Tim Rypien is the father of the New York Jets quarterback, Brett Rypien. Many may not know, but the quarterback gets his athletic nature from his father. Yes! You read that right. Tim is a former baseball player who played in high school and college.
Besides being a former athlete, Brett’s father, Rypien is a wonderful husband and father. Scroll till the end to find out all about Brett’s father along with his current whereabouts and their father-son relationship.
Brett Rypien’s Father Tim Rypien Has Polish Roots
The quarterback’s father Timothy Bruno Rypien was born on July 1, 1964, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is a native of Calgary but was brought up in Spokane, Washington. Regarding his ethnicity, Tim has Polish and Czech roots. According to the reports, his father, Robert (Bob) Rypien was of Polish origin while his mother, Patricia (Terry) Rypien was Czechoslovakian.
He grew up with his two brothers, Mark and Dave Rypien, and two sisters Shannon, and Colleen Rypien. Tim was just 3 years old when his family moved to the United States. Nevertheless, they still go back to Canada for weddings and reunions to enjoy Polish food and music.
Tim’s Brother Mark Is a Former Footballer
Tim comes from an athletic family. Both his brothers, Mark and Dave were actively involved in sports. His older brother, Mark is a former NFL player who played 14 seasons as a quarterback. Mark also played college football for the Washington State Cougars and the Washington Redskins selected him in the 1986 NFL Draft.
Similarly, his younger brother, David Rypien competed in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. He also played baseball and softball at Gonzaga University.
His Sister Died At The Age of 60
Tim’s older sister, Colleen Ann Rypien, died on September 30, 2021. She was 60 years old at the time of her death. Colleen was born on June 13, 1961, in Alberta, Canada. Tim mourned his sister’s death with a couple of photos on Facebook where he wrote she was a second mother to his kids.
“Your smile, your huge heart, your intense concern for others, your rolodex mind, and stories of extended family, will all be so sorely missed,” Tim wrote in his post.
Brett Rypien’s Father, Tim Rypien Played Baseball
Tim was an active sportsman just like his two brothers. He attended Shadle Park High School where he played baseball as a catcher and first baseman. He played there up to the Triple-A level and had an outstanding high school career. Following high school, he joined Spokane Falls Community College where he played as a catcher and was a very good defensive player as well.
He was named to the First Team All-Region and First Team NWAACC All-Conference after having a great baseball season in 1983-84 when he hit .434 and set a school record with twelve home runs in his college.
Rypien went on to play for Gonzaga University and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2nd round of the 1984 MLB January Draft. He was placed on the team’s minor league roster and spent the rest of his career in the minor leagues and played four seasons there.
After retiring from his playing career, he became a successful baseball coach and physical education teacher. As of now, he is a teacher at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington. According to his Facebook bio, he started working there in August 1990.
Tim and Julie Rypien’s Married Life and Children
Tim and Julie tied the knot on July 17, 1989. The husband and wife have been married for 34 years and their married life is going strong as always. The NFL parents are head over heels for each other which we can see on Tim’s social media posts.
Besides, their blissful couple has 3 children, Brett, Keara, and Brigid Rypien together. The duo resides in Spokane, Washington where they raised their 3 children as well. Tim’s older daughter, Keara is a behavioral health coordinator at NEWESD 101.
She is a graduate of Eastern Washington University where she studied Master’s in Public Health. Keara is married to Tyler Peltram and shares one child with him.
Brett Is Continuing His Uncle, Mark’s Legacy
Mark, the older brother of Brett’s father, is a two-time Super Bowl champion and the MVP of Super Bowl XXVII. Now, his legacy has been carried forward by his nephew Brett. Although his father was a former baseball player, Brett grew up following his uncle’s NFL career. He was the biggest supporter of Mark’s game.
One of the first-ever decorations Brett did was a picture of his uncle, Mark, standing alongside Peyton Manning in his bedroom. Inspired by his uncle’s football career, he started playing football in his high school days at Shadle Park High School which he continued at Boise State.
Even though it had been years since Mark stopped playing professional football, he continued to be a huge influence in his football career. From watching his uncle’s match highlights as a kid to playing in the NFL, Mark remained the constant motivation for the quarterback at every level he played at.
In a 2016 interview with the Seattle Times, Brett said,
He’s been there for me at every level I’ve played at, and it’s nice having a guy who understands because he’s been there at so many levels. He was really supportive of me throughout the entire (recruiting) process. He wanted me to be a Coug, but he was going to support me wherever I went.
Mark is also very proud of his nephew. During an interview with the same newspaper, he said; “I’m extremely proud of him, he’s a wonderful kid. And why not keep it (records) in the family?“