By Darin đ The Quarterback Who Outshone the Irish
Replacing a legend is never easy, but Mike Phipps didn’t just step into Bob Grieseâs shoesâillegally talented and mentally sharp, he sprinted in them. On a crisp September afternoon in 1947, a future icon was born in Shelbyville, Indiana. Decades later, that boy would become the face of Purdue football, a player who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in his first weeks as a starter and went on to become the only quarterback to ever defeat Notre Dame three years in a row.
Date 1968
Source 1969 Debris (Purdue yearbook), page 521
Football Bio
January 19, 1947 – Shelbyville, Indiana – Purdueâs former excellent quarterback, Mike Phipps, was born. The footballfoundation.org website bio of Phipps says that, in just his second game after taking over for a graduating Bob Griese, his picture was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as he threw for two scores against top-ranked Notre Dame. In his Junior season, he guided the Boilermakers to a win over Notre Dame in a number-one vs. number-two match-up. As a senior, he became a unanimous All-America selection and the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy race. The National Football Foundation in 2006 selected Mike Phips to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. After graduation, Phipps was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the NFL draft as the third overall selection. He played for 12 NFL seasons with the Browns and Chicago Bears.
A Legacy of Grit and Gridiron Glory
Mike Phipps remains a titan of the Big Ten, a player whose name is synonymous with the “Golden Era” of Purdue quarterbacks. His transition from college superstar to the third overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draftâacquired by the Browns in a trade for Hall of Famer Paul Warfieldâshowcased the immense value the professional ranks placed on his leadership. Though his NFL journey spanned 12 rugged seasons, his heart always belonged to the Saturdays at Ross-Ade Stadium, where he mastered the art of the upset. Today, his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame stands as a permanent tribute to a man who never blinked, even when facing the top-ranked teams in the nation.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2006)
- Heisman Trophy Runner-Up (1969)
- Unanimous First-Team All-American (1969)
- Sammy Baugh Trophy Winner (1969)
- Chicago Tribune Silver Football Winner (Big Ten MVP, 1969)
- Academic All-American (1969)
- 3-0 Record as Starter Against Notre Dame (Only QB to achieve this)
- 3rd Overall Pick, 1970 NFL Draft (Cleveland Browns)
- 12-Season NFL Career (Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears)
- Over 10,000 Career NFL Passing Yards
