'The greatest thing that’s happened to me': Jaelan Phillips ecstatic to be an Eagle

This story originally appeared on Inside The Birds. 

PHILADELPHIA – Not long after reporters gained entry into the Eagles locker room on Thursday, a large crowd converged in front of a stall perched between fellow defenders Brandon Graham and Jordan Davis.

“This is probably the biggest and best media scrum I’ve ever had,” quipped Jaelan Phillips, the Eagles’ newly acquired pass rusher, before fielding questions.

Phillips, a splashy addition ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, was engaging and ever-present, eager to begin the next chapter of his career in Philadelphia, where he’s been welcomed with open arms.

“I thought I was excited Day 1,” he said. “I mean, talk to me now. This is literally the greatest thing that’s happened to me in my whole life, probably. It’s just awesome, the guys are awesome, everyone’s been super welcoming. I love the environment here, I love the vibe here.

“The city of Philly has given me a very warm welcome. I got about 20 times the amount of Instagram likes that I ever got on a post before, because of the Philly fans. So, shout out to y’all. But it’s been great so far being out there practicing. I love the weather here, I love the locker room. Like, everything’s awesome.”

When asked why he felt joining the Eagles was such a monumental moment, Phillips mentioned this being a “pivotal point” in his life and career. Other factors he mentioned that contributed included the baby he has on the way in addition to this being a contract year.

“I’m taking it day-by-day, but I just truly feel like this is an amazing opportunity for me to come in,” he said. “And I’m just grateful to be able to do everything I can to help the team, too.”

There’s considerable optimism surrounding Phillips, 26, who arrives in Philadelphia after having spent the better part of five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, the team that selected him 18th overall in 2021 NFL Draft. With the Eagles, Phillips is expected to head a reconfigured pass rush that now includes Graham, and soon, third-year pro Nolan Smith, whose practice window from injured reserve opened earlier this week.

Appearing to be every bit of his listed 6-foot-5, 263 pounds, Phillips instantly becomes the team’s next-most accomplished pass rusher behind Graham, bringing with him 177 tackles (28 for loss), 26 career sacks and 61 quarterback hits. For perspective, Phillips’ three sacks this season equals the combined total from Eagles edge rushers through eight games.

Perhaps the only variable hindering him from a breakthrough has been injuries. An Achilles injury limited him to eight games in 2023 and an ACL injury cut short his 2024 campaign after only four games. Phillips has been healthy this season, however, appearing in all nine games for the Dolphins and logging a tick over 400 snaps.

He’s the Eagles most complete edge rusher, showcasing a knack for run support in addition to his pass rush prowess, but the first word he used to describe what he can add to coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense was tenacity.

“When I’m at my best, I feel I’m a very productive and disruptive player,” he said. “But most of all, I think my effort stands out. And that’s something that, coming here and having an opportunity to prove myself, I think is gonna be a great thing for me, almost like a chip on my shoulder, you could say. I’m just excited to go out there and work my ass off.”

Helping Phillips in easing his transition is his familiarity with Fangio, for whom he played in 2023. In eight games, Phillips registered 6.5 sacks and 27 pressures, noting the simplicity and aggressiveness of Fangio’s scheme in Miami, which according to Phillips, is when he’s at his best. He noted that Fangio isn’t exactly a “man of many words,” so there haven’t been a ton of extensive conversations upon reuniting, but added that the two understand one another.

He added that Fangio’s personality suits him well.

“And I just like who he is as a person, too,” he said. “He’s a very straightforward guy. And I resonate with that a lot. So, I think being back in his system is a very good fit for me.”

When assessing the Eagles’ defense, Phillips noted the freedom up front, affording pass rushers the luxury of pinning their ears back and embodying an aggressive rushing mindset.

In Miami, Phillips primarily rushed from the left side, which he attributed to being part of the system and simply how it worked out. He expressed his affinity for rushing from the left before adding that he’ll do whatever is needed for the team.

And even though Phillips has familiarity with Fangio, the time apart precludes seamless transition. The integration process, initially anyway, may be gradual, as Phillips has to reacquaint himself with the subtleties and nuances of his scheme. As Phillips noted, there’s an acclimation process and a learning curve that should be taken into account before he turns himself loose.

But once he does, history indicates the returns could be significant enough to keep him in Philadelphia long-term.

“I think there’s an adjustment, obviously,” he said. “It’s been two years removed and I was part of a different defensive scheme this last year – these last two years, really – so, it’s definitely still a learning curve. I can’t say that I’ll just jump in and immediately know everything, but I’m definitely working diligently to learn the playbook and get acquainted with the guys.”