Mark Rypien

Mark Rypien Legacy

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Mark Rypien, the Polish-Canadian kid from Calgary who became Washington's unflappable gunslinger, etched his name in NFL lore with ice-water veins on football's grandest stage. A sixth-round afterthought in '86, he seized the Redskins' reins and delivered two Lombardi Trophies, but his signature forever arrived in Super Bowl XXVI: torching Buffalo for 292 yards and two scores en route to a 37-24 rout and MVP glory, burying the Bills' dynasty dreams under a 24-0 halftime avalanche. Clutch as they come—11 game-winning drives, eight fourth-quarter miracles—Rypien was pure Burgundy and Gold heartbeat, a Ring of Fame legend who owned the moment when it mattered most.

Mark Rypien Rating Breakdown

Season

Good

Fantasy

Good

Playoffs

Great

Overall

Sigma

6 years with the Commanders

Mark Rypien Career Stats via Wikipedia

18,473 Pass Yards

115 Touchdowns

88 INTs

56.1% Comp %

44.3 HAIR

Mark Rypien Career Timeline

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1996 1

Career Milestone - Retirement

Rypien retired from the NFL after 11 seasons, having appeared in 3 Super Bowls (winning Super Bowl XXVI) and cementing his legacy as a Commanders great.

1994 1

Signed with Browns

Rypien joined the Cleveland Browns for a 1-year stint, marking a brief team change late in his playing career.

1993 1

Signed with Rams

Rypien signed with the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent, beginning a 2-year stint with the team after his time in Washington.

1991 2

NFL MVP and Pro Bowl

Named NFL MVP by the Associated Press and selected to the Pro Bowl after a stellar season with the Commanders, throwing for 3,282 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Super Bowl XXVI MVP

Rypien led the Commanders to a 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI, earning Super Bowl MVP honors with 292 passing yards and 2 touchdowns.

1988 1

Commanders Starting QB Era Begins

Rypien became the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders, beginning a 6-year tenure as the team's primary signal-caller.

1986 1

Drafted by Commanders

Mark Rypien was selected by the Washington Commanders (then Redskins) in the sixth round (146th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft out of Washington State.

9 years in the NFL

Frequently Asked Questions About Mark Rypien

How does Jayden Daniels compare to Mark Rypien?

Rypien and Daniels represent different eras of Commanders football. Rypien won a Super Bowl MVP in 1991 with a gritty, game-manager style—18,473 career yards over 14 seasons. Daniels is a dual-threat modern QB building his legacy in a pass-happy league. Rypien's peak was higher relative to his era; Daniels has higher ceiling given today's offensive rules.

Is Mark Rypien in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Mark Rypien is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Despite his Super Bowl XXVI MVP award and 115 career touchdowns, his Hall of Fame case has never gained sufficient traction. A solid starter who peaked brilliantly but lacked the sustained excellence Canton demands—he's remembered fondly in Washington but not among the all-time greats.

What is Mark Rypien doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Rypien remains active in charitable work. He was in town recently for a golf charity event benefiting wounded American military warriors through Heroes and Legends. He maintains genuine investment in the Commanders organization he once led to glory, staying connected to the franchise and community rather than pursuing broadcasting or business ventures.

How would Mark Rypien perform in today's NFL?

Rypien's 18,473 yards and 115 TDs came in a run-first era—he'd likely accumulate significantly more volume in today's pass-happy NFL. His accuracy and decision-making would translate, but he lacked the athleticism modern defenses demand from QBs. He'd probably be a solid starter, maybe Pro Bowl-caliber, but not a franchise cornerstone in 2026's wide-open passing game.

How does Mark Rypien compare to Joe Theismann?

Theismann edges Rypien historically with a 52.07 rating versus Rypien's 44.33. Theismann had the more durable, consistent career—he threw for 25,206 yards compared to Rypien's 18,473. Both gave Commanders fans memorable moments, but Theismann's longevity and efficiency make him the superior quarterback, though Rypien's Super Bowl MVP carries more championship hardware.