Ken Tippins

Last updated
Ken Tippins
No. 98, 52
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1966-07-22) July 22, 1966 (age 57)
Adel, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school: Cook (GA)
College: Middle Tennessee State
Undrafted: 1989
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:100
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Kenneth Tippins, (born July 22, 1966 in Adel, Georgia) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Middle Tennessee State University.

Contents

Early years

Tippins attended Cook High School, where he practiced football and basketball. He received All-county honors as a senior.

He accepted a football scholarship to play at Middle Tennessee State University, where he was a three-year starter at defensive end and a two-time All-OVC selection. In 1987 against Eastern Kentucky University, he posted 11 tackles, one sack, one interception and recovered 2 fumbles. As a senior, he deflected a team-high 7 passes. He finished his career with 151 tackles (20 for loss) and 9 sacks.

In 1990 after playing his first NFL season, he returned to school to work on his Physical Education degree at a time when the basketball team was left with only 3 active players, after suspensions were handed down following a bench-clearing brawl against Tennessee Tech University. [1] Because he was still technically eligible to play basketball, he ended up being a part of the team for 4 games and had a chance to play against future NBA player Popeye Jones. [2] He also finished with a 100 field goal percentage after making his only shot.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Tippins signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, with the intention of being converted into an outside linebacker. He initially joined the practice squad, before being promoted to the active roster for the eleventh game of the season against the Miami Dolphins. [3]

Atlanta Falcons

He signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons on May 9, 1990, starting 2 games. [4] He was named a regular starter midway through the next season and in 1992. He returned to a backup role in the following years. In 1994, he started 7 games.

Personal life

In March 2009, he was sentenced to ten years in prison with four to serve after pleading guilty to cocaine-related offences. [5] In 2010, he was released after serving one year in prison.

In April 2019, he was sentenced for drug trafficking charges to twelve years and seven months in prison followed by three years supervised release. This was his third drug conviction. [6]

Related Research Articles

Robert Vinson Smith, is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates. Smith played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. He won Super Bowl XXVII with Dallas over the Buffalo Bills.

Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Known as a "gentle giant", his career lasted for 15 years (1983–1997) and his ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped them win Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995 and the NFC East Division in 1985 and 1992-96. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.

Broderick Lee Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, earning unanimous All-American honors in 1988.

William Frederick Bates is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 15-year career as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). A fan favorite, he was a Pro Bowl selection in 1984, played in Super Bowl XXVIII and Super Bowl XXX, and was on the Cowboys' roster for Super Bowl XXVII. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrin Smith</span> American football player (born 1970)

Darrin Andrew Smith is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.

Barry Antoine Minter is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He played college football at the University of Tulsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Spencer (American football)</span> American football player (born 1984)

Anthony E. Spencer II is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft with the 26th overall pick.

Fredrick William Strickland, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.

Eugene Lockhart, Jr. is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Houston and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1984 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Durant</span> American football player (born 1985)

Justin Ryan Durant is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hampton University.

Barron Winfred Wortham is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Texas-El Paso.

Willis Robert Crockett is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Jesse William Solomon is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Florida State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Walden</span> American football player (born 1985)

Erik Lashawn Walden is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Middle Tennessee State and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Seattle Seahawks. With the Packers, he won Super Bowl XLV in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Carter (American football)</span> American football player (born 1988)

Bruce Edward Carter is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaylon Smith</span> American football player (born 1995)

Jaylon Smith is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Notre Dame and was drafted 34th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Hitchens</span> American football player (born 1992)

Anthony Hitchens is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashaan Evans</span> American football player (born 1995)

Alan Rashaan Evans is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has also played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leighton Vander Esch</span> American football player (born 1996)

Leighton Vander Esch is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Boise State Broncos, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, for whom he spent his entire six-year career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Gifford</span> American football player (born 1995)

Luke Gifford is an American football linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Nebraska.

References

  1. ↑ "Eight Players Suspended; College Team Will Forfeit : Basketball: Left with only three players, Middle Tennessee State coach calls off tonight's Ohio Valley Conference game". Los Angeles Times . 15 January 1990. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ "NFL Player's Transition Game Unique". Los Angeles Times . 18 January 1990. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Morris, Tippett Among Casualties of New Rule" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Falcons sign guard who skipped '89 season" . Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Ex Falcons football player wanted" . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Adel native and former Falcons player sentenced in drug case".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.