Phil Wise, the Nebraskan who became a New Yorker for six seasons as a post-Super Bowl Jets safety and special teams standout before finishing his pro career in the Midwest and building a post-NFL life that included a role as a Minnesota media personality, has died. He was 76.
Wise was the Jets' sixth-round selection (138th overall) out of South Dakota and then Nebraska-Omaha in 1971, and one of the great benefits of turning pro and coming to the Jets was something that not every defensive back probably enjoyed and that was being targeted by Joe Namath.
"Hey, I got to practice with Joe Willie," he told nyjets.com contributor Jim Gehman in a 2020 interview. "I got to question him as a defensive back about what he looked for, what he read. To be able to play with these great athletes, the two best tight ends you could ever practice with: [Jerome] Barkum and [Richard] Caster, and a Hall of Fame receiver in [Don] Maynard, it was a privilege. In New York, it was a different bonding of players and we tried to look out for each other. The older players were just fantastic."
So, too, Wise said, was the Green & White fanbase.
"The thing I really appreciated about my career was I had the respect of players for my talent and my abilities." he said. "When you have players' respect as a player and you can play, that's the most important thing. And the fans, they were outstanding. They treated me like a king. If you could play in New York and the fans could respect you and the other players respect you, it doesn't get any better than that."
Wise could play safety, as he showed his teammates and Jets Nation from 1971-76. He played in 62 games, starting 37, including 12 starts in his final Jets season in 1976, his Jets career high. His athleticism was top-notch, limited only by some groin issues. He played RB at Nebraska-Omaha, returned some kickoffs early in his Jets career, and played part-time for the Green & White's offseason basketball team.
The ball just came to Wise. As a fresh-faced rookie in his first game in the Jets 1971 opener against the Baltimore Colts, he recovered a fumble on the second-half kickoff. Four games later, he notched his first pro pick in his first pro start, intercepting Buffalo's Dennis Shaw and returning it 33 yards to aid the Jets' 28-17 win.
He had 3 career INTs as a Jet and no pick-6s, But he did score on one of his seven fumble recoveries, taking a fumble by TE Raymond Chester 80 yards for the first TD of the Jets' 20-17 home win over the Colts late in the 1973 campaign. It remains the longest fumble-return score in franchise history.
No. 27's knack as a ball magnet extended to his play on special teams. Two of his fumble recoveries came in kick coverage, and he also blocked a punt vs. San Francisco as a rookie.
Wise left the Jets in 1977 for Minnesota for his last three NFL seasons, finishing his career with 92 games played (53 starts), plus three more games for the Vikings in the playoffs, six INTs and nine fumble recoveries.
Then he stayed in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, settling in Minneapolis and starting his sports media career on KQRS 92,5 FM with well-known radio voice and podcaster Tom Barnard on the station's morning show.
"I've been doing it for 18 years, and the guy that does it, Tom Barnard, he's one of the legends of the industry and a friend of mine," Wise said in 2020. "Now, I just do it once a week, on Fridays. I'm winding down, but I've had a great time doing the show."
Barnard offered a tribute to his former on-air partner, a.k.a. "Philly Dawg," via his Facebook account.
"I am sorry to report that, while I was hoping it wasn't true, it turns out Phillip Wise has indeed died. I worshipped him! He was a very loyal friend and a wonderful person to everyone. The world has lost a great man! ... Call me from Heaven Philly!!"
