Andre Tippett          

HIGH SCHOOL: Andre Tippett attended Barringer High School and lived in or near Newark, New Jersey. He was named 2nd team Honorable Mention all-Essex County after his senior season, leading them to reach the state finals in 1977. He was a three-sport standout — football, track and wrestling. He was highly recruited, but his poor grades drove him to community college. His coach was future offensive line coach Frank Verducci. He was recruited by Bernie Wyatt, who encouraged him to play one season at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls in 1978 to get his grades in order. He transferred to the Hawks for the 1979 season.

COLLEGE: He was a two-time first team all-Big Ten selection, was an All-American defensive end and team captain in 1981. During his senior year, he helped lead the Hawkeyes to their first winning season, their first Big Ten title, and first Rose Bowl in two decades. He was part of a defense that allowed only 129 points, and allowed only 86.9 rushing yards a game, which still stands as the school record. The defense allowed 253 total yards a game, the fewest since 1959, making it the 4th-best defense in school history in terms of total yards. He holds the Iowa record for tackles for lost yardage in a season (20 tackles for 153 yards in 1980). He played in the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl in 1982. He was voted a DE on Iowa’s all-time football team in 1989 and is a member of the University of Iowa's Varsity Hall of Fame (2007).

PROFESSIONAL: He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He holds the Patriots’ franchise record with 100.0 career sacks. He was named the AFC’s Linebacker of the Year by the NFL Players Association for three straight seasons from 1985–87. He was a member of the NFL’s 1980s all-decade team and was selected to five Pro Bowls in his career, earning the nod in five straight seasons from 1984–88. He spent his entire 11-year career with the Patriots and was a member of three playoff teams, including the 1985 AFC Champions.

OTHER: He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the class of 2008, and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Born 12/27/1959 and is 65 years old.