Hipple was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played his entire 10-season NFL career for the Lions from 1980 to 1989. He missed the 1987 season with a sprained thumb.
As a result of the suicide in 2000 of Hipple's 15-year-old son, Hipple is involved in educating people about the dangers of depression.[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.[3] He is the Outreach Coordinator of the Depression Center of the University of Michigan.[3] A documentary film by the Depression Center features Hipple.[3] He also co-authored a study about depression and pain in retired professional football players.[3]
Hipple's book, Real Men Do Cry, was published in 2008.[4] 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.[5]
Personal life
In 2000, Hipple's 15-year-old son Jeff died by suicide via shotgun.[5] Hipple has acknowledged he has also suffered from bouts with depression,[5] including his adolescence.[1] After his son's death, Hipple abused drugs and alcohol.[5] and was convicted of drunk driving and served time in jail.[1] He filed for bankruptcy as well.[5]
In 2005, Hipple disarmed a man wielding a knife at a party in Michigan.[6]
In other media
A football poster of Hipple can be seen on the wall in the 1983 feature film Mr. Mom.
He was a guest star in the show Home Improvement as himself in Season 3 Episode 18 building a house for Habitat for Humanity guest starring several top name athletes and Former President Jimmy Carter.
^"Alumni and Friends". usu.edu. Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Utah State University. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
^ abcdJohnson, Beth (September–October 2007). "Sharing experience and hope: Telling His Story to Save Others". Inside View. University of Michigan Depression Center, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan. Retrieved June 7, 2018 – via depressioncenter.org.
^Hipple, Eric; Horsley, Gloria; Horsley, Heidi (2008). Real Men Do Cry: A Quarterback's Inspiring Story of Tackling Depression and Surviving Suicide Loss. Quality of Life Publishing Company. ISBN9780981621920.