Mel Phillips

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Mel Phillips enters his 22nd season as a coach for the Miami Dolphins. During his first 11 years with the club, Phillips served as defensive backs coach. His 21 straight seasons with the same team is tied for the third-longest current streak among NFL position coaches, trailing only Pittsburgh Steelers running backs coach Dick Hoak (1972) and Cincinnati Bengals running backs coach Jim Anderson (1984), and tied with Detroit Lions defensive assistant Don Clemons.

Under Phillips, Dolphins defensive backs have had a knack for coming up with the big play, having returned 15 interceptions or fumbles for touchdowns over the last 11 years. In Phillips’ 21 previous seasons, the team’s defensive backs have brought back a total of 26 interceptions or fumbles for touchdowns.

Before coming to Miami in 1985, Phillips previously held the same position for five seasons with the Detroit Lions (1980-84).

Personal Life

A native of Shelby, NC, Phillips played 12 seasons for the San Francisco 49ers (1966-77), including eight as a starter at strong safety. A tenacious hitter during his playing days, his career statistics include ten interceptions for 106 return yards (including a 35-yard TD in 1970). Phillips twice won the San Francisco 49ers Len Eshmont Award, symbolic of the team’s most valuable player. Following his retirement from the San Francisco 49ers, Phillips worked for the city of San Francisco’s juvenile probation department until joining the Detroit Lions.

Collegiately, Phillips attended North Carolina A&T, where he played both ways as a defensive back and a running back. As a senior, he rushed for 648 yards and 11 touchdowns on 100 carries, and also caught 19 passes for 277 yards and four scores. That season (1965), A&T won the conference championship and Phillips intercepted two passes and rushed for two TDs in the title game. Phillips also lettered for the swimming and track teams at A&T.

Mel and his wife, Patricia, have two daughters, Paulette and Yvette and live in Miami Lakes.

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