Wade Phillips

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
42 363-287-2 55.83% 17-19 47.22%

Coaching Tree

Parents:

Bum Phillips, Dan Reeves, Buddy Ryan

Children:

Jim Fassel, Jason Garrett, Tony Sparano, Todd Bowles

Biography

Table of Contents

Career Summary

Wade Phillips was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 2019, finishing his career as the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. Over his forty-two years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 368-290-2. During his career he was a head coach for nine seasons, first with the Denver Broncos. He led the Broncos for two seasons, compiling a record of 16-16-0. He was fired from the Broncos on Friday, December 30, 1994. His next head coaching stint was with the Buffalo Bills from 1998 to 2000, as he led the team to a 29-19-0 record. He was fired from the Bills on Monday, January 8, 2001. His third head coach placement began in 2007 with the Dallas Cowboys. He coached them for four seasons and the team had a 39-25-0 record during his tenure. He was fired from the Cowboys on Monday, November 8, 2010. During his entire head coaching career, his three teams combined for a record of 84-60-0 across nine seasons including going 1-4-0 in the playoffs.

Career Awards

During his time as defensive coordinator and head coach he coached nine players to award-winning seasons. As the defensive coordinator for the Bills Bruce Smith won AP Defensive Player of the Year and Bryce Paup won AP Defensive Player of the Year. As the head coach for the Bills Doug Flutie won Comeback Player of the Year. As the defensive coordinator for the Broncos Mike Croel won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. As the defensive coordinator for the Chargers Shawne Merriman won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. As the head coach for the Cowboys Greg Ellis won Comeback Player of the Year. As the defensive coordinator for the Texans J.J. Watt won AP Defensive Player of the Year. As the defensive coordinator for the Rams Aaron Donald won AP Defensive Player of the Year (2). As the defensive coordinator for the Eagles Reggie White won AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Wade Phillips Coaching Tree

Before he was a head coach, Phillips served as an assistant coach for Bum Phillips, Buddy Ryan, Dan Reeves, Marv Levy, Marty Schottenheimer, Gary Kubiak, and Sean McVay. Ten of these years were spent on Phillips' coaching staff. During his time as head coach, four assistant coaches, (Jim Fassel, Jason Garrett, Tony Sparano, and Todd Bowles) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 215-212-1 in the regular season and 5-9 in the playoffs during their twenty-seven seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.

Personal Information

Phillips was born on Saturday, June 21, 1947 in Orange, Texas.

History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2019 Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-0
2018 Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator 13-3-0 2-1
2017 Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator 11-5-0 0-1
2016 Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-0
2015 Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator 12-4-0 3-0
2013 Houston Texans Defensive Coordinator 2-10-0 0-0
2013 Houston Texans Interim Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 0-4-0 0-0
2012 Houston Texans Defensive Coordinator 12-4-0 1-1
2011 Houston Texans Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 1-1
2010 Dallas Cowboys Head Coach 1-7-0 0-0
2009 Dallas Cowboys Head Coach 11-5-0 1-1
2008 Dallas Cowboys Head Coach 9-7-0 0-0
2007 Dallas Cowboys Head Coach 13-3-0 0-1
2006 San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator 14-2-0 0-1
2005 San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-0
2004 San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator 12-4-0 0-1
2003 Atlanta Falcons Interim Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 5-11-0 0-0
2002 Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator 9-6-1 1-1
2000 Buffalo Bills Head Coach / Vice President of Football Operations 8-8-0 0-0
1999 Buffalo Bills Head Coach / Vice President of Football Operations 11-5-0 0-1
1998 Buffalo Bills Head Coach / Vice President of Football Operations 10-6-0 0-1
1997 Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator 6-10-0 0-0
1996 Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 0-1
1995 Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 1-1
1994 Denver Broncos Head Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1993 Denver Broncos Head Coach 9-7-0 0-0
1992 Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator 8-8-0 0-0
1991 Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator 12-4-0 1-1
1990 Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator 5-11-0 0-0
1989 Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator 11-5-0 2-1
1988 Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 10-6-0 0-1
1987 Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 7-8-0 0-0
1986 Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 5-10-1 0-0
1985 New Orleans Saints Interim Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator 1-3-0 0-0
1985 New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator 4-8-0 0-0
1984 New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator 7-9-0 0-0
1983 New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator 8-8-0 0-0
1982 New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator 4-5-0 0-0
1981 New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator 4-12-0 0-0
1980 Houston Oilers Defensive Line Coach 11-5-0 0-1
1979 Houston Oilers Defensive Line Coach 11-5-0 2-1
1978 Houston Oilers Defensive Line Coach 10-6-0 2-1
1977 Houston Oilers Defensive Line Coach 8-6-0 0-0
1976 Houston Oilers Linebackers Coach 5-9-0 0-0
1975 Kansas Jayhawks Defensive Line Coach 7-5-0
1974 Oklahoma State Cowboys Linebackers Coach 7-5-0
1973 Oklahoma State Cowboys Linebackers Coach 5-4-2
1972 Orange High School Defensive Coordinator
1971 Orange High School Defensive Coordinator
1970 Orange High School Defensive Coordinator
1969 Houston Cougars Graduate Assistant 9-2-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts