JAGUARS INTERIM HEAD COACH DARRELL BEVELL
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
(Opening Statement) “First of all, I need to make sure I thank the Khan family for the opportunity that I have been given here to lead the Jaguars for the next four weeks. I also have to thank Coach [Urban] Meyer for bringing me here and this staff that we have. There’s a bunch of great guys that are in there, a bunch of great coaches. I think that we’re in good hands with the guys that he’s assembled here. I also want to wish him the best. The timing of this thing, when these things happen, they’re obviously never ideal. They’re very tough and difficult situations to be put into in either way. But it’s one that I’m super excited about. It’s a great opportunity for us to be able to get focused on these next four weeks. And really, as I told the team earlier today, it’s just one week. We have a one game season. The Houston Texans coming in here, all our efforts and everything that we’re thinking about is getting a win there.”
(On his expectations from the Jaguars locker room in comparison to the situation he experienced last season) “Yeah, I really don’t expect anything different. I thought that the players in Detroit were outstanding. I thought that they were 100 percent all in. Those guys really did work their tails off, they went to work and it’s as big of a change for them as it is for us. I thought they gave me their all. The first game, we went to Chicago and we had to come from behind victory. It was an awesome experience and the guys were great. So, it was a really good experience and I really wouldn’t expect it to be any different here. I obviously have a great relationship with the guys that are on the offensive side of the ball that I’ve spent a lot of time with. But we have such cool players on both sides of the ball. I mean, I could name them, Myles [Jack], Josh [Allen], and all those guys on the defensive side of the ball that are dying to get wins and they just want to dive full head into this thing and win some games.”
(On whether the players are enthusiastic moving forward) “Well, I think they were focused. I was really excited about that because anytime you have really any type of distractions that—it can be something that can affect practice and affect the things that you’re doing. So, I was fired up [with] the way that they came out there, they handled their business and we practiced really well today. We got a little bit of rain to work out in as well, because I think there’s a chance for rain at the game. So, that’s always good opportunities.”
(On the reports about tension between former head coach Urban Meyer and the assistant coaches) “Well, I had a great experience. Like I said, Coach [Urban] Meyer brought me in here and I have a lot of respect for him and what he did for me and my family. Other than that, I just really want to—as I said to the team, we’re not looking back, today is a new day. We’re moving forward and I just want to move ahead and all eyes and everything that we’re doing, I want it to be on Houston.”
(On whether he will still be the play caller) “Well, I think I want to get through this week. I’m going to call the plays this week and then it’s just later in the week than it normally would be, so we’re going to do status quo. We’re going to keep everything the same this week and then over the weekend, we’ll mull over some things and probably have some conversations.”
(On whether he’ll be on the field or in the booth) “I’ll be on the field.”
(On his thoughts on being on the field) “I love being on the field. I’ve been on the field the whole time [in my career]. It’s kind of been foreign to be up in the box these last 13 weeks or whatever it’s been. So, I’m excited to get back down there. There’s just great energy when you’re on the field. It’s like playing a video game when you are up there. It’s so stale, it’s so quiet. So, it’s good to be around the guys, the interaction is better, communication can be better with the players. I have great communication with the coaches on the headset but being able to see their eyes and talk to them, it’s a different experience being on the field.”
(On the role of RB James Robinson moving forward) “James Robinson is our starting running back and he will be played as such.”
(On what the disconnect was between Urban Meyer and NFL coaches and players) “Well, what I’d like to say is I just want to keep everything on Houston and maybe at the end when it’s time to reflect and go back and look back at all the things that happened … But it really is a time where it’s four games left in the season and we want everything, all the narrative, all the communication just going on and taking on the Texans.”
(On outlining the communications of the news to him last night) “Yeah, [Jaguars General Manager] Trent [Baalke] communicated with me late last night, I don’t know exactly what time it was, but it was pretty late. He informed that [Jaguars Owner] Shad [Khan] had called him and they had talked about the decision that they made and that he informed him that he would like me to be the interim. So, Trent had that conversation with me. So, it was—I don’t know what time it was, it was pretty late. And then, I came back in this morning and kind of let it rip.”
(On whether they game planned without Urban Meyer last night) “Yes.”
(On whether Urban Meyer left the building in the afternoon and he never saw him again) “Yes.”
(On conversations with QB Trevor Lawrence since the change) “I mean, it’s really just full steam ahead on football. There’s not going to be these side conversations or anything, just like, ‘Hey, what’d you think?’ I mean, we’re going and that’s what the cool thing is about these guys, they come to work ready to go. And again, at some point when you need to reflect, there’s probably a chance to reflect, but right now, it’s all eyes on the Houston Texans.”
(On whether being on the field will offer a different perspective for his relationship with QB Trevor Lawrence) “Yeah, it will definitely be different. Again, I’m excited to be able to do that because that’s what I’m familiar with. The last however many years, that’s what I’ve been doing. There is something about being down there, like I said, the energy, the juice. But then being able to look them in the eye, how they’re doing and some of the other communications that you’d have, I’m excited about.”
(On what went wrong during the Week 1 game against the Houston Texans) “Yeah, looking back, obviously, it was the first game. We just didn’t play very well. There’s some good in there, some bad in there. If you go all the way back to the beginning, there was just a steady climb at the beginning of the season from where we started to where we went to, four or five games in. And then we’ve had a lull since then. The things that are happening now were some of the things that were happening then.
Whether it’s some holding penalties, jumping offsides, those where I think there were 12 men on the field. Just some of those orchestration things that really there’s no excuse for in the game and we’ve got to get those things cleaned up. I’m excited about where we’re at today.”
(On what he learned from his experience as interim head coach for the Detroit Lions last year) “Well, I learned I’ll be talking to you guys a lot more. That was the thing that hit me the most. I was like, ‘Man we do it every day.’ But no, I love it. That’s one thing I thought was a lot, but there’s just so much more that comes across your desk that really you don’t even think about as the coordinator or position coach. You’re just so dialed in on what you’re doing, there’s all these other things that are going on in the building, all these other people and all of a sudden it becomes—it’s all on your desk. So, those are the things that I learned, so I think it’s prepared for this opportunity again today. We have great people in the organization and the wheels are already spinning behind the scenes, as they always have and I know that they’ll continue to.”
(On how he evaluates the past few weeks offensively and if he is baffled or if he sees a path for improvement) “That’s a really good question because there are times that you feel exactly that way. I would say it’s probably a little bit of both. There’s times where it’s like, I know exactly what has happened, but then there are times where it’s baffling to you that some of the mistakes that we’ve made. I think that—I don’t know if you were in our meeting the other day, it sounds like you were—I kind of really got after the offense the other day because of the mistakes that we made. There were things that we should know from when we started playing Pop Warner football. Those are the ones that are a little bit more baffling. So, those are things we’ve got to get out of our game. Whether it’s your hands were outside and you get called for a holding or whether you don’t do the technique things that you’re supposed to.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence’s regression connected to the offensive line’s regression) “Yeah, I’ve kind of heard that statement said and I really don’t like it. People are saying that he has regressed. What I look at is he’s a rookie quarterback and he’s learning to play the game in the NFL. Whether it takes you—I would say it takes you a full season, at least, to be able to get to a point where the next time you come around it’s like okay, now I can take a breath, now I can think about this stuff and really learn from all the things that have happened through a season. So, Trevor [Lawrence] has had some really good moments, he’s had some learning moments. I mean, last week, there was a conversation, we left him in the game. It’s like, ‘Hey, he’s got to work through this, he’s got to work through this.’ All these experiences are all very valuable to him and none of it is hurting him, in my opinion. I just think he has things that he has to go through. But to say that he’s regressed, I don’t believe that.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence not ascending the way he would like) “Well, we’re not winning. That’s the key. We’re not winning, we’re not scoring points, we’re not moving the ball enough and those are the things that we’ve had many conversations about.”
(On balancing the season’s routine with things he now wants to change) “I think the routines are very important for these guys, number one. But number two is all I can do is be me. Fortunately, I’ve been around a lot of great coaches and the thing I learned from them is I take the things from them that I can put into my personality my way and then I just can’t pull that off. So, I’m only going to be me and I’m going to try to be that same person you see every day.”
(On evaluating Owner Shad Khan’s communication with the coaching staff and the shock of the news) “So, the communication level is—we do see him all the time. He’s been in the building, he’s been in the
Saturday night meetings, so we see him around. He’s always very personable, you can always have a conversation with him. I think, in my opinion, there’s always a level of shock when things like this happen. Regardless of all the things that go on, there’s just that—‘Oh wow, it happened.’ Particularly, in this case, it’s in the first season. So, I do think there was a level of shock there.”
JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
(On meeting with Jaguars Owner Shad Khan) “[Jaguars Owner] Mr. [Shad] Khan, he always has a great feel for what’s going on and he’s always had a lot of conversations with me, and we’ve talked a lot about a lot of different things. Obviously, of course about what’s been going on and the things that have come up. Naturally that comes up and we had talks about it. He’s done a great job of having a pulse on the team and feeling out what’s going on and also communicating with players and whoever else. I just know he does a great job of that so yeah, we’ve had a lot of conversations, not just about this but other things.”
(On speaking with Owner Shad Khan yesterday) “No, not yesterday. No. He’s great. [I] have a lot of respect for him. This first thing I’ll say about all of this is just I respect [former Head Coach] Coach [Urban] Meyer and I really appreciate everything he’s done for me. He’s one of the main reasons I’m here. He drafted me, so that will always be there, and I wish him nothing but the best. Obviously, it didn’t work out here, some changes had to be made. But as far as Coach and his future, I wish him nothing but the best and I guess I’ll just start with that.”
(On the locker room today following the news) “Obviously, it’s weird. It’s a different deal, something I’ve never experienced. Some of the guys obviously that were in Detroit, Marv[in Jones Jr.], this is kind of similar to last year. For me, I think it brings a little bit of clarity to the guys in the locker room. I wouldn’t say relief, but I would say just brings some clarity and some direction moving forward. We really want to go and finish this season strong and to be honest, it’s been hard the last week with everything going on. There’s a lot of things being stirred up I think by the outside too that didn’t help, made things a lot worse. But also, just [with] everything that’s going on, it’s hard to be focused and have all your attention and efforts going towards winning the game when there’s so many things going on. So, I think I’m happy for the team that we have clarity, a sense of direction and we can just go be our best moving forward for the next four weeks and then we’ll go from there and see what the next step is. But right now, I definitely think that we had a great day at practice today and we’re ready just to move forward.”
(On his mindset over the last few weeks) “Like I said yesterday, there’s been some drama, there’s been some distractions. You can’t ever go back though, you just have to move forward. Where we’re at right now, [Interim Head Coach] Coach Bev[ell]’s our head coach the rest of the reason and I have a lot of respect for Bev and who he is. He’s earned my respect so we’re going to all follow him. I’m excited about these last four games and just to go play our best and finish with some momentum.”
(On the importance of these last four games) “Momentum’s everything and I think, especially in NFL season [it’s] so long, a lot of ups and downs, long season, as you get to the home stretch, especially after not having a good year, you need that momentum going into the offseason. That’s just big for the morale of the team, for how you approach the offseason. Going into it, you always want to feel like you ended on a good note. Obviously, there’s always going to be things to work on, there’s always going to
be areas to improve, everyone has their own things that they’re going to look at and evaluate. But for us, if we can go finish strong, that’ll be great going into the offseason having some confidence, some momentum, something to build on, and we need that. So, we’re looking at these games like they’re playoff games. Every game [we’re] trying to win. Let’s go 4-0. Let’s go 1-0 this week and then go figure out a way to beat the Jets next week. That’s how we’re looking at it and that’s just going to be our approach to the last month of the season.”
(On his responsibilities to the team as a captain over the past 24 hours) “Honestly, just be the same person. I’ve said it a few times, when things are crazy, consistency wins and just being the same day in and day out. I think being positive. The last thing I wanted for all this, this whole situation is everyone to kind of go crazy and start saying all these different things. I think we’ve done a good job as team of really keeping everything internal and showing respect for anyone involved in the situation and just taking it day by day. That’s all you can do. Like I said, I’ve just been proud to be part of a team that’s handled it this way. Obviously, there’s been some challenges but it’s cool to see how everybody handled it. Now, just to move forward and turn over the page, we have to keep going. We have four games left. But for me, it’s just keep being positive, be the same person, and be that consistent voice.”
(On the expected level of drama for the next four weeks) “Somewhere a lot lower, I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that.”
(On finding out the news about former Head Coach Urban Meyer’s departure) “I actually, I didn’t find out until this morning. I woke up, I guess it was around six or whatever, and saw it on my phone. I had some texts and then just naturally kind of googled it to see what’s going on just to be honest. Saw that
and I rolled over and told Marissa [his wife], ‘Hey, this just happened. It’ll be an interesting day at work. I’m going to go in and see.’ Obviously, it’s not ideal. You look at where we’re at. This is not where you imagined you’d be at, at this point, but you have to make the most of it and I think we’re going to do that. I like where we’re at. The positivity today despite everything going on was awesome. We had a great day.”
(On meeting with Jaguars Owner Shad Khan on his yacht this week) “I did. I was out there Tuesday.”
(On sensing changes were coming when meeting with Owner Shad Khan on Tuesday) “No, not specifically. I actually hadn’t talk to [Owner] Shad [Khan] in a while. You see him around, [have] brief conversations. They actually had a wives’ luncheon, so I was going over there right before to go see the boat for one and then we talked for a second, but just an update on what’s going on. Obviously, there’s been a lot of things circulating. Like I said, this has been a few weeks going on now, so [it was] just to catch up. He wanted to get my pulse on it. Nothing in specific was talked about as far as a decision being made, none of that. I think as you’ve seen it escalate really the past two days especially.”
(On Interim Head Coach Darrell Bevell’s personality) “Just being with him I guess ever since I got here being the offensive coordinator and getting to know him and he sat in our room a lot, we have a lot of conversations. Like you said, he’s very even keeled, always the same person, never gets too high or too low. That’s something that I respect and that I can level with. I’d say that’s the biggest thing that we need right now, someone that’s consistent and just to move forward and push past it.”
(On reflecting on his first conversation with Owner Shad Khan) “I wouldn’t [have] believed you if you told me this is how this year was going to go. But like I said, I’ve learned a lot and I still feel that way. Me and Marissa have come to love Jacksonville and that’s our plan. Let’s go turn this thing around, go
become a winner, let’s go win some games, get this thing turned around. I have full faith in that still. Obviously, there’s a lot of steps to be made in the future to go in that direction, but I still believe that, and I plan on being here for a long time, hopefully my whole career. Whatever the future holds, I know I’m just going to be the best I can every day wherever my feet are. That’s how I’m approaching it and that’s how I always will.”
(On how many yachts he had been on prior to Owner Shad Khan’s yacht) “[That was my] first one. It was pretty unreal.”
(On the most impressive part of Owner Shad Khan’s yacht) “I don’t want to get into details of his private deal, but it was just really cool. It’s a different life for sure that he’s living.”
(On ‘Die Hard’ being considered a Christmas movie) “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve seen ‘Die Hard’. Sorry to upset people.”
(On the last time he saw former Head Coach Urban Meyer) “I saw him yesterday in the building and that was the last time I spoke to him.”
(On if he has spoken with former Head Coach Urban Meyer since the news broke) “No, not yet. Obviously, things happened fast. I do plan on eventually reaching out and speaking to him. Like I said, whatever happened here, it’s all been kind of crazy but I’m appreciative of the opportunity he’s given me. He always supported me, so I definitely respect him for that.”
JAGUARS CORNERBACK SHAQUILL GRIFFIN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
(On practice being more enthusiastic and there being a sense of relief in the locker room) “I think relief is the wrong word, I think focused is the right one. I feel like there has been a lot going on and to see how everybody is focused on what’s going on around in the locker room and trying to figure out what has been going on the field and trying to make changes. I feel like that’s the right word to use. Then practice and seeing the way the offense attacked the day, it was amazing to see. I feel like we need to see that. We needed that, they needed that and it’s a boost of confidence and I love seeing that. Now for the defense, we’ve been doing that and I don’t think that part is going to change. We love having fun with it and that’s the part we figured out early and now we are all trying to get on the same page. It’s cool because it’s all starting to click together. Yeah, I feel like definitely the right word is focus. The focus in the locker room is definitely there and that’s where it needs to be. Just keeping the main focus on this organization and the guys that are playing. It’s been looking good in the locker room for sure.”
(On when he found out the news about Urban Meyer being fired) “I found out in the morning after I woke up. Actually, my assistant, once we got up and got moving, he kind of showed me and then I found out we had a team meeting, so it was all fresh to me as I walked into the building. That was my first time hearing about it, someone actually had to tell me about it.”
(On getting a group text from the team and if that is how he found out) “Yeah, once we have the mandatory team meeting I kind of know what is happening after that. Everybody gets that mass message in the morning so when I woke up is when I first saw the news. I wasn’t sure what was going on at the moment when I first found out.”
(On any contact with Urban Meyer after practice yesterday) “No contact with Urban after practice or anything like that. It was all new to me, all fresh.”
(On why he thinks Urban Meyer did not work out with the Jaguars) “I am not truly sure. He believed in something and don’t get me wrong when I signed here, I believed in everything that he said and I rode with it. My main thing is that I was going to give everything I have to it and whatever his message was and whatever it is that he wanted to give out, I was going to follow it. I am not sure what went wrong,
whether he thought what was going to happen or what he believed in. Pinpointing is kind of hard to say but I know whatever it was, I believed in that at first. It’s crazy that it didn’t work out, but business is business. I totally understand that aspect of it and I wish him and his family the best, always. Always praying for those guys, they are definitely in my corner. It is kind of hard to pinpoint the answer on the reason why it didn’t click or why it didn’t work. I’m not really sure on that one.
(On if it is important to have clarity on if Coach Meyer was going to be with the team next year) “It doesn’t matter how it was going to go. My main focus is on these players. I focus on the next game, I am going to focus one day at a time – whatever I can to help this team win. That’s my main focus. It’s kind
of hard to do both. Like I said, business is business and that part handles itself every single time. The main thing is once that ball is kicked off, I need to be ready for it. That’s my main focus – these players.”
(On what type of head coach this team needs to succeed) “I feel like this locker room needs a head coach that actually believes in what their players are saying. Trust in that we can all make this work – that this is not a one-man show. I feel like sometimes head coaches come in and are just like, ‘I’m just going to flip around. This is my way, let’s do it.’ Sometimes they forget about us. For any head coach who decides to take on this job or whatever the case may be, trust your teammates. We can do this together, we can win this together. This is a team effort. That would be my main message – let’s do this together as a team.”
(On what it has been like for him emotionally) My main thing is I try to keep my emotion levels the same. I try to control what I can control. You start to do things outside your means, it’s tough. My main thing is keeping the focus, the main focus, like I said, the next game and these players. I try to keep my emotions the same way because I know these guys are depending on me to bring the energy, to be focused, to be right, being vocal. I have a lot on my plate already so I’m just going to handle that part first. The way everything else plays itself out is exactly how it’s supposed to happen. Like I said, I control the controllable, that’s all I can do.
(On his impressions of Darrell Bevell) Understand that I have been around him already, back in Seattle so it’s nothing new for me. [I have] A ton of respect for that guy. I know he is going to put us in the right situations and point us in the right direction to get this turned around and win games. I have the utmost respect and trust in that guy to get things right. There’s a lot of pressure on him as well, let’s understand that. If there is any way I can take some of that pressure off of him, I’m going to do it. I’m going to help, like I said, this is a team effort. Whatever we have to do, let’s do it together. I want him to understand that part. I have the utmost respect for that guy, a lot of trust. We’re going to get this figured out together.
(On this season being the most distraction-filled season that you have been a part of since you have been in the NFL) For me, yeah it was different. I appreciate it, I learned a lot. I grew as a person, I grew as a leader. One thing about it is it doesn’t matter what season, you could be talking about year six, year seven. You could be talking about five years from now, I know for a fact I am prepared for anything. I can tell you that much and that’s how much I learned from that. I’m grateful, I’m definitely grateful. I learned a lot, went through a lot, but I grew. I progressed, I made changes for the better, I’m going to continue to do that so I appreciate it.
