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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lawrence Phillips 

鈥淔ootball is like life! It requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.鈥� – Vince Lombardi (One of the greatest coaches in American football history). 

Lawrence Phillips was a highly touted college football prospect who had the potential to be one of the greatest running backs of all time. However, his career was derailed by a series of off-field incidents, including multiple arrests and accusations of violence. He was eventually convicted of murder and died in prison at the age of 40. 

Lawrence was a complex and troubled figure whose life was marked by both extraordinary athletic talent and a tragic downfall for a gifted athlete who was capable of great things. His childhood wasn’t the best, but despite this tumultuous upbringing, he displayed exceptional athleticism from a young age.

Lawrence’s explosive speed and powerful running style made him a force to be reckoned with on the football field. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by a series of off-field incidents and legal troubles that prevented him from living to his full potential. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about Lawrence Phillips.

1. Lawrence Grew Up in Foster Homes  

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Born on 12th May 1975 in Little Rock, Arkansas, Lawrence Phillips was raised in a foster home. His foster mum, Juanita Phillips, was a single mother whose romantic partners were often cruel to the child. The boy ran away from home at 11 and ended up sleeping in cars or living with friends until he was made a ward of the state. He was placed at the MacLaren Children’s Center and other different foster homes.  

2. His Football Career Started in High School 

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Lawrence attended Baldwin Park High School in California for his junior and senior years. He was a varsity starter both on offense as a running back and on defense as an outside linebacker. When his team won a CIF championship, he became a highly recruited high school football player, attracting schools like Miami, Florida State, Notre Dame, and the University of Nebraska.

Lawrence settled for Nebraska over the other schools for college football. He went on and became a key player in the Cornhuskers, leading the team to a triumphant season and two national championships in 1994 and 1995.  

3. Lawrence Was Arrested Several Times for Assault, Battery, And Other Offenses 

Lawrence Phillips was a troubled young man with off-field issues that led to his arrest while in Nebraska. After his team won the 1994 Championship, he pleaded not guilty to vandalism, assault, and disturbing peace charges. These charges came after he was accused of grabbing a 21-year-old college student by the neck. He had earlier entered a pretrial diversion program but he did not comply.

One year later, he was arrested again for breaking into a teammate鈥檚 apartment, dragging his ex-girlfriend down three flights of stairs, and smashing her head into a mailbox. He was sent for psychological evaluation and controversially reinstated after a six-game suspension. Later on, he was suspended for violating the team’s rules and left after only one season. 

4. He Had A Brief Career In The NFL 

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Despite his off-field issues, Lawrence’s football talent seemed to be worth the risk after he was drafted sixth overall by the St. Louis Rams in the 1996 NFL Draft. He was considered a top-five prospect, perhaps even the number-one pick in the NFL draft.

However, his NFL career was brief and disastrous due to his off-field incidents including multiple arrests, for domestic violence and driving under the influence. He became unstable and eventually was suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.  

He often changed teams multiple times, playing for the Miami Dolphins, and the San Francisco 49ers, the Florida Bobcats of the Arena Football League. He was often released from the teams due to his troublesome off-field behavior and misconduct. 

5.  Lawrence Also Played In The Canadian Football League  

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In the early 2000s, Philips moved to the Canadian Football League despite difficulties getting his work visa due to his past criminal record. He first signed with Montreal Alouettes, notching 1,022 yards, and 13 touchdowns and helping them lead to the 90th Grey Cup. He was later released from the team due to behavior issues. 

He also signed with the Calgary Stampeders but his old off-field habits ways caught up with him and was released again from the team for arguing with his coach Jim Barke. This led to the end of his career as a running back. 

6. He Received A 31 Years Jail Term For Various Offenses 

Phillips鈥� life seemed to be taking a downward trajectory after he drove his car into three teenagers. This happened after getting into an altercation with them after a pickup football game in Los Angeles. At the time of his arrest, he was already wanted by the San Diego police for two alleged domestic abuse incidents involving his former girlfriend. The girlfriend had claimed that he had choked her with his bare hands to the point of unconsciousness. Additionally, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) also wanted him for a similar allegation of domestic abuse that had occurred in Los Angeles.  

7. Lawrence Wrote Letters To His Coaches From Prison 

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Lawrence Philips wrote several letters to different coaches while in prison painting a horrific picture of his life there. While writing to coach Ty Pagone, he mentioned how tough prison life was, describing lockdowns and lack of a cellmate. In other letters, he talked about the Huskers and the NFL. He also mentioned that he did not want a cellmate and would do his best to stay out of trouble.  

8. Lawrence Was Charged with Murdering His Cellmate 

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In April of  2015, Lawrence was sharing his cell with a Crips gang member, Damion Soward, who was the cousin of former USC and Jacksonville Jaguar wide receiver R. Jay Soward. In turn,  R. Jay was a member of the Inland Empire Projects Gang in San Bernardino, California, which was affiliated with the Crips. 

Soward was serving 82 years to life for the murder of a rival gang member and was found unresponsive in the cell he shared with Philips. He died later in the hospital and Phillips was considered the major suspect in the case.  

Philips was charged with 1st-degree murder and entered a plea of not guilty claiming he acted in self-defense. In November, a judge said there was enough evidence to move on with a trial and if Philips was found guilty, he would face the death penalty. 

9. He Committed Suicide While in Prison 

On 12th January 2016, Lawrence was found dead in his prison cell by correctional officers in a suspected suicide. He was 40 years old at the time and had taped to his chest a note written ‘do not resuscitate’. He died a day before his sentencing for the 1st-degree murder of his cellmate Damion Soward.

The coroner found another note tucked on his left sock and did not disclose its contents. His family donated his brain to be examined for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at Boston University.

 10. There Is A Documentary About His Life

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There is a feature-length documentary known as 鈥楻unning for His Life: The Lawrence Phillips Story鈥�. It focuses on his neglected childhood, promising football career, violence against women, legal troubles, and his tragic death. It is worth your while.

Those were 10 things you didn鈥檛 know about Lawrence Philips. He was arguably one of the greatest football running backs of his time, but he did not reach his full potential. Perhaps a solid upbringing would have made a difference in his mental well-being. He would have been among the best football running backs in the history of the National Football League (NFL).