Andre Tippett

The linebacker who holds the Patriots' franchise record with 100 career sacks and anchored their defense for a decade.

Andre Bernard Tippett Sr., born December 27, 1959, is an American former professional football player who dominated the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons as a linebacker with the New England Patriots. A consensus All-American in 1981 after playing college football at the Iowa Hawkeyes, Tippett was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft with the 41st overall pick. His career was marked by five Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro nods. Beyond his on-field dominance, where he recorded exactly 100.0 sacks, Tippett has served as the Patriots' executive director of community affairs since 2007. In 2008, his legendary contributions were recognized with enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Quick Facts

Position: Linebacker
Born: 27 December 1959
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Draft year: 1982
Draft round: 2
Draft pick: 41
High school: Barringer (Newark, New Jersey)
College: Iowa

Lore & Background

Tippett's professional legacy is defined by an unprecedented two-year run from 1984 to 1985, where he recorded 35.0 sacks, the highest two-season total by any linebacker in NFL history. His 18.5 sacks in 1984 rank as the third most by a linebacker in a single season, while his 16.5 sacks in 1985 are tied for sixth all-time among linebackers. These numbers secured him spots on five straight Pro Bowls from 1984 to 1988 and earned him AFC Linebacker of the Year honors for three consecutive seasons (1985–1987).

He was named first-team All-Pro twice (1985, 1987) and second-team twice (1986, 1988), alongside co-Defensive Player of the Year recognition from the NEA in 1985 with Howie Long. Tippett's impact extended to special teams and playmaking; he recovered 18 fumbles (tying Steve Nelson for first on the Patriots' all-time list) and forced 17 more. His career concluded with a final game performance on January 2, 1994, against the Miami Dolphins where he recorded 1.5 sacks.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand Tippett's era should focus on his consistency; after recording zero sacks as a rookie in 1982, he finished either first or second on the team in sacks for his final 10 seasons. He led the Patriots in sacks six times and was a top-three single-season performer three times (1984, 1985, 1987). His ability to disrupt passing lanes was rare; he sacked 41 different quarterbacks and recorded 30 multiple-sack games throughout his career.

On the field, specific moments highlight his versatility: in a 20–13 win over the New York Jets on October 20, 1985, he stopped the quarterback three times within the 10-yard line for an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. Later, in a 21–7 victory over the Houston Oilers at the Astrodome on October 18, 1987, he notched 3 sacks, defended a pass, and blocked a field goal that Raymond Clayborn returned for a touchdown. Tippett spent his entire 11-year career with one franchise, earning spots on the Patriots' 35th Anniversary Team (1994), the Team of the Century (2000), and was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999.

Did You Know?

Tippett holds the Iowa Hawkeyes' school record for tackles for lost yardage in a season with 20 tackles for 153 yards in 1980.
He converted from being a former Baptist to Judaism and was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in April 2009.
Tippett holds a seventh-degree blackbelt in Uechi-ryu karate, certified under the Okinawa Karate-do Association.