Good story on Roman Phifer, who is rumored to be on Vrabel's staff

[mike_usagisan]

One of the things that stood out about some of the talk of if we hire Vrabel, his potential staff could include Roman Phifer as part of the personnel team. Turns out after winning early Super Bowls with the Pats, he's gone into scouting and bounced around the league and college a little. There's not a ton about that journey out there, but there's a good article from the Denver Post about working for the Broncos now.

From player to coach to filmmaker to scout, Roman Phifer’s football journey brought him to Broncos: “I’m doing what I love”

Roman Phifer won three Super Bowls in New England as a linebacker and now is Denver’s senior personnel executive

www.denverpost.com

The non-paywalled version is here: https://archive.ph/JrCaD

“I’m not trying to climb a ladder. I just want to be the best where I’m at, affect people positively where I’m at,” Phifer said. “Wherever it takes me, if it takes me higher, great. If it doesn’t, I’m OK with that because I’m doing what I love. It took me a while to figure that out when I retired. You kind of want to get away from football — it’s like breaking up with a long love. You’re hurt and you’re like, ‘man.’ But one day you wake up and realize that you miss that. So now I’m back where I really want to be.”

 

[mike_usagisan]

There's also this with Pioli giving Phifer's resume:

New England Patriots

Follow all the latest on the New England Patriots — game results, player updates, trade coverage, stats and expert insights from Patriots Football Now.

patriotsfootballnow.com

“Phifer has more than two decades of NFL experience as a coach/scout/executive and a three-time Super Bowl-champion linebacker. I spent five seasons with Phifer when he was a player — one season with the New York Jets (1999) and four seasons in New England (2000-04), where he helped us change the culture and win three titles. He was a quiet leader, respected by the locker room because of the consistent way he went about his business. Phifer has held the role of senior personnel executive for the Broncos since 2021 and is heavily involved in both pro and college scouting. Throughout the years, he has held multiple positions, including area scout for the Detroit Lions (2018-2020), director of player development at UCLA (2016-17) and assistant linebackers coach for the Broncos (2009-2010).”

It seems like Phifer is on his way up.

 

[Ross12]

Thanks for sharing @mike_usagisan. I think that while the team is interviewing Johnson today, Vrabel is probably already making calls to build his staff. When they announce Vrabel on Monday he may already have a group of folks he wants to pull in. Granted, some of those are subject to Rooney Rule (coordinators, QB coach) but some like a general front office position Phifer would take are not.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Thanks for sharing @mike_usagisan. I think that while the team is interviewing Johnson today, Vrabel is probably already making calls to build his staff. When they announce Vrabel on Monday he may already have a group of folks he wants to pull in. Granted, some of those are subject to Rooney Rule (coordinators, QB coach) but some like a general front office position Phifer would take are not.

I think with Vrabel not really being an offensive minded coach (though it's said he can coach any position), it's important to look at who he might bring, whether that's Josh McD or Rees for the OC position.

But I was surprised to see Phifer on a list and that he's so high up in the Broncos organization. I love seeing these old Pats stalwarts end up in different areas of football, whether coaching or front office. Whether you want to say they're part of the Bill tree or not, clearly the experience of being on the Pats shaped them to be who they are now.

 

[upstater1]

Would Robert Saleh by a possible DC here?

 

[Triumph]

Denver has a real good defense.

 

[Ross12]

Denver has a real good defense.

They are nasty, fair to wonder if Phifer has had a hand in that

 

[signbabybrady]

The LBers we had 01-04 compared to this year lol

 

[Triumph]

They are nasty, fair to wonder if Phifer has had a hand in that

The Denver OL has given up few sacks too which has really helped Bo Nix.

Broncos vs Bills could be a really good game.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Would Robert Saleh by a possible DC here?

I've heard that rumor, but I suspect Vrabel pulls more from people he's worked with before.

 

[Real fan 02]

Denver has a real good defense.

Last month of the season they're giving up 26.6 PPG.

 

[Real fan 02]

The LBers we had 01-04 compared to this year lol

We had LBs this season??

 

[Real fan 02]

The LBers we had 01-04 compared to this year lol

Wait a minute here SBB... phifer was no Eliss LMAO

 

[mike_usagisan]

This is another good one. He became an intern at about age 50 to try scouting:

What Detroit Lions scout Roman Phifer did with his 'midlife crisis'

Roman Phifer took time away from football and worked as a magistrate, but he discovered he missed the game. The Detroit Lions brought him in.

www.freep.com

"Roman is an innately good person and other people tend to gravitate towards him," O'Brien said by email. "Translating that into being a good scout, Roman is intelligent and hardworking. He has a working knowledge of the core pillars to Coach Patricia’s and Bob Quinn’s philosophies. He knows what it means to be a good teammate and holds others to the same standard. Simply put, Roman is the type of person you want on your team! Regardless, of how one defines team!"

 

[raduray]

I've heard that rumor, but I suspect Vrabel pulls more from people he's worked with before.

At the very least he'd be a non-sham Rooney rule interview.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Would Robert Saleh by a possible DC here?

There have been rumors, but i personally can’t see him not going back to sf. He interviewed there yesterday.

 

[Pape]

Would Robert Saleh by a possible DC here?

That would be a good get... guy was a good DC iirc... though the niners did give up 21 4th q points to the cheefs in LIV

 

[Real fan 02]

This is another good one. He became an intern at about age 50 to try scouting:

What Detroit Lions scout Roman Phifer did with his 'midlife crisis'

Roman Phifer took time away from football and worked as a magistrate, but he discovered he missed the game. The Detroit Lions brought him in.

www.freep.com

I see some posters that seem to want Ben Johnson.. I'd caution that the offensive fire power he has to work with in Detroit with a championship caliber team is far different than what he has in NE if he got hired. Like going from a Ferrari to a VW beetle ! I like Ben Johnson the offensive mind. However I like Vrabel the coach! Vrabel checks basically every box that an owner would want. Now in hearing he'd possibly add phifer to his staff excellent!!

 

[Headcase]

Would Robert Saleh by a possible DC here?

On top of already having an offer to go back to SF; his style of defense is a bad fit with the personnel we have on the roster....if he takes a job other than SF, I would expect it to be one where the personnel is already good, just need coaching to fix it.

 

[Ring 6]

Would Robert Saleh by a possible DC here?

He interviewed with the 9ers. Gotta figure he will go back from whence he came.