Jaelan Phillips

Jaelan Phillips's Biography

Jaelan Everett Phillips, a professional football linebacker born May 28, 1999, and currently playing for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League, has made a name for himself within the sport despite a rocky and challenging journey.

Phillips, a California native, first showed his proficiency for the sport during his high school years at Redlands East Valley High School. With a remarkable record of 31.5 sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a staggering 264 tackles, he was viewed as one of the most promising prospects in football among the class of 2017. His talent didn’t go unrecognized, and he received over 20 scholarship offers before committing to UCLA.

While entering his career as a promising footballer, Phillips had to test his mettle quite early. In 2017, his freshman year at UCLA, he made a noteworthy impact in seven games with a record of 21 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and 3.5 sacks. However, his sophomore year was cut short due to a concussion, just four games in. This concussion was followed by several other injuries, including a severe one resulting from a car accident while he was on a moped. The severity and frequency of these injuries led to Phillips taking a hard step: medically retiring from football in December 2018.

After his retirement, Phillips sought to broaden his horizons outside of sports. He enrolled in the Los Angeles City College to study music production, a course he was deeply interested in. In the wake of this change, another opportunity arose that would see him back on the field. In 2019, Phillips transferred to the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he simultaneously rejoined football as a player for the Miami Hurricanes.

Given his prior success in the sport, Phillips quickly readjusted to playing football. Although NCAA rules required him to sit out for the 2019 season, he came back in 2020 with a bang with an impressive record:45 tackles, eight sacks, and an interception. His performance didn’t go unnoticed. He was named a second-team All-American and All-ACC. As the finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, he was a player to watch, but in a surprising turn of events, he chose to give up his remaining college eligibility to enter the 2021 NFL draft.

The Miami Dolphins recognized this rising star, and in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, he was selected 18th overall. Phillips wasted no time in making an impact on the field. As a rookie, he demonstrated his prowess in all 17 games started that season, recording an impressive 8.5 sacks, 42 total tackles, and one pass defended. His performances culminated in him being named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Phillips also featured prominently in the following season, tallying seven sacks, 61 tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. However, despite his notable contributions, his career has been plagued by injuries.

In 2024, yet another blow came. The Dolphins decided to exercise the fifth-year option in Phillips’s contract, keeping him on the team, yet due to an Achilles tendon tear he suffered the previous season, he was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list on July 18, 2024.

Later, on September 30, 2024, Phillips faced an even more devastating setback when he suffered a season-ending knee injury during Week 4’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. This marked his second consecutive season characterized by a sustained, season-ending injury.

Despite the setbacks and challenges, Jaelan Everett Phillips continues to posit himself as a resilient player within the NFL landscape. With a career marred by trials, he remains hopeful and determined, continually showcasing his skills and contributing to his team where he can. The promising linebacker’s story is far from over and serves as a testament to his endearing commitment to the sport he so loves.