Carolina Panthers

Wade Phillips gets last laugh, goes from 'unemployed to Super Bowl'

Published Jan. 24, 2016 10:19 p.m. ET

Ross Jones

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips experienced some dark days after his time in Houston.

After not being able to get an interview for a job last year, Phillips was hired by Gary Kubiak to lead Denver's stifling defense. Looking back, it appears Phillips has achieved what a lot of teams thought he wasn't capable of.

Phillips reflected on the bumpy road to Super Bowl 50 after Sunday's win:

It was just two years ago that Phillips said he was "disappointed" because of the lack of interest in him.

Phillips has put together excellent game plans all season, but the 68-year-old coordinator will have one of his biggest challenges against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

Phillips, inonically, was the Broncos’ head coach in the 1993 and 1994 seasons.