Wes

Phillips

According to Fox9.com, Phillips will instead pay a $378 fine in exchange for pleading guilty to the careless driving charges. Phillips was arrested on December 8th for a fourth-degree DWI and had a blood alcohol content of .10 above the legal limit. Whether or not Phillips faces disciplinary action from the league is to be determined, but it appears this is now behind him.

Phillips immediately notified the team, which then passed word to the league. After internal review, the decision was made to allow Phillips to travel with the team to Las Vegas for the team’s game against the Raiders. More word will come from the league regarding the developing situation.

Phillips joined the Vikings last season as a member of Kevin O’Connell’s staff and had previously spent time with Washington (2014-2018) and the Rams (2019-2021). In his first season as offensive coordinator, Phillips helped lead the Vikings to a 13-4 record and an NFC North crown. His Vikings ranked eighth in the league in points per game (24.9), seventh in yards per game (361.5), and ninth in early-down pass rate at 56 percent. The Chargers’ vacant OC position is thought to be one of the more coveted vacancies in the league, but Phillips appears more interested in building on his successful first season with the Vikings.

Coach Sean McVay continues to deal with the downsides of having an elite team/coaching staff. Wade Phillips’ son, Wes was part of the Gruden/McVay clan in Washington before eventually linking up with McVay in Los Angeles. He was just promoted to passing-game coordinator in 2021. New Vikes coach and former Rams assistant Kevin O’Connell has said he will call his own plays in Minnesota, so 43-year-old Phillips will be allowed to grow into the role of coordinator.