 Lipps at a charity event in 2007 | |||||||||
| No. 83, 86 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver Return specialist | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1962-08-09)August 9, 1962 (age 62) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | East St. John(Reserve, Louisiana) | ||||||||
| College: | Southern Miss | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1984: 1st round, 23rd pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Louis Adam Lipps Jr. (born August 9, 1962) is an American former professionalfootball player who was awide receiver for nine seasons in theNational Football League (NFL), spending eight seasons with thePittsburgh Steelers and one with theNew Orleans Saints.
He was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the1984 NFL draft after acollege football career at theSouthern Miss Golden Eagles.[1] Lipps also attendedEast St. John High School inReserve, Louisiana.[2]
Lipps played college football at theUniversity of Southern Mississippi from 1980 to 1983, where he was awide receiver andreturn specialist.[3] During his freshman season in 1980, Lipps recorded 2 receptions for 28 yards, along with 8 punt returns for 54 yards and 3 kick returns for 61 yards.[4] His role expanded in 1981, when he made 9 catches for 181 yards and 1 touchdown, while also returning 7 punts for 31 yards. Lipps had a breakout season in 1982, tallying 38 receptions for 468 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 2 carries for 10 yards. He also excelled on special teams, returning 23 punts for 280 yards and scoring 1 punt return touchdown. As a senior in 1983, Lipps had his most productive year, recording 42 receptions for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns, along with 6 carries for 52 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. He continued to shine as a return specialist, amassing 40 punt returns for 460 yards.
In the1984 NFL draft, Lipps was selected by thePittsburgh Steelers 23rd overall.[5] His teammateJohn Stallworth took him under his wing when he was arookie.[5] During his first outing with the Steelers, he caught an 80 yard touchdown pass fromDavid Woodley against theKansas City Chiefs. He would score another touchdown during the game on a 21 yard pass fromMark Malone, giving him two touchdowns in his professional debut.[6] By the conclusion of his inaugural season, Lipps broke theNational Football League record forpunt return yardage by a rookie with 656 yards.[7] Lipps returned one punt for a touchdown and also caught 45 passes for 860 receiving yards and 9 receiving touchdowns. He was named theNFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year at season's end and was also named to the AFC team in thePro Bowl for that year.[8]
Lipps' second season in1985 saw him go over 1,000 receiving yards with 1,134 and 12 touchdown receptions, all career highs.[9] He was named 1st Team All-Pro by theNewspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) and thePro Football Writers Association (PFWA) and 2nd Team All-Pro by theAssociated Press (AP). He also earned a second straight trip to the Pro Bowl. The Steelers named him the Team's MVP for the 1985 season.[10]
He struggled with injuries during the1986. One of his injuries occurred against the defendingSuper Bowl championChicago Bears, where he took an elbow to the face by Bears linebackerOtis Wilson, causing Lipps to be ruled out for the remainder of the matchup. Across 13 games, Lipps caught 38 passes for 590 yards and three touchdowns.[11] Lipps would be injured for much of the1987 season. He appeared in only four games and caught 11 passes for 164 yards in what would be his only season in which he did not catch a single touchdown.[12]
He rebounded in1988, finishing with 50 catches for 973 receiving yards and 5 touchdown catches including the Steel City Wonder, where he caught a ball in his facemask and scored. In 1989, Lipps again led the team in receptions (50), receiving yards (944) and receiving touchdowns (5) and was named Team MVP for the second time.[13]
Lipps' production began to decline with the team after 1989. In1990, Lipps would not score a touchdown until Week 6's 34-17 victory over theDenver Broncos.[14] He finished the season appearing in 14 games, managing to catch 50 passes for 682 yards and three touchdowns.[15] In 1991, Lipps caught 55 passes, the second most he had in a single season during his career for 671 yards and two touchdowns. Lipps' 44.7 yards per game made Lipps the team's leader in receiving yards for the 1991 season.[16] After eight years with the Steelers, Lipps was released after the 1991 season.
With hopes of continuing his NFL career, Lipps signed a two-year deal with his hometown team, theNew Orleans Saints, in 1992.[17] Despite the opportunity, his tenure in New Orleans was brief and limited. He appeared in just three games during the 1992 season, recording one reception in total for one yard.[18] Persistent injuries and reduced effectiveness on the field contributed to his decision to retire from professional football following that season.
He retired as a Steeler in 1993. Lipps caught 359 passes for 6031 yards and 39 touchdowns in his career.
Lipps was inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor on November 13, 2022, an achievement he described as his personal "Super Bowl."[19] In April 2020, Lipps was named the fifth greatest wide receiver in Steelers history bySports Illustrated.[20]
Lipps married his wife,Toni Seawright, a former Miss Mississippibeauty queen on June 10, 1989 inMoss Point, Mississippi.[21]
On November 6, 2021, Lipps was arrested after his vehicle collided with a parked trailer on Ruth Street inPittsburgh. According to the police report, his blood alcohol content was measured at .235%, nearly three times the legal limit. Witnesses reported that Lipps appeared unaware his truck had hit the trailer. Police noted that Lipps exhibited signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes and difficulty maintaining balance. He reportedly declined to complete a field sobriety test, allegedly stating, "I'm going to fail, so no." Lipps and his wife, who was present in the vehicle, were taken into custody.[22]
On February 11, 2022, Lipps entered an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program as part of a resolution to the case. The program requires him to serve 12 months of probation, complete a safe driving course, and undergo a 60-day driver's license suspension.[23]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1984 | PIT | 14 | 8 | 45 | 860 | 19.1 | 80 | 9 |
| 1985 | PIT | 16 | 16 | 59 | 1,134 | 19.2 | 51 | 12 |
| 1986 | PIT | 13 | 12 | 38 | 590 | 15.5 | 48 | 3 |
| 1987 | PIT | 4 | 2 | 11 | 164 | 14.9 | 27 | 0 |
| 1988 | PIT | 16 | 16 | 50 | 973 | 19.5 | 89 | 5 |
| 1989 | PIT | 16 | 16 | 50 | 944 | 18.9 | 79 | 5 |
| 1990 | PIT | 14 | 14 | 50 | 682 | 13.6 | 37 | 3 |
| 1991 | PIT | 15 | 14 | 55 | 671 | 12.2 | 35 | 2 |
| 1992 | NOR | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 110 | 98 | 359 | 6,019 | 16.8 | 89 | 39 | ||
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1984 | PIT | 2 | 2 | 8 | 131 | 16.4 | 33 | 1 |
| 1989 | PIT | 2 | 2 | 6 | 53 | 8.8 | 11 | 1 |
| 4 | 4 | 14 | 184 | 13.1 | 33 | 2 | ||