Wade Phillips comes from strong football bloodlines as his father Bum, was a coach at the pro level.
Was a 3 year starter at LB at University of Houston from 1966-’68.
Immediately went into coaching where he began his trek up to the pro ranks as a graduate assistant at Houston.
Moved into the pros with his father in 1976 as a positional coach with the HOUSTON Oilers.
Became the defensive coordinator for the Saints in 1981.
In 1985, served as interim HC when his father abruptly retired during the season.
Worked with the Eagles (1985-’88), and Broncos (1989-’92) as each team’s defensive coordinator- respectively.
He was coach of the Broncos from 1993-’94.
Then was quickly snapped up by the Bills to be DC from 1995-’97.
Served as HC for the Bills from 1998-’00.
After a brief hiatus, was back at it again in 2002 as DC for the Falcons through 2003.
Served as interim head coach briefly for Atlanta, then was off to San Diego to be the DC from 2004-2006.
Became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2007-’10.
Claimed to know how to fix the Houston Texans defensive woes and was signed as DC in 2011.
Turned around defensive unit and was key in identifying JJ Watt.
Served through 2013 as the DC, and briefly as the interim head coach.
Returned to the Broncos in 2015 as DC- helping the team win Super Bowl L.
Joined the Rams in 2017 and helped team reach Super Bowl LIII.
After not having his contract renewed following the 2019 season, Wade decided to coach in the XFL in 2023.
As HC of the Houston Roughnecks he led the team to a 7-3 record.
When the UFL and XFL combined following the season, Wade and his staff moved up the street to San Antonio.
Rebuilding the team from the ground up Phillips guided his team to an 8-3 record and an appearance in the first UFL Championship Game.
NOTES:
You know, I didn’t really believe Wade at first that he was going to build a dynamo in San Antonio that we’d be proud of. Then they went to work and just like that by the beginning of that first game, I thought the Brahmas were walking quietly and carrying a big stick.
Wade is well known in circles for being able to make seismic cultural and defensive changes quickly to football franchises. He also hasn’t seen a sniff of an NFL HC job since his time in Dallas- which could be attributed to ageism, as his reputation and resume say otherwise.
I got this custom card done just in time to give it to him at the season ticket holders event. He probably has seen his share of custom trading cards- so he really didn’t bat an eye.. which did surprise me. Over his high profile level of coaching for the past 40+ years, he has never had a trading card in circulation.
Wade has been a HC for more franchises than any coach in NFL history (including interim titles).
In 7 contests he had 3 picks, 15 tackles, and 2 FF before the league collapsed.
He was a signee of the Detroit Lions later that year.
Then in 2020 played in the XFL for the New York Guardians.
In the COVID shortened season he had 16 tackles and a pick in 3 starts.
Houston of the USFL would be his next stop in 2022, raking in 26 tackles.
In 2023, Jamar played in the XFL for the Vipers, before finally playing in 2024 for the Renegades.
NOTES:
When the teams were going back to the locker room after warmups, Jamar came over and said that he had mad respect for my AAF jersey. I said to him, “I KNOW WHO YOU ARE JAMAR SUMMERS AND I HAVE CARDS OF YOU!” He excitedly agreed to sign them on the spot. Since I was wearing my San Antonio Commanders jersey, we talked about the matchup between SA and Birmingham for a hot minute.
He was surprised that I remembered it, but he remembered it down to the correct score! I then quipped about how the weather was terrible and there was a tornado watch that day and they played in a torrential downpour. We both also reminisced that we couldn’t believe it’d been 5 years.
When he saw my AAF cards, he was like, “Oh wow! A true fan!” (Especially when he laid his eyes upon the ultra rare Topps AAF Now 2019 card of his.)
Of note, I think I had gotten Jamar’s Topps XFL Certified sometime ago, but because he ham fisted the autograph, I resisted posting it for a while. It will certainly make a good conversation starter next time I see him. In a rush to get out the door, I forgot that he had a Topps XFL 2020 base card as well. There’s always hopefully next year!
After transferring from East Carolina, QB Kurt Benkert got the starting nod at Virginia in 2016.
In 2017, he went 298/509, for 3,207 yards, and 25 TDs to just 9 picks.
He signed as an UDFA with the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 and spent a good time of the season on their practice squad that year.
He spent 2019 on IR with a toe injury sustained in preseason.
Waived in 2020, he then spent the season with the Saints primarily on their practice squad.
In 2021, Benkert joined the Packers, also seeing time on the practice squad.
The 49ers had him for 2022 on and off their practice squad.
Kurt was assigned to the Houston Roughnecks in 2023 to play in the XFL, but refused to report.
After the injury bug hit the San Antonio Brahmas, the team traded for Benkert and he quickly saw the field in 2 contests.
Unfortunately he broke his ribs against the Vipers and was placed on IR.
He opted to retire from the sport in August of that year.
With the Roughnecks staff essentially replacing the Brahmas in 2024, there was renewed interest in keeping Benkert, but it is unknown whether or not he even attended camp.
NOTES:
I went to all the San Antonio Brahmas games in 2023, but since Benkert got a crash course on the offense, came in for Renegades contest, quickly got injured the next week and was not heard from again- I wasn’t able to get his autograph on these cards.
After the Brahmas signed him, I was peppered with Facebook football 101s on how to understand football concepts (basic and advanced) for fans and aspiring Madden players from Kurt, so I decided to buy one. Nestled in the downloadable program, was his address, so I shot these 4 out and he kindly signed them for me.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
