Phillips has always been 5-adjacent in his career, wearing 50 with the Eagles, and 15 with the Dolphins, and throughout his career with the University of Miami and UCLA, and also when he played at Redlands East Valley High School.
(Here, Jimmy Horn Jr. wears 15, and Robert Hunt has 50 occupied.)
So the common denominator was an easy choice for his new look.
"I was 15 at the Dolphins, 50 at the Eagles, I was like I might as well, it's a new era, man," he said. "Let's do a new number, you know what I mean, a fresh start. So I'm excited."
Almost as excited as the Panthers are to get him on the field.