Philip Wheeler Explained

Philip Wheeler
Number:41, 50, 51, 52
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:12 December 1984
Birth Place:Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:245
High School:Columbus (GA) Shaw
College:Georgia Tech
Draftyear:2008
Draftround:3
Draftpick:93
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:552
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:6.5
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statvalue3:4
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue4:2
Pfr:WheePh99

Philip Gregory Wheeler (born December 12, 1984) is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Wheeler was also a member of the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona Cardinals.

Early life

In 2000, Wheeler, a sophomore, helped lead the Shaw High School football team to win the Georgia High School Association's AAAA Football State Championship. As a senior, he was named as an Honorable Mention All-Region selection by PrepStar and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution named him as a first team Class AAAA All-State selection.

College career

In the 2005 season, Wheeler recorded 65 total tackles, 11.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, eight passes defended, and one forced fumble.[1] In the 2006 season, he recorded 89 total tackles, 14.5 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks, five passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.[2] In the 2007 season, he recorded 89 total tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, six sacks, five passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.[3]

Professional career

Indianapolis Colts

Wheeler was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round (93rd pick) of the 2008 NFL draft.[4] He played for the Colts from 2008 to 2011.[5]

Oakland Raiders

Wheeler signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Raiders on March 30, 2012. He had a career year totaling 109 tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.[6] [7]

Miami Dolphins

Wheeler signed with the Miami Dolphins on March 12, 2013, to a 5-year, $25 million deal with $13 million guaranteed.[8] Wheeler was brought in to replace Kevin Burnett. Wheeler was released by the Dolphins on March 10, 2015.[9]

San Francisco 49ers

Wheeler was signed by the San Francisco 49ers on April 30, 2015.[10] He was released by the 49ers on September 4.[11]

Atlanta Falcons

Wheeler signed with the Atlanta Falcons on October 20, 2015.[12]

In the 2016 season, Wheeler and the Falcons reached Super Bowl LI, where they faced the New England Patriots on February 5, 2017. In the Super Bowl, he had one total tackle as the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.[13]

Arizona Cardinals

On July 27, 2017, Wheeler signed with the Arizona Cardinals.[14] He was released on September 8, 2017, but was re-signed a few days later.[15] [16] He was released again on September 15, 2017, but re-signed a few days later, only to be released again on September 25.[17] [18]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
IND16 0 14 12 2 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
IND16 7 61 42 19 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
IND16 6 61 40 21 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
IND13 11 85 48 37 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
OAK16 16 110 78 32 3.0 5 0 0 0 0 6 2 1 0 0
MIA16 16 118 83 35 0.5 5 0 0 0 0 7 0 1 0 0
MIA15 4 46 35 11 0.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ATL9 2 29 21 8 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
ATL16 4 28 18 10 0.0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
133 66 552 377 175 6.5 25 0 0 0 0 15 4 2 0 0

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
IND1 0 1 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
IND3 3 7 5 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
IND1 0 1 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ATL3 1 2 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 4 11 8 3 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Philip Wheeler 2005 Game Log . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en . December 29, 2017.
  2. Web site: Philip Wheeler 2006 Game Log . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en . December 29, 2017.
  3. Web site: Philip Wheeler 2007 Game Log . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en . December 29, 2017.
  4. Web site: 2008 NFL Draft Listing . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . December 29, 2017.
  5. Web site: Philip Wheeler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . March 19, 2024 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20190115181907/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/raiders-agree-to-1-year-deal-philip-wheeler-to-fill-void-at-olb/2012/03/30/gIQA84IOmS_story.html Raiders agree to 1-year deal Philip Wheeler to fill void at OLB
  7. Web site: Philip Wheeler 2012 Game Log . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en . December 29, 2017.
  8. Web site: Dolphins add linebacker Phillip Wheeler. Mike. Florio. March 12, 2013. ProFootballTalk. September 16, 2017.
  9. Web site: Dolphins release Philip Wheeler, Shelley Smith. March 10, 2015. March 10, 2015. Pro Football Talk. NBCSports.com. Alper. Josh.
  10. Web site: Alper. Josh. 49ers sign Philip Wheeler, release Trindon Holliday. April 30, 2015 . Pro Football Talk. April 30, 2015.
  11. News: NBCSports.com. 49ers release Philip Wheeler, Joe Looney and Craig Dahl. Josh. Alper. September 4, 2015. September 7, 2015.
  12. Web site: Falcons Sign LB Wheeler, Release S Godfrey . October 20, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009114353/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/Falcons-Sign-LB-Wheeler-Release-S-Godfrey/58bd49a6-f190-4c9e-8b06-d3ffab6bee5a . October 9, 2016 . dead .
  13. Web site: Super Bowl LI – New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons – February 5th, 2017. Pro-Football-Reference.com. August 6, 2017.
  14. Web site: Cardinals sign veteran LB Philip Wheeler. Williams, Charean. ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. July 27, 2017.
  15. Web site: Cardinals activate Scooby Wright, cut Philip Wheeler. Williams, Charean. ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. September 8, 2017.
  16. Web site: Cardinals re-sign Philip Wheeler, cut Scooby Wright. Williams, Charean. ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. September 11, 2017.
  17. Web site: Cardinals sign veteran TE Jim Dray, cut LB Philip Wheeler again. USAToday.com. September 15, 2017.
  18. Web site: Cardinals bring back linebacker Philip Wheeler again. Gantt, Darin. ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. September 20, 2017.