| Current team | Carolina Panthers |
|---|---|
| Number | 5 |
| Position | Linebacker |
| Birth date | May 28, 1999 (age 27) |
| Birth place | Redlands, California, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft |
| Height in | 5 |
| Weight lb | 266 |
| High school | Redlands East Valley |
| College |
|
| Draftyear | 2021 |
| Draftround | 1 |
| Draftpick | 18 |
| Pastteams |
|
| Highlights |
|
| Statseason | 2025 |
| Statlabel 1 | Total tackles |
| Statvalue 1 | 205 |
| Statlabel 2 | Sacks |
| Statvalue 2 | 28.0 |
| Statlabel 3 | Pass deflections |
| Statvalue 3 | 11 |
| Statlabel 4 | Interceptions |
| Statvalue 4 | 1 |
| Statlabel 5 | Forced fumbles |
| Statvalue 5 | 2 |
| Statlabel 6 | Fumble recoveries |
| Statvalue 6 | 5 |
| Statlabel 7 | Defensive touchdowns |
| Pfr | PhilJa02 |
Jaelan Everett Phillips (born May 28, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and Miami Hurricanes for two seasons each.
Phillips went on to study musical production at the Los Angeles City College before transferring to the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami in 2019, where he also made a return to football as a player for the Miami Hurricanes. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
Phillips was born in Redlands, California, on May 28, 1999, and attended Redlands East Valley High School, where he finished with 264 tackles, 31.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions.[1] Considered the top high-school football prospect from the class of 2017, he received over 20 scholarship offers before committing to UCLA.[2]
College career
As a true freshman in 2017, Phillips played in seven games and recorded 21 tackles (seven for loss), 2 pass deflections, and 3.5 sacks.[3] As a sophomore in 2018, he played in four games before a concussion ended his season. After several other injuries, including being hit by a car while riding a moped, Phillips medically retired from football in December 2018 and enrolled at the Los Angeles City College to study music production.[4][5][6]
In 2019, Phillips transferred to the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami with the intent to also play football for the Hurricanes.[5][7] He sat out of the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules but started in 2020, finishing with 45 tackles, eight sacks, and an interception. He was named a second-team All-American and All-ACC and was considered a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award. He chose to forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2021 NFL draft.
Professional career
Miami Dolphins
Phillips was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the first round (18th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.[8] He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $14 million, on June 9, 2021.[9]
As a rookie, Phillips appeared in all 17 games and started four in the 2021 season. He had 8.5 sacks, 42 total tackles (23 solo), and one pass defended.[10] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[11] In the 2022 season, he had seven sacks, 61 tackles (37 solo), two passes defended, and one forced fumble.[12]
On April 29, 2024, the Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option on Phillips' contract.[13] On July 18, Phillips was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list due to a torn Achilles tendon he suffered the previous season. [14] On September 30, Phillips suffered a knee injury in a Week 4 loss to the Tennessee Titans. This was the second consecutive season in which Phillips ended up out for the rest of the season on injured reserve.[15]
Phillips started all nine games he appeared in for Miami in 2025, recording one fumble recovery, three sacks, and 25 combined tackles.
Philadelphia Eagles
On November 3, 2025, the Dolphins traded Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third round pick (87th overall, Will Kacmarek).[16] In his first game with the Eagles, Phillips recorded six tackles and a crucial red zone fumble recovery in a 10–7 win over the Green Bay Packers.[17]
Carolina Panthers
On March 11, 2026, Phillips signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.[18]
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2021 | MIA | 17 | 5 | 42 | 23 | 19 | 8.5 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | MIA | 17 | 15 | 61 | 37 | 24 | 7.0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 | MIA | 8 | 6 | 43 | 28 | 15 | 6.5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | MIA | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 | MIA | 9 | 9 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PHI | 8 | 8 | 28 | 14 | 14 | 2.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Career | 63 | 46 | 205 | 119 | 86 | 28.0 | 32 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 11 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2022 | MIA | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
References
- ^ "Jaelan Phillips' High School Football Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Jaelan Phillips, Redlands East Valley, Weak-Side Defensive End". 247Sports. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Jaelan Phillips 2017 Player Statistics". cfbstats.com. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ Bonagura, Kyle (December 5, 2018). "UCLA linebacker Jaelan Phillips retires following injuries". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ Perez, Amanda. "For 'Canes defensive lineman, playing field includes football and music". news.miami.edu. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Perez, Amanda (October 8, 2020). "'It's surreal to be back': Former top recruit Jaelan Phillips finds second chance at Miami". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ Aschoff, Edward (February 22, 2019). "Former UCLA linebacker Jaelan Phillips transferring to Miami". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ Goodbread, Chase (April 29, 2021). "Dolphins select Alabama WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami DE Jaelan Phillips in first round". NFL.com. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ Deen, Safid (June 9, 2021). "Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips signs rookie contract". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- ^ "Jaelan Phillips 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "2021 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ "Jaelan Phillips 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Miami Dolphins Exercise Fifth-year Options on Jaelan Phillips and Jaylen Waddle". MiamiDolphins.com. April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves". MiamiDolphins.com. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (2024-10-02). "Fins LB Phillips has season-ending knee injury". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ^ "Dolphins make trade with Philadelphia". miamidolphins.com. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
- ^ "Game Recap: Eagles 10, Packers 7". Philadelphia Eagles. November 11, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ^ Gantt, Darin (March 11, 2026). "League year opens: Panthers agree to terms with five". panthers.com
External links
- Jaelan Phillips on Twitter