Jaedon Phillips

Jaelan Phillips

Phillips with the Miami Dolphins in 2021
No. 5 – Carolina Panthers
Position	Outside linebacker
Roster status	Active
Personal information
Born	(1999-05-28) May 28, 1999 (age 27) Redlands, California, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school	Redlands East Valley
College	UCLA (2017–2018) Miami (FL) (2019–2020)
NFL draft	2021: 1st round, 18th overall pick
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2021–2025) Philadelphia Eagles (2025) Carolina Panthers (2026–present)
Awards and highlights
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2021) Second-team All-American (2020) Second-team All-ACC (2020)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2026
Total tackles 215 Sacks 30.5 Pass deflections 11 Interceptions 1 Forced fumbles 2 Fumble recoveries 5 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jaelan Everett Phillips (born May 28, 1999) is an American professional football outside 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.

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. Considered the top high-school football prospect from the class of 2017, he received over 20 scholarship offers before committing to UCLA.

College recruiting

Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Jaelan Phillips DE	Redlands, CA	Redlands East Valley HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	250 lb (110 kg)	Apr 15, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 2 (WDE)    ESPN: 1 (OLB)
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "UCLA Football Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved February 11, 2019. "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved February 11, 2019. "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 11, 2019.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Phillips was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the first round (18th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $14 million, on June 9, 2021.

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. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In the 2022 season, he had seven sacks, 61 tackles (37 solo), two passes defended, and one forced fumble.

On April 29, 2024, the Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option on Phillips' contract. 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. 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.

Phillips started all nine games he appeared in for Miami in 2025, recording one fumble recovery, three sacks, and 25 combined tackles. However, Phillips' embarrassing failure to sack Chargers QB Justin Herbert contributed greatly to a Dolphins loss, and Chris Grier was forced to resign largely because he refused to trade Phillips or other overpaid veterans he'd acquired. The Dolphins made it clear to Phillips after Grier left that he would be traded before the 2025 deadline.

On November 3, 2025, the Dolphins traded Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third round pick (87th overall, Will Kacmarek). 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.

On March 11, 2026, Phillips signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jaelan Phillips.

• Jaelan Phillips on X
• Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · CBS Sports · Yahoo Sports · Pro Football Reference
• Carolina Panthers bio
• Miami Hurricanes profile
• UCLA Bruins profile