Nebraska Cornhuskers’ star running back had it all. The talent, the success and a path to the NFL and millions of dollars. But blocking that path were internal demons and anger, which derailed his plans of stardom, landed him in jail and eventually caused his death. Today Showtime announced that they would be airing “RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE: The Lawrence Phillips Story” in December.
RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE is produced and directed by Sports EMMY Award winner Ross Greenburg.The trailer for the upcoming documentary, which airs on Friday, December 16th at 9pm ET/PT, is below:
Per the press release:
Through interviews with football legends Tom Osborne, Dick Vermeil, Steve Young, Nick Saban and more, as well as some of Phillips closest confidants, RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE peels back the curtain on the tragic life of one of Americas most talented and most flawed athletes.
Phillips, a powerful running back and two-time national champion at the University of Nebraska, led a team that has been called by some the most dominant college football team in history, the 1994/95 Cornhuskers. During his tenure at Nebraska and a short stint in the NFL that followed, Phillips was convicted of several shockingly violent offenses, including domestic abuse and assault with a deadly weapon.
RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE examines Phillips propensity toward domestic violence, an epidemic increasingly found at the intersection of sports and American society. The film illustrates the influence and support of the coaches and teammates that came to love Phillips. In the end, however, it was not enough to overcome the violent tendencies that led to his incarceration and ultimately to his death.Throughinterviews with football legends Tom Osborne, Dick Vermeil, Steve Young, NickSaban and more, as well as some of Phillips closest confidants, RUNNING FORHIS LIFE peels back the curtain on the tragic life of one of Americas mosttalented and most flawed athletes.
