The Texans hired DeMeco Ryans to be their next head coach on Tuesday. Ryans played linebacker for the Texans from 2006 to 2011. Wade Phillips, who coached Ryans in Houston, believes the Texans made the right hire by bringing back their former middle linebacker.
Wade Phillips
Super Bowl Champion Coach
Wade Phillips is a former NFL Head Coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys who is considered one of the best defensive minds in NFL history.
A Super Bowl winner with the Broncos, for whom he was defensive coordinator twice, he also was DC with the Saints, Eagles, Bills, Falcons, Chargers, Texans, and, most recently with the Rams from 2017-2019. Phillips was voted AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 with Denver. And with the Rams, Phillips’ unit held Tom Brady and the Patriots to 13 points in Super Bowl LIII, but ended up falling short on the scoreboard.
Counting his stints as an interim head coach in New Orleans, Atlanta and Houston, Phillips was in charge of more teams (6) than anyone in NFL history. He finished his career with a .562 win percentage.
Phillips has helped several players win Defensive Player of the Year in his system, including Reggie White, Bryce Paup, Bruce Smith, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald. He has been hired as Head Coach for the upcoming XFL relaunch.
One of Phillips’ first coaching jobs was as linebackers coach for Oklahoma State University, under his father, Bum Phillips, who was the defensive coordinator. Wade Phillips got his professional coaching career started with the Houston Oilers, once again working under his father, by then a head coach.
Phillips played linebacker at the University of Houston, and graduated with the school record for career tackles. He credits his knowledge of football to his father, and still pays homage to him with his Twitter handle: @sonofbum
Wade Phillips went to Port Neches-Groves High School, where he played football and met his wife Laurie, who was the head cheerleader.
J.J. Watt Leaves Behind Hall of Fame Legacy
Wade Phillips believes J.J. Watt should be widely recognized as one of the greatest defensive players of all time. Phillips thinks Watt’s legacy is cemented, and the Hall of Fame seems to be a foregone conclusion.
Wade Phillips Knew Early on J.J. Watt Would Be Special
Former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips reflects on the career of an All-Time Great in J.J. Watt, and recalls how he knew from the start that Watt was a superstar in the making.
Frank Reich Firing Fallout: What It’s Like Being Dismissed Midseason
Wade Phillips, who holds the NFL record for most teams coached (six, including interim stints), understands the struggles a coach feels when the plug is pulled midseason.
Colts Need to Help Jeff Saturday as he Makes Coaching Debut
After firing head coach Frank Reich, to the surprise of many, the Indianapolis Colts named Jeff Saturday the team’s interim coach. Despite having former head coaches on staff, Indianapolis tabbed its former center, who has not coached at the collegiate or NFL levels before. A three-time interim head coach himself, Wade Phillips has some insight […]
Now You Know: Breakdown of Hargrave’s 3 Sacks for Eagles
Wade Phillips breaks down all three of Javon Hargrave’s from the Eagles’ victory over the Texans Thursday night, including two that looked very similar.
Even After 8-0 Start, Still Unlikely Eagles Finish Undefeated
After a Week 9 win versus the Texans, the Eagles have improved to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. Almost halfway through the season, Wade Phillips gives his take on whether or not they can finish the season undefeated.
Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 Defense No Match for Jalen Hurts
Wade Phillips explains how Jalen Hurts was able to beat Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2 defense and keep the Eagles undefeated.
Jalen Hurts Impressive Yet Again in Dismantling Texans’ Tampa 2 Defense
Even as he shared some of the spotlight with the team’s ground game, Jalen Hurts came away impressive yet again as his Philadelphia Eagles moved to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history with a win over the Houston Texans. Hurts showed how he has grown in his short time in the NFL, and […]
Texans Kept It Close, But Eagles Simply Better in 29-17 Win
The Houston Texans stopped just over a quarter short of delivering the upset of the season to the Philadelphia Eagles, and The 33rd Team’s Wade Phillips stopped just short of saying that Houston found the secret to slowing down the undefeated Eagles. Rather, it just happened to be a strong effort from Houston and the […]