Ryan Phillips: Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head COach
The 2024 season is Ryan’s third as defensive coordinator, fifth on the club’s coaching staff and 16th season overall with the organization after first breaking in as a player in 2005. Phillps added the role of assistant head coach in December 2023.
Along with becoming the first CFL defence to record two shutouts in the same year since the 1970 Calgary Stampeders, RP’s 2023 unit also enjoyed a stretch of nearly 12 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown during their early-season dominance. With a CFL-best 18 sacks, Mathieu Betts took home CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player while the unit produced five West Division All-Stars along with a trio of CFL All-Stars.
A native of Seattle, Phillips was most recently a member of the Calgary Stampeders player personnel staff in 2018 following a similar position with the Lions in 2017.
The Eastern Washington grad originally joined the Lions as a free agent in 2005 and went on to appear in 212 regular season games for the club (5th all-time among Lions) and enjoyed a pair of Grey Cup wins in 2006 and 2011.
Patrolling the Lions’ secondary with legendary teammates Dante Marsh and Korey Banks, Phillips wrapped up his amazing career with 47 interceptions (2nd all-time among Lions) including a record-tying 12 picks in the 2007 season along with a club-best 816 career return yards and five pick-sixes.
A four-time CFL All-Star and five-time West Division selection, the versatile and gifted defensive back signed with the Montreal Alouettes in 2017 and appeared in two games before returning to the West Coast in a football operations role with the Leos.
Ryan has two sons and spends his off-season in Seattle.