Jordan Phillips didn't want to leave the Bills following his career-year in 2019.

"When I left here, it wasn't by choice," Phillips said. "The time for me to be here was over with. I didn't get a chance to come back. So it was kind of go do what I do and then hopefully if the cards line back up I get to come back and that's what happened."

Phillips signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Cardinals during 2020 free agency.

In two seasons, the defensive tackle played 18 games with 17 starts, registering 33 tackles with 5 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss.

Phillips explains that his time in Arizona didn't go well because of a rash of injuries, ranging from hamstring, back, and MCL issues.

Then there was a change in the defensive system that had him more of an early down run-stopper as opposed to the pass-rusher he was with the Bills.

"You know what you signed up for, but you figure once you get there you can change things, but it just didn't work that way."

The Cardinals released Phillips right as free agency began this past March.

A day later he was back with the Bills on a one-year deal.

"It's just a college feel," Phillips said. "You've got the family aspect. Coach Les [Leslie Frazier] is one of the best defensive coordinators. Should be a head coach in the league the way his mindset and the way he approaches the game. He really puts the game on the D-Line's shoulders and there's only a couple other teams in the NFL that do that. He really believes the game is won up front and you can tell."

Phillips was one of many additions to the Bills defensive line this offseason, with Von Miller, DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, and Shaq Lawson also brought in.

That group joins the young talent already on the roster in Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham, and A.J. Epenesa.

Quite an impressive defensive front.

"From top down I'd say this is the best d-line I've been a part of, and I've been a part of some really good d-lines," Phillips said.

But all of that talent means lesser playing time for everyone, especially with the Bills heavy-rotation philosophy on the defensive line.

Accepting that is something that shows the maturation of Phillips.

"I feel like I'm a starting caliber player, but I have to take a backseat," Phillips said. "I know for a fact a few years ago I would have thrown a fit about it. At this point it's just go do what you do, control what you can control, and put your best stuff on film."​

"I think it's just more comfortable and secure in his own skin, knowing how this league works a little bit" head coach Sean McDermott said. "That comes through experience and age. I also think what helps is the trust factor on both ends. He's been around us before and knows what our agendas are and our goals are and how we do things. The same is reciprocated back to Jordan, where we know him and have tremendous trust and faith in him at the same time."

Phillips picked up right where he left off with the Bills, notching 1.5 sacks, a TFL, and 3 QB hits in the opener against the Rams last week.

Also returning right away was the energy he brings, waving his arms to pump up the crowd.

"That was a big thing while I was in Miami. I did that, but they didn't like it," Phillips said. "As soon as a I got here they said yeah, keep doing that. We love that. So I was like okay, they're going to let me do what I do."

But along with the increased talent on the defensive line, so too have the Bills bolstered the personality of that group, which means a different role for Phillips in that capacity as well.

"Honestly it's nice because I'm normally the juice guy and with the guys we have in our room with Von, Tim, and Shaq, they're very outspoken," Phillips said. "They're very loud and it lets me converse a little bit more energy then I'm used to. So I like it. I like kind of being in the shadows until we step on the field on game days."​

And Jordan Phillips sure is glad those game days are back with the Bills.