New Vikings QB Still High on Old Team
Last week, the Minnesota Vikings dropped quarterback Jaren Hall in favor of free-agent passer Brett Rypien, a move that stunned the team’s onlookers — most of them not in a positive way.
New Vikings QB Still High on Old Team
Hall latched on with the Seattle Seahawks, where he’ll serve as a QB3 behind Geno Smith and Sam Howell. Rypien will fill the same job on the Vikings’ roster, with Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens ahead on the depth chart.
The Chicago Bears last employed Rypien, and thanks to HBO’s Hard Knocks, folks learned that Rypien is still high on his old team — even if it’s his new rival.
“This team is gonna do special things this year. There’s a lot of special people in that building,” Rypien said on Hard Knocks after agreeing to a contract with the Vikings.
In the last three offseasons, Chicago has totally overhauled its roster, benefiting from a fortuitous trade with the Carolina Panthers that essentially landed new quarterback Caleb Williams for free. Along the way, the Bears have added weaponry like wide receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, rookie Rome Odunze, plus running back D’Andre Swift. Some have even picked the Bears to reach the postseason, which hasn’t occurred in four years.
So, in that vein, it makes all the sense in the world that Rypien is proud of his old team and expecting big things. It’s just a wee bit strange that the man would overly compliment his new foe. To each his own.
Here’s Rypien’s NFL resume to date:
- Denver Broncos (2019–2022)
- Los Angeles Rams (2023)
- Seattle Seahawks (2023)
- New York Jets (2023)
- Chicago Bears (2024)
- Minnesota Vikings (2024)
The nephew of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, Rypien has appeared in 10 NFL games, starting 4 and tallying 950 passing yards, 4 touchdown passes, and 9 interceptions since 2019. He’s known for footwork and accuracy, while his arm strength and mobility have been considered weaknesses dating back to the 2019 NFL Draft’s lead-up.
In all likelihood, Rypien won’t see any playing time for the 2024 Vikings unless the season veers off the rails — as it did in 2023 — because of quarterback injuries. Yet, Minnesota evidently trusts Rypien more than Hall in the regular season, and folks will merely wonder if Hall can catch on in Seattle. Stay tuned.
The Vikings play the Bears at Soldier Field in 80 days.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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