Lawrence Phillips facts for kids
Mugshot of Phillips after his 2005 arrest
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | May 12, 1975 Little Rock, Arkansas |
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| Died: | January 13, 2016 (aged 40) Kern Valley State Prison, Delano, California |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 224 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Baldwin Park (CA) | ||||||||
| College: | Nebraska | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||||
| 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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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Lawrence Lamond Phillips (May 12, 1975 – January 13, 2016) was an American football running back. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons. Phillips was a highly skilled college player. However, his professional career was cut short due to off-field issues.
Phillips helped the Nebraska team win the 1995 Orange Bowl and the 1996 Fiesta Bowl. This led to him being picked sixth overall in the 1996 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. His time with the Rams ended early due to inconsistent play and other problems. After playing briefly for the Miami Dolphins, Phillips tried to make a comeback with the San Francisco 49ers in 1999.
He was later released because of questions about his effort. Phillips last played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He spent two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders. In 2002, with the Alouettes, Phillips was named an All-Star and won the Grey Cup. His career ended the next season due to further behavioral concerns.
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Early Life and High School Years
Phillips was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He later moved to California and grew up in foster homes. He attended West Covina High School for his first two years. There, he played both offense as a running back and defense as an outside linebacker.
For his junior and senior years, he went to Baldwin Park High School. His team won a CIF championship during his junior season. This success caught the eye of many colleges, including the University of Nebraska.
College Football Journey at Nebraska
Starting Strong in 1993
In 1993, his first year at Nebraska, Phillips slowly became a key player. He came off the bench to run for 137 yards and a touchdown. This helped the Cornhuskers win 14–13 against UCLA. In the 1994 Orange Bowl, he boosted Nebraska's running game. He carried the ball 13 times for 64 yards against a tough Seminole defense. This game showed he was becoming the main running back for Nebraska.
Becoming a Star in 1994
By his second year, Phillips became the main focus of the offense. This was partly because quarterbacks Tommie Frazier and Brook Berringer were injured. He set a school record by rushing for 100 yards or more in 11 games in 1994. He did this even though defenses often used many players to try and stop him.
Against the #3 Miami Hurricanes, Phillips ran for 96 yards. This included a 25-yard run, which was the longest the Hurricanes had allowed that season. During the regular season, he gained 1,722 rushing yards. This is still a Nebraska record for a sophomore. Phillips' play in the Orange Bowl helped Nebraska have an undefeated season and win the national championship in 1994.
Challenges and Comeback in 1995
When the 1995 season began, Phillips was a top contender for the Heisman Trophy. In Nebraska's second game, against Michigan State, Phillips had 206 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He carried the ball 22 times. After just two games, he was averaging over 11 yards per carry and had scored six touchdowns.
After an off-field incident, Phillips was suspended by head coach Tom Osborne. This situation caused a lot of discussion and media attention. Some people felt Osborne was being too easy on a star player. Osborne defended his choice, saying that staying with the team could help Phillips. He believed football provided a needed structure in Phillips' life.
After a six-game suspension, Osborne brought Phillips back for the Iowa State game. He also played against Kansas and Oklahoma. Despite pressure from the media, Osborne named Phillips the starter for the Fiesta Bowl. This game was for the national championship against Florida.
In the Fiesta Bowl, Phillips ran for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown on a 16-yard catch. Nebraska won the game 62–24. This great performance made Phillips a top pick for the NFL Draft. With Osborne's encouragement, he decided to enter the draft a year early.
| Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
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| YEAR | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | NO. | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
| 1993 | 105 | 572 | 5.4 | 46 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 3.0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 305 | 1,826 | 6.0 | 74 | 16 | 26 | 185 | 7.1 | 27 | 0 |
| 1995 | 96 | 712 | 7.4 | 80 | 11 | 5 | 30 | 6.0 | 16 | 1 |
| Totals | 506 | 3,102 | 6.1 | 80 | 33 | 33 | 221 | 7.0 | 27 | 1 |
Notes - Statistics include bowl game performances.
Professional Football Career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in (1.82 m) |
229 lb (104 kg) |
31+3⁄8 in (0.80 m) |
9 in (0.23 m) |
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| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
The 1996 NFL Draft
At the 1996 NFL Draft, teams had to decide if Phillips' amazing talent was worth the risk. He had faced some character concerns. Based only on his football skills, he was seen as a top five pick, maybe even the number one choice. Many expected the new Baltimore Ravens to pick him fourth overall. However, the Ravens chose offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden instead. ESPN analyst Joe Theismann called Phillips "the best player in the draft."
Time with the St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams drafted Phillips sixth overall. They thought so highly of him that they traded their star running back, Jerome Bettis, on the same day. On July 29, 1996, Phillips signed a three-year contract. His time with the Rams was short.
In 1996, Phillips played 15 games and started 11. He carried the ball 193 times for 632 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 1997, he gained 634 yards in only 10 games. However, on November 20, the Rams suddenly released him. Coach Dick Vermeil said Phillips was being moved to second string due to inconsistent play and other issues. Phillips left the facility and missed practice. The Rams decided to let him go. Vermeil, who was emotional, said Phillips was potentially the best running back he had ever coached.
Brief Stays with Other NFL Teams
Phillips played only two games for the Miami Dolphins. He rushed for 44 yards on 18 carries. The Dolphins released him after a behavioral incident.
Phillips missed the 1998 season. He then tried a comeback in 1999 with the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe. He set offensive records there with 1,021 yards and 14 touchdowns. This made several NFL teams interested in him again.
Joining the San Francisco 49ers
Phillips returned to the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in the fall of 1999. The 49ers talked with him many times. They believed he had put his past problems behind him. General manager Bill Walsh warned him that the 49ers would release him if he caused any trouble. Phillips was in the running for a starting job but injured his hamstring. His blocking skills were also a concern.
During a game against the Arizona Cardinals, Phillips missed a block. This led to Steve Young getting a serious hit that ended his career. Phillips did run for a 68-yard touchdown in the same game. However, his missed block made the 49ers question his effort.
By November, the 49ers were losing patience. Coach Steve Mariucci said Phillips started losing interest early in the season. He would find "reasons and ways why he shouldn't practice." Phillips refused to practice on November 10 and 12. He also openly ignored coaching instructions. The 49ers suspended him for three games. On November 23, 1999, the 49ers released him.
Playing in Other Leagues: AFL and CFL
In 2001, Phillips signed with the Florida Bobcats in the Arena Football League. However, he was released before playing any games. He left the team without telling his coach.
Phillips then moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL). He joined the Montreal Alouettes. He showed signs of his old talent, gaining 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also earned a spot on the CFL Eastern All-Star Team. He helped lead the Alouettes to the 90th Grey Cup championship. However, he also showed signs of his old habits off the field. He left the team at least once during the season.
Phillips briefly held out of training camp in 2003 over a salary disagreement. On May 1, the Alouettes released him. They stated he did not meet the team's "minimum behavioural standards." Phillips then signed with the Calgary Stampeders. He rushed for 486 yards and 1 touchdown. But he was released again after arguing with head coach Jim Barker.
Career Statistics
| Year | Team | League | GP | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||
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| Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||||
| 1996 | STL | NFL | 15 | 193 | 632 | 3.3 | 38 | 4 | 8 | 28 | 3.5 | 11 | 1 |
| 1997 | STL | NFL | 10 | 183 | 633 | 3.5 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 33 | 3.3 | 17 | 0 |
| MIA | NFL | 2 | 18 | 44 | 2.4 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1999 | BAR | NFLE | 10 | 194 | 1,021 | 5.3 | — | 14 | 25 | 247 | 9.9 | — | 0 |
| 1999 | SF | NFL | 8 | 30 | 144 | 4.8 | 68 | 2 | 15 | 152 | 10.1 | 47 | 0 |
| 2002 | MON | CFL | 15 | 187 | 1,022 | 5.5 | 51 | 13 | 33 | 292 | 8.8 | 30 | 0 |
| 2003 | CGY | CFL | 8 | 107 | 486 | 4.5 | 28 | 1 | 13 | 92 | 7.1 | 25 | 0 |
| Career | 68 | 912 | 3,982 | 4.4 | 68 | 42 | 105 | 850 | 8.1 | 47 | 1 | ||
Images for kids
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Mugshot of Phillips after his 2005 arrest
