Jaelan Phillips

Jaelan Everett Phillips (born May 28, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins for two seasons before medically retiring after the 2018 season due to sustaining several concussions and other injuries.

Phillips went on to study music 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 drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early years
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 career
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.

Professional career
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. 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, 2024, Phillips was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.