MIAMI DOLPHINS ROOKIE JAELAN PHILLIPS (@JJPHILLIPS15) IS A RISING CITY STAR BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD. FIND OUT HOW HE’S PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON, WHY HE’S LOVING MIAMI AND HOW HE’S GIVING BACK TO THE CITY THAT HAS MADE HIS DREAMS COME TRUE.

Jaelan Phillips entered his rookie year in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and has already fallen in love with the city. PHOTO BY CARLOS GOLDMAN, MIAMI DOLPHINS

How are you feeling gearing up for the 2022 season?

I am genuinely more excited for this upcoming season than I have ever been for a football season before. With a year under my belt in the NFL, I am feeling much more confident, poised and ready to face this year head-on. That, along with the hiring of our new head coach, Mike McDaniel, and the many great players who are returning to the Dolphins this year, gives me a lot to be excited about. We are already back to work for the offseason program, and it’s been great to be back together with teammates and coaches preparing for the 2022 season.

What is unique about the Dolphins as an organization?

Having only been in the NFL for a year, I can’t really compare the Dolphins to any other organization. However, what I can say is that from my experience, what makes the Miami Dolphins so unique is the overwhelmingly familial environment, not only within the program but in the city as well. Even though I’m from California, Miami truly feels like home to me. I feel so blessed to have been drafted by an organization like the Dolphins and to live in a city like Miami. I couldn’t imagine a better place to begin my pro career.

You’re very involved in the community and philanthropic endeavors—tell us about some of the areas you’re most passionate about and how you’ve gotten involved.

Giving back to my community has always been extremely important to me. The most amazing thing about the NFL is the platform that it gives me to help the community and inspire others to do the same. In 2021, I was blessed to be able to donate my time and proceeds to several charitable causes and disaster relief efforts. Some of these include disaster relief aid for the Surfside building collapse and the earthquake in Haiti, providing Wi-Fi to over 50,000 residents in Palm Beach County, mentoring incarcerated youth at the Broward County Juvenile Detention Center and volunteering at the Lotus House shelter for women and children. I also participated in the DCC (Dolphins Challenge Cancer) bike ride in February. I did the 100-mile ride, and it was incredible to see the support from the community and the impact the DCC has had on so many families affected by cancer.

What are your favorite elements of living in Miami?

My favorite thing about Miami is the culture, hands down. What is there not to love? The food, the music, the people—everything about Miami feels like home. I’m a big foodie, so one of my favorite things to do is try new restaurants all around the city. My family lives in Haiti and my grandpa lives in Boca Raton, so South Florida is a natural landing place for me.

What keeps you motivated?

My desire to make an impact in this world. By succeeding on the field, I am able to continue to raise my platform to help my loved ones and my community. I also have an innate competitiveness about me that keeps me working to become the best version of myself.

What do you hope to contribute to the city of Miami?

I hope to serve as an inspiration and an example of passion and hard work. The city of Miami gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, and I will do everything in my power to give back to it.