Eric Ellsworth Hipple (born September 16, 1957) is an American public speaker and a former professional football player.

[1] At 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and 198 lb (90 kg), he was a star quarterback for the team, having earned an all-Pacific Coast Athletic Association selection as a senior in 1979 to go along with winning PCC championshps in 1978 and 1979.

Hipple spent the 1980 season entirely on the bench while Gary Danielson served as the starting quarterback.

[4] Hipple made his first appearance in a game in Week 5 (October 4) of the following season, throwing 4-of-15 for 102 yards and two interceptions in a loss.

[5][6] He would start the remainder of the season, going 6-4 as a starter as Detroit finished 8-8; he threw 2,358 yards with 14 touchdowns to 15 interceptions with a passer rating of 73.4.

[9] Hipple was the undisputed starter for the 1983 season, and he threw for 2,577 yards with 12 touchdowns and 18 interceptions as the Lions went 9-7 but Hipple suffered moderate tear of his left knee ligament against Tampa Bay in the season finale (which meant he would be out for roughly 2-6 weeks) that resulted in Danielson serving as the starter for the Divisional Round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, which Detroit narrowly lost.

[11][12] Hipple would start the first fifteen games of the 1985 season before being used in relief for the finale that ultimately saw the Lions go 7-9 while he passed for 2,952 yards with 17 touchdowns to 18 interceptions.

[14] The following month, on November 7, 1989, the Lions cut him from the roster, which now had Bob Gagliano and Rodney Peete start games.

[1] Hipple delivers speeches on suicide prevention and mental illness at high schools, youth groups, members of the military and their families, local organizations and corporations.

[20] It discusses Hipple's playing career with the Lions, his bouts with depression, and details of the warning signs of teens who have died from suicide.

[1] After his son's death, Hipple abused drugs and alcohol,[21] and was convicted of drunk driving and served time in jail.