Darius Phillips

Darius Phillips's Biography

Darius Phillips, a proficient American football cornerback, was born on June 26, 1995. Currently, he is engaged in showcasing his skills for the San Antonio Brahmas operated under the United Football League (UFL). Before this, he already carved out an impressive career, mastering his skills as a football player from his college days at Western Michigan, which culminated in his drafting by the Cincinnati Bengals during the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Phillips kickstarted his collegiate football journey at Western Michigan, where he devoted four rigorous seasons. Even though he was victorious in securing the position of a wide receiver in his freshman year and caught 32 passes (totaling 479 yards with three touchdowns), he also demonstrated his versatility by successfully rushing three times for 37 yards. A significant turn happened in his sophomore year – he was transitioned to defensive back. In three years holding this pivotal defense position, he tackled opponents 127 times, with 13 tackles resulting in losses for the opposite team. He performed two sacks and snatched 12 interceptions, which he managed to return for 376 yards for his team, resulting in five additional touchdowns.

Yet, Phillips’s main contribution to the team was his impeccable ability as a kick returner. He dominated the Mid-American Conference in 2014 and 2016 by leading in kickoff return yards. Ultimately, his college career culminated in his accomplishment: 130 kickoff returns amounting to a school record of 3,193 yards, helping him to secure the fifth rank in NCAA history. On top of that, five of his kickoff returns resulted in touchdowns. Additionally, he returned 32 punts for 327 yards and another score.

Following an illustrious career at Western Michigan, he entered the professional realm as he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 170th slot during the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. During the third week of the 2019 season, he recorded his first career interception against Josh Allen, despite a 21-17 loss. However, an unfortunate knee injury led to him being placed on injured reserve on September 26, 2019. Fortunately, he bounced back, and by November 21, he resumed practicing with his team and was activated just before Week 13 began on November 29.

Phillips continued to demonstrate his prowess in the following games, such as intercepting a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick leading to an overtime loss against the Miami Dolphins during Week 16. He also garnered two interceptions in a victorious match against the Cleveland Browns in the next week.

Despite having an injury-plagued season in 2020, Phillips endured and was able to record his first interception of the season during a match against the Browns in Week 7. After being placed on injured reserve on November 14, he was activated again on December 9. However, on December 14, 2021, he again found himself on the reserve list due to injury.

Phillips’s career then took him to the Las Vegas Raiders with whom he signed a one-year contract on March 17, 2022. His tenure with the Raiders was short-lived, and he was released on August 30 that year. Not long after, on September 1, he was signed by the Denver Broncos, only to be placed on injured reserve again on December 20. Phillips then made a brief stint with the Houston Texans with whom he signed on May 4, 2023, before being released on August 25.

Following this, Phillips was signed to the practice squad of the Detroit Lions on September 20, 2023. However, he was released within a month, on October 10. On December 26, 2023, he was then signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad. However, he did not progress to a reserve/future contract and thus became a free agent at the end of the season.

On January 19, 2024, Phillips found his current home with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. He committed to the team again on August 29, 2024, where he continues to contribute with his established defensive skills. This biography encapsulates the journey of a dedicated, hard-working, and immensely talented athlete, Darius Phillips. His story is a testimonial to resilience and immense love for the sport.