In 2007, Phillips led the CFL with 12 interceptions, tying a team record held by former Lions' defensive back, Larry Crawford, in the process.[3] He also set a franchise record for most interception return yards in a season with 299 yards. The previous record had been 188. He also recorded the most tackles in his career with 65 made that year. After the season, Phillips was named a CFL All-Star for the first time in his career.
2008 was a stark contrast to the previous year as Phillips recorded only one interception in 18 games. The following year, he bounced back with four interceptions while recording the first fumble-return touchdown of his career, in addition to his third career interception return touchdown. In 2010 he recorded his highest sack tally to date with four for the year, to accompany another five interceptions with 49 tackles. Subsequently, he earned his second CFL All-Star selection that year.
Phillips was part of the 2011 BC Lions team that began the year with five consecutive losses and finished to win the 99th Grey Cup in Vancouver, which had never been done before in CFL history. During the season, he recorded 46 defensive tackles with four interceptions and one interception return touchdown. He had two tackles in the Western Final that year and one in the Grey Cup game itself as he won his second Grey Cup championship.
For the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Phillips earned All-Star selections in both years while fostering his reputation as an excellent coverage defensive back. He recorded four interceptions with 32 defensive tackles in 2012 and two interceptions with 36 defensive tackles in 2013. In 2014, he added another three interceptions to his tally while registering 36 defensive tackles.
For the 2015 season, Phillips led the league with six interceptions and made 26 defensive tackles in just 14 games. For the first time in his professional career, he did not play in a game, ending his consecutive games-played streak at 181 games. Despite playing in only 14 games, Phillips was named to the 2015 CFL Western All-Star team for the fifth time in his career. He scored his fifth career interception return touchdown in a game against the Montreal Alouettes on August 20, 2015, which tied for the franchise record for interception return touchdowns. He also set the franchise record for defensive touchdowns with six total, including his fumble return touchdown in 2008. He finished the season tied for the franchise record for most interception return yards with Larry Crawford who also had 790 yards.
In 2016, Phillips set the franchise record for most interception return yards in a career after his 26-yard return against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, on July 1, 2016, brought him to 816 yards total. He played in his 200th career game on August 4, 2016, against the Alouettes, which is the sixth-most games played in BC Lions' history.[4] Phillips was signed through the 2017 CFL season with the Lions after he signed a contract extension on January 24, 2016.[5] Nevertheless, at age 34, he was released by the Lions on February 10, 2017, just prior to the opening of the free agency period.
Montreal Alouettes
Shortly after his release from BC, Phillips signed with the Montreal Alouettes on February 15, 2017.[6] He dressed in two games for the Alouettes, recording eight tackles, but was released on July 16, 2017.[7]
Coaching career
Following his playing career Ryan Phillips joined the BC Lions as a defensive backs coach. He remained in this role for two seasons. On December 15, 2021, the Lions announced they had re-signed Phillips to a contract extension for the 2022 CFL season, and had promoted him to defensive coordinator.[8]
Personal life
In addition to being a professional football player, Phillips is a high school teacher in the Seattle school system during the off-season. He has two sons, Ryan Jr. and Braylen, with his girlfriend, Fadhila.
^ ab"2004 Honors Won". Eastern Washington University Football Archives (EWU.edu). 2004. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2007.
