Wade Phillips never really got his proper Broncos goodbye.

Caught between Gary Kubiak’s surprise retirement announcement and the hiring of former Phillips assistant Vance Joseph as the Broncos’ head coach, Phillips was suddenly on the market looking for a new defensive coordinator’s job.

Phillips’ exit from the Broncos to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason was puzzling for many, considering the job he did coordinating the Broncos’ defense. Denver had the NFL’s top-ranked defense in 2015 en route to a Super Bowl championship and the fourth overall-ranked defense last season. But Phillips’ contract was not renewed, and the Broncos chose to replace him with up-and-coming defensive backs coach Joe Woods.

In a recent interview, Phillips talked with The Denver Post about his departure from the Broncos, his thoughts on his successor and his new book, “Son of Bum.”

When Kubiak retired, the day after the 2016 season ended, Phillips said he knew the writing was on the wall for him to move on. He would have liked to stay, but he knew Joseph’s success as a first-time head coach depended on him having the main voice.

“It needs to be his team,” Phillips said. “And Joe Woods is a great coach. I told V.J. when I was with the Texans: ‘You need to be a coordinator or a head coach. You’re too good a coach to be just my secondary coach.’ I feel the same way about Joe Woods. For him to be the coordinator, even though it was one that I formerly had, I think it’s great. It’s a part of coaching. I enjoy seeing people get things they deserve.”

Phillips admitted his exit from the Broncos was difficult, considering all the success he had, but he still has friends in the organization and an interest in seeing the team succeed.

“I’ll always be proud to be connected with that group — the players, John (Elway), Kubes and the whole staff,” Phillips said. “That was a magical deal. We were a close-knit group, and that certainly helped the players be the same way with Kubes’ leadership.”

“Of course our Super Bowl 50 team will be bonded forever. Anytime they have that reunion — maybe when I’m out of football — I’ll be able to come back and have those same feelings.”

Loved the Broncos.

L.A. Rams next! pic.twitter.com/IeGNzbfrMc — Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) January 22, 2017

Denver remains a special place for Phillips. He vividly remembers going to Super Bowl XXIV in 1989, his first year in his first stint as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator. He recalled his relationship with players such as Simon Fletcher, whom he saw honored in the Broncos Ring of Fame, and DeMarcus Ware, whom he coached in Dallas and Denver. Phillips met with Ware shortly before the outside linebacker decided to retire.

“He’ll be in the Hall of Fame, there’s no doubt about that,” Phillips said. “He had a great career, but now he has a whole life to live. He was almost like a son to me as far as how proud you are of things he does.”

D-Ware–a true football legend-a privilege to have been with him–HOF on and off the field–Congrats on your career! Luv U. Coach Wade — Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) March 13, 2017

Retirement has been a theme this offseason with people close to Phillips. Seeing Kubiak and Ware retire because of health reasons took Phillips back to something his late father, Bum Phillips, taught him. Football isn’t just winning and losing. It’s also about people.

That’s why Phillips’ fun-loving style became a hit in the Broncos’ locker room. Even at 69, he is full of life and eager to adjust to the modern player. In his 39 years of NFL coaching, Phillips has had to adapt often. And largely because of Kubiak’s retirement, Phillips will have to adapt again to what he calls “a new challenge” with the Rams.

Even Phillips, who has known Kubiak for decades, didn’t see his retirement coming. Related Articles September 16, 2020 🔊 Broncos podcast: Previewing Denver’s Week 2 road showdown in Pittsburgh

September 16, 2020 Broncos Briefs: Receiver Jerry Jeudy cites concentration, not nerves, for two dropped passes in opener

September 16, 2020 Royce Freeman rose above competition in camp; now the Broncos’ running back could see more opportunity after Phillip Lindsay’s injury

September 16, 2020 Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson 2021 Hall of Fame candidates

September 16, 2020 Broncos power rankings roundup: How the national media ranks Denver entering Week 2

“It was a shock to all of us. Going into the last game, I didn’t have any idea,” Phillips said. “I’m hearing all these rumors and I call (vice president of public relations) Patrick Smyth to say: ‘Let’s put an end to this. Why don’t we put out a statement that this isn’t true.’ I never got a phone call back, and that’s when I knew something was really going on.”

Phillips chuckles because he knows what question is coming next. Yet he said he hasn’t thought much about when he’ll step aside.

“I guess if I die out on the field, that would be the perfect ending,” Phillips joked. “I like coaching. (Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator) Dick LeBeau is 79. He’s still coaching and doing a great job. I don’t put an age on it. It’s year to year. They didn’t ask me that when I was 32 as a coordinator. I’m not really asking myself. If you feel like you can contribute, you still enjoy doing it and they want you to do it, that makes a difference.”

Phillips’ love for coaching started with his father. “Son of Bum” comes out this week. It’s a memoir that tells the story of their relationship and how football intersected in it. Phillips will be in Denver May 3 for a book signing at the Tattered Cover.