Super Bowl 2014: Broncos Mike Adams, Shaun Phillips Return “Home” to New Jersey

Broncos defensive end Shaun Phillips (90) in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 27-17. (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)

Knowshon Moreno isn’t the only guy from the Denver Broncos returning to his home state for the Super Bowl.

Defensive end Shaun Phillips and safety Mike Adams are going to their first Super Bowls in their ten-year careers, and both grew up in New Jersey.

Before playing at Purdue, Phillips was an all-state and all-city selection for football at Willingboro High School.

“It’s pretty cool just because at this point in my career and to get to go to my first Super Bowl and to go back to my home town, I think it’s huge,” Phillips said. “Plus to get your mom to come see you, your high school coaches, brothers and sisters—it’s always a wonderful experience.”

Mike Adams (20) against the San Diego Chargers during the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

You can imagine the number of ticket requests Phillips fielded.

“I let my mom handle that,” Phillips said. “But the answer is no. If you didn’t get a ticket to Game 1, you’re not getting a ticket to the last game.”

Adams went to Passiac Tech High School in Wayne, N.J., and was even inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. In fact, Adams won his first high school title at Giants Stadium.

While Adams is the consummate professional now, it was in New Jersey that he learned how to become one.

“They definitely took me under their wing because I wasn’t always a straight and narrow guy,” Adams said of his Passiac coaches. “They had to come get me a couple times from my house for missing practice. You all didn’t get that, did you (laughing)?”

Phillips and Adams have played major roles on this Broncos defense. Phillips had 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 35 tackles for the team during the regular season. Adams stepped up big when Rahim Moore went down and put up 64 tackles, an interceptions and 7 passes defensed.

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