Bum Phillips

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
17 125-114-4 52.26% 4-3 57.14%

Coaching Tree

Parents:

Sid Gillman, Charlie Waller

Children:

Ed Biles, Joe Bugel, Richie Petitbon, Wade Phillips


Biography

Table of Contents

Career Summary

Bum Phillips was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1967 to 1985, finishing his career as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Over his seventeen years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 126-117-4. During his career he was a head coach for eleven seasons, first with the Houston Oilers. He led the Oilers for six seasons, compiling a record of 55-35-0. His next head coaching stint was with the New Orleans Saints from 1981 to 1985, as he led the team to a 28-45-0 record. He resigned from the Saints on Tuesday, November 26, 1985. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 83-80-0 across eleven seasons including going 4-3-0 in the playoffs.

Career Awards

As the head coach of the Houston Oilers he coached two players to award-winning seasons: Robert Brazile, AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1975; Earl Campbell, AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1978; Earl Campbell, AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1978; Earl Campbell, AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1979; Earl Campbell, Most Valuable Player in 1979; Earl Campbell, AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1980. As the head coach of the New Orleans Saints he coached one player to an award-winning season: George Rogers, AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1981.

Bum Phillips Coaching Tree

Before he was a head coach, Phillips served as an assistant coach for Sid Gillman and Charlie Waller. Five of these years were spent on Gillman's coaching staff. During his time as head coach, four assistant coaches, (Ed Biles, Richie Petitbon, Wade Phillips, and Joe Bugel) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 117-156-0 in the regular season and 1-4 in the playoffs during their eighteen seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.

Personal Information

Phillips was born on Saturday, September 29, 1923 in Orange, Texas. He died on Friday, October 18, 2013 at the age of 90.


History

Year Position Record Playoff record
1985 New Orleans Saints Head Coach 4-8-0 0-0
1984 New Orleans Saints Head Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1983 New Orleans Saints Head Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1982 New Orleans Saints Head Coach 4-5-0 0-0
1981 New Orleans Saints Head Coach 4-12-0 0-0
1980 Houston Oilers Head Coach 11-5-0 0-1
1979 Houston Oilers Head Coach 11-5-0 2-1
1978 Houston Oilers Head Coach 10-6-0 2-1
1977 Houston Oilers Head Coach 8-6-0 0-0
1976 Houston Oilers Head Coach 5-9-0 0-0
1975 Houston Oilers Head Coach 10-4-0 0-0
1974 Houston Oilers Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach 7-7-0 0-0
1971 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 6-8-0 0-0
1970 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 5-6-3 0-0
1969 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 8-6-0 0-0
1968 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 9-5-0 0-0
1967 San Diego Chargers Defensive Line Coach 8-5-1 0-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts

  • Years as head coach: 11
  • Years as a coordinator: 1
  • Second in total wins for the Tennessee Titans.
  • Fourth in total wins for the New Orleans Saints.
  • First in winning percentage for the Tennessee Titans.
  • Fourth in winning percentage for the New Orleans Saints.
  • Past teams coached for: New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers, San Diego Chargers
  • Family Members: Wade Phillips, Son
  • Date of Birth: Saturday, September 29, 1923 (90 years old), Orange, Texas