# Philip Wheeler

Philip Gregory Wheeler (born December 12, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
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. 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. 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.

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
| 6 ft 1+7⁄8 in (1.88 m) | 245 lb (111 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) | 4.66 s | 1.55 s | 2.65 s | 4.29 s | 7.11 s | 36.5 in (0.93 m) | 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) | 24 reps |
| Sources: ||||||||||||

### Indianapolis Colts

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

### 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.

### Miami Dolphins

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

### San Francisco 49ers

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

### Atlanta Falcons

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

### Arizona Cardinals

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

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| Bold | Career high |

### Regular season

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2008 | IND | 16 | 0 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | IND | 16 | 7 | 61 | 42 | 19 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | IND | 16 | 6 | 61 | 40 | 21 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | IND | 13 | 11 | 85 | 48 | 37 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 110 | 78 | 32 | 3.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | MIA | 16 | 16 | 118 | 83 | 35 | 0.5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | MIA | 15 | 4 | 46 | 35 | 11 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | ATL | 9 | 2 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | ATL | 16 | 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

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2008 | IND | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | IND | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | IND | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | ATL | 3 | 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 |