Adrian Phillips facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Adrian Phillips

Phillips with the San Diego Chargers in 2015
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1992-03-28) March 28, 1992 (age 33) Garland, Texas, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Garland
College:	Texas (2010–2013)
Undrafted:	2014
Career history
San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers (2014–2019) New England Patriots (2020–2023)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (2018) Pro Bowl (2018)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles: 535 Sacks: 1.0 Forced fumbles: 3 Pass deflections: 34 Interceptions: 11 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Adrian Phillips, born on March 28, 1992, is an American professional football player. He plays as a safety. A safety is a defensive player who helps stop long passes and tackles ball carriers.

Phillips played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He started his professional career in 2014 with the San Diego Chargers. In 2018, he was recognized as a top player, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. Phillips later joined the New England Patriots in 2020.

Early Life and High School Football

Adrian Phillips grew up in Garland, Texas. He played high school football at Garland High School. Phillips was a star player on both offense and defense. He was named to the all-state and all-area teams. He also earned first-team all-district honors twice.

Phillips was considered one of the top national prospects by ESPNU and Rivals.com. During his high school career, he caught 72 passes for 1,307 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,111 yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns. Phillips even threw for 949 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he made 87 tackles, forced a fumble, and had three interceptions.

College Football Career

Phillips played college football for the Texas Longhorns from 2010 to 2013. He played in 50 games during his college career, starting 28 of them. In 2013, he was recognized as an honorable mention All-Big 12 player. Phillips recorded 206 tackles in his college career. He was also a team captain in his final season, 2013.

Professional Football Career

Adrian Phillips began his professional football journey after college. He was not chosen in the 2014 NFL Draft, but he soon signed with the San Diego Chargers.

San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers

Phillips spent several seasons with the Chargers, first in San Diego and then when they moved to Los Angeles.

Starting with the Chargers (2014-2015)

The San Diego Chargers signed Phillips in June 2014. He spent time on the team's practice squad, which is like a training team. He was called up to the main roster a few times. Phillips made his first professional game appearance in November 2014. He played in three games during his rookie year.

In 2015, Phillips continued to work hard to earn a spot on the Chargers' main team. He was signed to the active roster in October 2015.

Making an Impact (2016-2017)

In 2016, Phillips became a backup safety for the Chargers. He played in 14 games and started five of them. In October 2016, he made his first career interception against the New Orleans Saints. He finished the season with 38 tackles and three pass deflections.

In 2017, Phillips continued to be an important player for the Chargers. He played in 15 games and had two interceptions. One of these interceptions came in the season opener against the Denver Broncos.

Breakout Season (2018)

The 2018 season was a big year for Adrian Phillips. He played in all 16 games and started seven. He recorded a career-high 94 tackles. He also had nine pass deflections, one interception, and forced a fumble.

Because of his excellent performance, Phillips was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. This is a special game where the best players from the NFL play against each other. He was also named first-team All-Pro as a special teams player. This means he was recognized as one of the best players in the league in that role.

Injury and Return (2019)

In 2019, Phillips re-signed with the Chargers. He started the season as a starting safety. However, he broke his arm in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve. This meant he couldn't play for a while. He returned to practice in November and was back on the active roster by the end of the month.

New England Patriots

In March 2020, Adrian Phillips signed a contract with the New England Patriots.

First Seasons with the Patriots (2020-2021)

Phillips made his debut with the Patriots in Week 1 of the 2020 season. He intercepted a pass in his first game with the team. In Week 15, he recorded his first career sack.

In Week 8 of the 2021 season, Phillips had an amazing game against his former team, the Chargers. He made three tackles and had two interceptions. One of his interceptions was a "pick-six," meaning he caught the ball and ran it back for a touchdown! For this great performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. In January 2022, Phillips signed a new contract extension with the Patriots. He played for the Patriots until February 2024.

NFL Career Statistics

Adrian Phillips has had a successful career in the NFL. Here are some of his career statistics:

Playoffs