NFL CAREER – Phillips was originally signed by the New York Jets as a rookie free agent in 2019, out of Tennessee. The Nashville native played in 29 games with eight starts for the Jets (2019-21) and has career totals of 68 tackles (44 solo), 2.5 sacks, 12 stops for loss and a pass defense. In 2019, Phillips snared a roster spot out of the preseason and played in 15 games with four starts. He recorded 42 tackles, including a team-leading 18 for loss (according to coaches stats) and finished tied for seventh in the league among all rookies to go with 1.5 sacks. In 2021, Phillips returned to action from a season-ending ankle injury that required surgery suffered at midseason in 2020 and finished with 15 tackles, one sack and two stops for loss.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by the New Orleans Saints, 7/31/23; Activated by the Jets off Reserve/Non-Football Injury (COVID-19), 1/6/22; Placed by the Jets on Reserve/Non-Football Injury (COVID-19), 1/2/22; Activated off PUP, 11/17/21; Placed by the Jets on PUP, 8/31/21; Placed by the Jets on Injured Reserve (ankle), 10/28/20; Signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent, 5/10/19.
2021 – Appeared in seven games for New York with one start, recording 15 tackles with a sack…Dropped Taysom Hill for a nine-yard loss vs. New Orleans, Dec. 12, to go with three tackles (two solo). 2020 – Appeared in seven games for the Jets, recording 11 tackles with three stops for loss. An ankle injury in week seven sidelined Phillips for the rest of the season. 2019 – Appeared in 15 games for the Jets with four starts, recording 42 tackles (31 solo), 1.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and a pass defense. Became one of two undrafted rookies to start at least four games for the Jets. Had team-leading 18 tackles for loss (coaches stats).
COLLEGE – In his four years at Tennessee, Phillips appeared in 41 games with 21 starts on the defensive line and recorded 114 total tackles, including 16 for loss, 8.0 sacks, nine passes defensed, one interception returned for a touchdown and one forced and recovered fumble during that time…As senior (2018), posted career-best 56 tackles and finished second on team in sacks (five) and tackles for loss (eight) after appearing in all 12 games and added four passes defensed, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and a blocked kick…Three-time Academic All-SEC selection was named a semifinalist for the second annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award following his senior year, presented to a Division I football player that demonstrates leadership, sportsmanship and integrity on and off the field. Additionally, Phillips took part in a 13-day study abroad trip to Vietnam after he was inducted into the 2016-17 VOLeaders Academy Class…Graduated with a degree in Communication Studies.
PERSONAL – Attended Hillsboro (Nashville, Tenn.) HS, where as a senior he recorded 58 tackles (22.5 for loss) with 13 sacks and was named All-Midstate as well as one of The Tennessean's "Dandy Dozen"…A four-star recruit and played in the 2015 All-American Bowl "All-American Bowl (high school football)")…Mother, Theresa, served as the athletic director of Tennessee State from 2002-19, previously serving as their women's basketball coach from 1989-2000 after a playing career at Vanderbilt…In his time with New York, Phillips was selected by the Jets equipment staff as the 2019 Bill Hampton Award winner, which is given annually to a Jets rookie who displays the most friendly, courteous, and neat behavior in the locker room.
