Larry Cipa
{{Short description|American football player (born 1951)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Larry Cipa
|image=
|caption=
|position=Quarterback
|number=13
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1951|10|5}}
|birth_place=Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
|death_date=
|high_school=Archbishop McNicholas {{nowrap|(Cincinnati, Ohio)}}
|height_ft=6
|height_in=3
|weight_lb=209
|draftyear=1974
|draftround=15
|draftpick=373
|college=Michigan
|teams=
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1974|1975}})
}}
Larry Cipa (born October 5, 1951) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1975. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1971 to 1973.
Early years
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Cipa attended Archbishop McNicholas High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, before enrolling at the University of Michigan.
College career
Cipa played at the quarterback position for the Michigan Wolverines team from 1971 to 1973.{{cite web|title=1971 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1971fbt.htm}}{{cite web|title=1973 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1973fbt.htm}} He was a backup to Dennis Franklin in 1972 and 1973, starting only one game at quarterback. During his time at Michigan, Cipa appeared in 19 games and completed 24 of 71 passes for 360 yards, five interceptions, and three touchdowns.{{cite web|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page |publisher=University of Michigan |url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112175906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |archivedate=2007-11-12 }}
Professional career
Cipa was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 15th round (373rd overall pick) of the 1974 NFL draft. He played for the Saints from 1974 to 1975, appearing in 8 games, three of them as the team's starting quarterback.{{cite web|title=Larry Cipa|publisher=profootballreference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CipaLa00.htm}} He appeared in his first game as a starter in December 1974 after injuries to Archie Manning and Bobby Scott.{{cite news|title=Rookie Larry Cipa Will Start Sunday|newspaper=Gettysburg Times|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hYQlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sPIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4166,2243395&dq=larry+cipa&hl=en | date=December 5, 1974}}{{cite news|title=Rookie QB Cipa Saints' Starter|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=December 5, 1974}} The Saints won the game against the playoffs-bound St. Louis Cardinals, 14–0.{{cite news |last1=Duncan |first1=Jeff |title=Jeff Duncan: Spencer Rattler will make history when he starts for the Saints |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/spencer-rattler-will-make-history-when-he-starts-for-saints/article_89459296-87d5-11ef-8c05-bfbaefb6eb36.html |access-date=12 October 2024 |work=NOLA.com |date=11 October 2024 |language=en}}
In July 1976, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite news|title=Bucs Acquire Saints' Cipa|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=July 2, 1976|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5-QhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OGcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5626,796879&dq=larry+cipa&hl=en}} Less than a week later, the Buccaneers placed him on waivers after he failed a physical due to arthritis of the knee.{{cite news|title=Bay Bucs Place Cipa on Waivers|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=July 5, 1976|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VXE0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=H8oEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2986,1543196&dq=larry+cipa&hl=en}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Saints1974DraftPicks}}
{{New Orleans Saints starting quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cipa, Larry}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Michigan Wolverines football players
Category:New Orleans Saints players