing in September 2009.
No. 17
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1957-09-16) September 16, 1957 (age 64) Lubbock, Texas
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
College:	Utah State
NFL Draft:	1980 / Round: 4 / Pick: 85
Career history
Detroit Lions (1980–1986, 1988–1989)
Career highlights and awards
NFL completion percentage leader (1986)
Career NFL statistics
TD–INT: 55–70 Yards: 10,711 QB Rating: 68.7
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life and education

Eric Hipple was born in Lubbock, Texas.

Hipple attended Utah State University with an athletic scholarship.[1] At 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and 198 lb (90 kg), he was a star quarterback for the team. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the university's Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.[2]

Career

Hipple was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played his entire 10-season NFL career for the Lions from 1980 to 1989. He missed the whole 1987 season with a sprained thumb. His best year as a pro came during the 1985 season when he threw 17 touchdown passes.

Career statistics

• 102 games
• 1,546 attempts
• 830 completions
• 10,711 yards
• 55 touchdowns

Post-athletics career

As a result of the suicide in 2000 of Hipple's 15-year-old son, Hipple is involved in educating people about the dangers of depression.[1] Hipple delivers speeches on suicide prevention and mental illness at high schools, youth groups, members of the military and their families, local organizations and corporations.[3] He is the Outreach Coordinator of the Depression Center of the University of Michigan.[3] A documentary film by the Depression Center features Hipple.[3] He also co-authored a study about depression and pain in retired professional football players.[3]

Hipple's book, Real Men Do Cry, was published in 2008.[4] It discusses Hipple's playing career with the Lions, his bouts with depression, and details of the warning signs of teens who have died from suicide.[5]

Personal life

In 2000, Hipple's 15-year-old son Jeff died by suicide via shotgun.[5] Hipple has acknowledged he has also suffered from bouts with depression,[5] including his adolescence.[1] After his son's death, Hipple abused drugs and alcohol.[5] and was convicted of drunk driving and served time in jail.[1] He filed for bankruptcy as well.[5]

In 2005, Hipple disarmed a man wielding a knife at a party in Michigan.[6]

In other media

A football poster of Hipple can be seen on the wall in the 1983 feature film Mr. Mom.

He was a guest star in the show Home Improvement as himself in Season 3 Episode 18 building a house for Habitat for Humanity guest starring several top name athletes and Former President Jimmy Carter.

References

External links

• Official website
• "Freeing Eric Hipple", ESPN video feature

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