Wade Phillips has coached in the NFL since 1976, spanning 45 seasons with 12 organizations. He served as head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas, Houston Roughnecks, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Denver Broncos. His roles included Defensive Coordinator, Offensive Coordinator, Linebackers, and Defensive Line. He worked under Buddy Ryan, Bum Phillips, and Bum Phillips. 5 of his former assistants went on to become NFL head coaches.

Coaching Tree

Head Coach Offense Defense Special Teams General

Career Timeline

Career History

Year	Team	Role(s)
2025	San Antonio Brahmas	Head Coach HC
2024	San Antonio Brahmas	Head Coach HC
2023	Houston Roughnecks	Head Coach HC
2019	Los Angeles Rams	Defensive Coordinator under Sean McVay
2018	Los Angeles Rams	Defensive Coordinator under Sean McVay
2017	Los Angeles Rams	Defensive Coordinator under Sean McVay
2016	Denver Broncos	Defensive Coordinator under Gary Kubiak
2015	Denver Broncos	Defensive Coordinator under Gary Kubiak
2013	Houston Texans	Defensive Coordinator, Head Coach under Gary Kubiak
2012	Houston Texans	Defensive Coordinator under Gary Kubiak
2011	Houston Texans	Defensive Coordinator under Gary Kubiak
2010	Dallas Cowboys	Head Coach HC
2009	Dallas Cowboys	Head Coach HC
2008	Dallas Cowboys	Head Coach HC
2007	Dallas Cowboys	Head Coach HC
2006	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Coordinator under Marty Schottenheimer
2005	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Coordinator under Marty Schottenheimer
2004	San Diego Chargers	Defensive Coordinator under Marty Schottenheimer
2003	Atlanta Falcons	Defensive Coordinator, Head Coach under Dan Reeves
2002	Atlanta Falcons	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
2000	Buffalo Bills	Head Coach HC
1999	Buffalo Bills	Head Coach HC
1998	Buffalo Bills	Head Coach HC
1997	Buffalo Bills	Defensive Coordinator under Marv Levy
1996	Buffalo Bills	Defensive Coordinator under Marv Levy
1995	Buffalo Bills	Offensive Coordinator under Marv Levy
1994	Denver Broncos	Head Coach HC
1993	Denver Broncos	Head Coach HC
1992	Denver Broncos	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1991	Denver Broncos	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1990	Denver Broncos	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1989	Denver Broncos	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1988	Philadelphia Eagles	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers under Buddy Ryan
1987	Philadelphia Eagles	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers under Buddy Ryan
1986	Philadelphia Eagles	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers under Buddy Ryan
1985	New Orleans Saints	Defensive Coordinator, Head Coach under Bum Phillips
1984	New Orleans Saints	Defensive Coordinator under Bum Phillips
1983	New Orleans Saints	Defensive Coordinator under Bum Phillips
1982	New Orleans Saints	Defensive Coordinator under Bum Phillips
1981	New Orleans Saints	Defensive Coordinator under Bum Phillips
1980	Houston Oilers	Defensive Line under Bum Phillips
1979	Houston Oilers	Defensive Line under Bum Phillips
1978	Houston Oilers	Defensive Line under Bum Phillips
1977	Houston Oilers	Defensive Line under Bum Phillips
1976	Houston Oilers	Linebackers under Bum Phillips

Worked Under (10)

Coach	Team	Years
Buddy Ryan	Philadelphia Eagles	3
Bum Phillips	Houston Oilers	5
Bum Phillips	New Orleans Saints	5
Dan Reeves	Denver Broncos	4
Dan Reeves	Atlanta Falcons	2
Gary Kubiak	Denver Broncos	2
Gary Kubiak	Houston Texans	3
Marty Schottenheimer	San Diego Chargers	3
Marv Levy	Buffalo Bisons	3
Sean McVay	Los Angeles Rams	3

Protégés (5)

Coach	First HC Job	Year
Jim Fassel	New York Giants	1997
Gary Kubiak	Houston Texans	2006
Tony Sparano	Miami Dolphins	2008
Jason Garrett	Dallas Cowboys	2011
Todd Bowles	New York Jets	2015