Adrian Phillips

Adrian Phillips's Biography

Born on March 28, 1992, Adrian Phillips treaded the path to his destined football legacy as a dedicated professional. As he stands today, he is a proficient free agent safety in American professional football, testament to the years of commitment behind his professional journey that originated from the dust-laden turfs of his high school to the limelight of the National Football League.

Growing up in Garland, a city located in the U.S. state of Texas, Phillips nurtured his football dreams from an early age. His actions spoke louder than his words as a young athlete at Garland High School. Not only did he emerge as an all-state, all-area, and two-time first-team all-district selection across multiple sports, his prowess was acknowledged nationwide with a rank amongst the top 150 prospects by ESPNU and the 25th-best athlete by Rivals. Under his helm, the Owls of Garland High had a phenom boasting an impressive record featuring 72 receptions for 1,307 yards and 14 touchdowns, 1,111 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 949 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, 87 tackles, a forced fumble, and three interceptions.

Phillips carried this vein of remarkable performance over to his college years at the University of Texas, where he represented the Texas Longhorns from 2010 to 2013. His presence on the field was significant, having started in 28 of the 50 games he played, accumulating 206 career tackles, earning an honorable mention All-Big 12 coaches choice, and leading as a team captain during the 2013 season.

Success smiled upon him even when he went undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft. Picked up as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers in June 2014, Phillips found himself riding a roller-coaster journey between the active roster and practice squad a number of times in his initial professional years. However, displaying extreme resilience, he consistently bounced back, making his professional regular season debut in November 2014, where he recorded a tackle during a tough defeat against the Miami Dolphins.

With each passing season, Phillips gradually made a name for himself in the Chargers’ organization. Over the years, he competed with some of the top players in the league for a roster spot and performed consistently across seasons. By 2016, he had made an impactful presence on the team, recording 38 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and his first career interception. In fact, his memorable interception came from a pass attempt by New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees in October that year.

By 2017, Phillips continued moving from strength to strength in his career. He had become an integral part of the Chargers, playing 15 games as the No.3 safety behind Jahleel Addae and Tre Boston, recording an interception against Denver Broncos, which resulted in a touchdown for his team. The year 2018 marked a significant milestone – he was selected for his first Pro Bowl and crowned first-team All-Pro after a season that had him display career-best records, including 94 combined tackles and a forced fumble.

Despite encountering a setback from an injury in 2019, Phillips unyieldingly rebounded, earning himself a comeback with the Chargers. However, the taste of adversity made him realize his potential as an indispensable player, thus leading to a two-year, $6 million contract with the New England Patriots in 2020.

Ever since joining the Patriots, Phillips has continuously pushed his limits. Displayed perfectly when he intercepted a pass thrown by Ryan Fitzpatrick in his debut game for the Patriots and recorded his first career sack on Tua Tagovailoa. In Week 8 of the 2021 season, he had a triumphant win over his former team, the Chargers, leading him to be crowned the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Phillips journey recently buried a significant milestone in 2022, signing a three-year contract extension with the Patriots. However, in the volatile landscape of professional football, even a player of his stature wasn’t immune to the unpredictability of the sport. In 2024, despite his numerous accomplishments and resilient tenacity, he was released from the Patriots. As he embarks on the next phase of his career, his journey serves as a testimony to his indomitable spirit and unyielding commitment to the sport.