HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
(On if there was any point where he thought he may have something special with this team)
“I’m trying to think of anything specific. I would say in training camp. We had some pretty
physical practices throughout training camp where we got after each other pretty good in a
few, because we only had the one joint. So, we did have some more physical practices
against each other. It was probably one of the more physical training camps I’ve been a part
of in terms of being in the NFL. And that was something that I looked at. At the time, nobody
was complaining, ‘why are we hitting, why are we doing this? Why are we doing that?’ The
guys just kept coming to work every day and practicing their tails off. And I remember at
that time thinking, alright, I think this group’s going to be tough. I think this group’s going to
have a mindset. You’re eager to see it against another opponent, but there was a time
during training camp that I think as a coaching staff, we appreciated how hard these guys
practiced, how intentional they were about the work every day and the energy they brought
to practice. It’s hard to go against each other for that many days in the heat in Jacksonville
with very limited ops against going against somebody else, like only preseason games.
Nobody complained about playing in preseason games. It was just a group at a very early
stage, I think, that just didn’t question. They just kept playing and just kept competing. You
don’t know too much about your team at that point, but I do recall thinking that this is going
to be a tough team.”
(On his motivational style and where it came from) “I think I’ve been very fortunate to have
worked with or under some really good football coaches that, yeah, it all started with my
dad, first and foremost. Just growing up at a young age, seeing tough Division III Northeast
football where they didn’t have lights at their field. They parked cars and put the lights on
the cars so that they could practice in the evening. Our family was getting cold cuts for their
travel for games to go on the road and eat sandwiches, and they were getting dressed in
their dorms for games, so that was really where it all probably started. And then coaching in
the Northeast for [Former Brown University Head Coach] Phil Estes, [Former UMass Head
Coach] Mark Whipple and [Former UMass Head Coach] Don Brown, playing for Don Brown.
A lot of these are tough, hard-nosed football coaches that resilience, toughness, effort, all
those things kind of matter and we were never overly talented or more talented maybe than
some of the teams we’re always playing. And our edge needed to be toughness and
mentality. And so, I think just being fortunate enough to grow up in that atmosphere and
have that be my early years in coaching, having a lot of great mentors and leaders that I was
able to work for.”
(On if WR Parker Washington’s targets yesterday came in situational matchups) “That’s
right. We figured that it was a great opportunity from some of the matchups that we felt like
that was beneficial for us and that he was really feeling better coming off the injury a
couple weeks back or whatever it was that he was getting back to full strength and feeling a
lot better. He had a great week of practice, and it showed out yesterday, a lot. So much of
the run after catch. We’ve all seen that numerous times this season, whether it be on
offense or in the punt return game, so that was a matchup thought process going into the
game.”
(On if he is taking on the identity of the franchise or if the players are taking on his
mentality) “I think it’s probably a shared thought process maybe in a lot of ways where, I’ve
voiced this before, where when we got together here almost a year from now, whatever it’s
been with a lot of these players, they voiced some of this stuff. They voiced their desire to
take the next step and that they did feel like that there was a group of guys that had a chip
on their shoulder that needed an edge, that wanted to play with an edge. And look, so many
people here do want to prove something. There’s a lot of first timers in roles. There’s a lot of
players that, whether they came in via free agency, the draft, whether they’re here already,
whatever that case is, I think it’s a group of guys that are proving something. Whether it’s for
a contract, whether it’s for wins, whatever it is, all those reasons make up our edge. And
that’s something that we’ve talked about a lot from the moment we got together is having
an edge as a team and yeah, not really caring too much about the outside noise.”
(On OL Walker Little stepping in at right guard and the plan for the offensive line going into
the game) “Yeah, Cole [OL Cole Van Lanen] was going into the game at left tackle and yeah,
that was a testament to Walker’s preparation, how smart of a football player he is. For him
to be able to go in at guard without any – I think he may have taken a few, I don’t even know
if he did take any – reps at guard last week. He was just getting acclimated back in. And so,
very proud of Walker, because that’s not easy to do. He’s been a left tackle, been playing on
the left side, and then to go in that right guard and the guys, nobody flinched, nobody
blinked. Very proud of him for stepping up in a major way in a huge game. That’s going to
help us moving forward as a team so much that you have guys that have the ability to move
around from the front. And look, nobody — Shaun [Offensive Line Coach Shaun Sarrett] got
on the headset and said, ‘Hey, Walker’s going in at guard, and I’m like, alright, let’s go.’ And
we just ran with it. Really proud of him and also the group for their continuity, the chemistry,
the connection that they have. There’s a trust level of all those guys that are able to go and
help us win and contribute to the team. And so many of them have. If you look at that group
that that started that game, but Walker obviously being a guy that’s played so many good
snaps for us this year. Wyatt [OL Wyatt Milum], Jonah [OL Jonah Monheim], Chuma [OL
Chuma Edoga] you can’t have enough offensive linemen. And that was something – the
depth part about that group is something – we wanted to make sure we had when we got
here together as a franchise.”
(On the reason for rotating the defensive line) “The altitude. Yeah, it was a little bit of
keeping the guys fresh and not overwhelming them a little bit early on, especially knowing
what some of the teams had done in the fourth quarter against Denver and what Denver
had done to teams in the fourth quarter of games. That was something that we wanted to
make sure we were on the fresher side going into the fourth quarter.”
(On the improvement of the defense and what has sparked it) “Yeah, I think Campy
[Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile] will be the first one to tell you, there were
probably too many explosives given up yesterday at times, but we ran and hit. We played
physical. We didn’t tackle our best, but we did have some very opportunistic plays. Buster
Brown [CB Montaric Brown] on the reverse pass was a huge play. I think just that group,
there’s so many guys that have played this season on defense, and I don’t mean just like a
snap or two here and there, meaningful snaps, meaningful games. [CB] Jarrian Jones
stepping up again in a huge way, [S] Antonio Johnson continuing to ascend. Guys just keep
stepping up and I think that it’s really a testament to the leadership: Foye [LB Foye
Oluokun], Josh [DE Josh Hines-Allen], [CB] Jourdan Lewis, those guys, [S] Eric Murray,
Dewey [S Andrew Wingard] in the back end. We’ve got some leadership on the defensive
side, we’ve had for a while now, and I thought Travon [DE Travon Walker] played very well
yesterday. [DL] Matt Dickerson continues to ascend, Smoot [DE Dawuane Smoot]—it’s a
group of dudes that has one vision. Campy knows what he wants to get with these guys. I
think they’re very well prepared. And look at [LB] Dennis Gardeck. He just keeps making
plays. He just keeps fighting his tail off and it says a lot—[CB] Greg Newsome [II], all these
guys have made plays, so there’s confidence and there’s real time played. These guys have
played in meaningful snaps and meaningful games. And when everybody’s in, it’s just like,
‘Hey, trust the next man up,’ and somebody else is going to make a play. And I think that’s
huge for depth, for development and for confidence going into December and January
football.”
(On if he senses that the players get angrier as they win and if they can get too angry) “No, I
don’t know. I hope not. I hope it keeps coming and look, they understand that we really only
truly care about what’s going on in our building and each other. It is a group, I mentioned
this the other night, that cares about each other. They get along, the players, the staff, the
coaches, we all get along pretty well. And yeah, we’ve gone through some stuff together,
but the resilience, the ability to respond each week has been impressive. And I think that
they know they’re not going to get too much respect in general from the league. And so,
look, these guys are competitive. They’re competitive against each other and with each
other, they’re competitive with their peers that play on other teams and around the league.
And so, I think that’s ultimately what fuels them.”
(On if he has a favorite post-game locker room celebration or speech) “(Laughs). Honestly,
the first one, Carolina. That was cool to just to see, Shad [Owner Shad Khan] pumped up
and excited. But honestly, you really look at, I’ll keep going back to Houston. It’s a loss, to
be honest. Post Houston, that was a tough locker room. That was a tough feeling and that
was gut wrenching at the time. But I do recall Josh Hines-Allen speaking very briefly. I think
[DT] Arik Armstead said a few things and then we ended it. I didn’t go on and on, and we
didn’t have a lengthy post-game. We said a few things. It was from the heart, it was real. But
also, I think the guys knew in that moment some things needed to change and we had to
operate differently in terms of a 60-minutes mindset football game. And so, I’ll continue to
look back to that game as something that has helped us and fueled us moving forward.”
(On what makes DE Travon Walker dangerous when rushing from inside) “Yeah, it’s the
matchups. This is such a matchup league and you’re constantly trying to find different ways
of putting your players in positions to be successful. And I thought Travon played very well.
He played with his hair on fire. He was relentless, made some critical stops for us, both
from the end and from inside. Rushing on the guards, rushing on the tackles. So yeah, that’s
just more so matchup based and where you’re trying to get him one-on-ones, you’re trying
to do the same thing with Arik and with Josh and with all those guys to be able to find the
way to get to the quarterback and affect the game. And I think Tra had a really nice game. I
was very proud of his ability to continue doing this [upwards motion] throughout this end of
end of season push. And we’re going to need him to continue to do that.”
(On when he saw the camaraderie of the team develop) “Yeah, I think coming back from—
being out in San Fran, I definitely felt it when we got there and we were hanging out at the
hotel. You got a cool vibe from the players all hanging out together. And then on that flight
back, I’ll go back and hang out with some of the guys and we will talk about the game and
laugh and joke and bust chops and it’s usually the quarterback, Trevor [QB Trevor
Lawrence] and the O-line, and a bunch of guys, and I’ll go hang out with some of those guys
and then come back up front but even the other night everybody was in the meal room
watching the Chicago-Green Bay game together towards the end of that game, the meal
room was full of dudes just watching that game, hanging out, getting to know each other
more. [OL] Robert Hainsey last week had a party at a restaurant in downtown Jacksonville,
an appreciation party for our support staff in our building. I never heard of many players
doing that. It wasn’t for coaches, it wasn’t for players, it was for the building, and it was
open bar, open food, come on over and show our appreciation, show his appreciation, our
players’ appreciation for the people in this building. So, yeah, the players are definitely
close. The coaches and players and each other are close. But I do believe that this building
appreciates one another. And ultimately when you have everybody going towards the same
thing, everybody’s got the same goal and vision and understands what the standards are, I
think that’s when you usually get success.”
(On if he understands how special the team camaraderie is) “It definitely doesn’t, been very
fortunate to be able to be on a lot of really talented football teams and very well coached
teams. And this group is definitely a combination of talent, great character, a group of
dudes that are trying to prove something every week. That’s the fun part about this group is
yeah, we’ve won the last X amount of games in a row, and that’s fun. But they continuously
want to try to get better. There’s intentional work going on when they’re out at practice,
when we’re in the meeting rooms, when we’re at the walkthroughs, the guys aren’t just kind
of getting through the day. I think that’s the most fun part about the group is when we’re
here, when we’re in the building together, they are present and they’re being where their
feet are. And that’s all you can really ask. You want people, you want the staff, the players,
the coaches, to want to come back in the building every day. Work for all of us, no matter
what we’re doing, it’s hard, it’s work or else it wouldn’t be so, but you want it to be
enjoyable. You want these guys to enjoy coming to work every day and enjoy being around
each other. And so, yeah, it’s been a fun group to be around so far.”
LINEBACKER FOYE OLUOKUN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
(On if there was a moment where he knew that this Jaguars team could be different) “I think
teams do a good job in offseason of always having positivity that you’re working towards a
good goal. So, I think it’s kind of starting the year, you always feel like you’ve got the good
equation in the building and everything’s going to work out. I think it was really as the year
started going on, when we started realizing if we play the way we’re supposed to play, we
can win any game. I think the Rams were the only team early that we were like, ‘Oh, we lost
that one.’ But the rest, we’re in every game. We feel like we should be winning every game.
And obviously we didn’t come out the way that we wanted to against the Rams and that
happened. So, we felt like when we take control of what we’re supposed to take care of
we’re going to be in position to really win every game. We should win every game. So, it was
kind of as that year started and then even in our losses that we had early in the year, we felt
like it was us not being disciplined or beating ourselves a little bit that if we take care of that
we’ll be in position to win games going forward.”
(On his favorite thing about Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile’s defense) “Just
attacking games 11 as one. Everybody owning their roles in their game, no person is going
to shine just doing their own thing. Everybody has a little role to do in the defense and then
we are very opportunistic getting that ball back. But it’s all with communication and being
in the right spot, so everybody hunting, flying around. So, it’s been very fun to be a part of.”
(On the belt celebration in the locker room) “That must be a TikTok thing for the kids. I don’t
know, man, belts, I know what it means. We’ve got two more games to keep doing that
though. I love the energy and stuff. I didn’t bring a belt. I told people to hide their kids, man
(laugh). Shoutout to my dad. I love the energy in the locker room after the games and we
put a lot of hard work in through the week and to come out with a victory like that,
everybody celebrates how they want, but it was a very deserving victory but it’s a testament
to the process that we had through the week.”
(On if the reaction from the team reflects who the team is) “Yeah, I think we are ourselves in
the building and we don’t really care about outside the building, so obviously there are
cameras showing that stuff for outside, the media and all that stuff, but we took it upon
ourselves earlier in the year to just look inward and be part of this little brotherhood, this
little community that we’re forming inside this building. And everybody’s really coming
together tighter. So, everybody’s allowed to just be themselves and be happy after these
wins. And we know what it takes to really come out on top. And obviously it’s the game that
you guys marked up to be whatever it was, but it was just the next game for us, and I think
we like the roll that we’re going on and just got to continue that all the way through the
season.”
(On why there has been no noticeable drop off due to injuries on the defense and
secondary) “I feel like we’ve kind of gone through some things earlier in the year in the
secondary. I know Eric [S Eric Murray] was out a little bit, corners have been rotated through
with injuries and stuff. I remember Jourdan [CB Jourdan Lewis] was hurt, so a lot of these
younger guys have been able to step up earlier in the year and we had to learn early what it
takes to be successful there. But they’re all ready to play with communication, the
standard, challenging routes and being in the right spots. And then as our defense grows
and being more comfortable with our own calls, understanding how teams attack us so
that when the next guy comes up, it’s stuff that they’ve already seen or routes they know
how to handle.”
(On if Head Coach Liam Coen takes things as personal as it sounds) “Yeah, Liam had a
problem with that for sure, and I like the energy that he comes with. What’d he say?
Something about small market. He didn’t like that little brother feel maybe, maybe they had
some beef going from before that but obviously that’s the mindset he came out with
through week and the untrained eye might say, ‘Oh, that was just a nice comment. I thought
he called us a good team.’ But we don’t like the little brother feel. So that’s really the kind of
energy that he brought to the locker room this week. And then obviously as leaders on the
team, we have our own little things that we tell the team throughout the week and we’re a
fighting team where we’re ready to fight all the way through the season because a lot of
people kind of doubted us and still doubt us or are expecting us to lose eventually at some
point. So, it’s like we’ve got to stop looking at, I say y’all as outside and just keep looking
inward and appreciate these wins for the work that we put out through throughout the
week.”
(On if he’s had a coach that takes things as personal as Coen) “I like that energy. I had some
good coaches in my life, but I like the energy that he brings and it’s definitely refreshing for
just be around another one like that so I know exactly where he’s coming from and I know
how to relate to him with that stuff because I take a lot of—yeah, yeah, yeah (laugh). So, I
relate to him and yeah, I definitely appreciate the energy he brings each week.”
(On why the team is successful on the road) “I think it’s just fun for us. Kind of like we were
talking about earlier, with the kind of chip on the shoulder, seeing fans cheer for other
people and not us. And then the boos that we get running out of the locker room really
excites me as well. And then just to see them quiet and sad at the end of the game really is
a fun experience, I guess as a competitor on the road. But I think really just from the time,
what Friday you get your little recovery in, Saturday, get on the plane, everybody’s together
the whole time, fly, get these meetings, you’re in the hotel together. Really just sets your
mindset to go out and we’re already in game mindset, just from that whole flight and stuff.
So, it’s that part of the routine that you just get accustomed to as you, as you’re going on
the plane and then by the time it gets to the game, you’re already ready for the war that’s at
hand.”
(On the message from Campanile to the defense after giving up a rushing touchdown and
why it resonated) “It was just that wasn’t up to our standard and we know that, we’ve got to
play four quarters of football. Then we had an opportunity, I wouldn’t say to dead them
earlier in the game, but not to give them hope coming out of half. And then, some penalties
or whatever extend the drive and then we didn’t finish on that touchdown where that wasn’t
us. We had to get back to what we do, and we know the way that we should be playing. So
just everybody got that mindset and hunting, everybody running to the ball, 11 as one, and
then obviously we started doing better things.”
TIGHT END BRENTON STRANGE
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
(On what it is like to have multiple playmakers on offense) “Yeah, just what you said, I think
we have so many different options and so many different weapons that you have to cover.
And if you want to focus on one person, then the other person gets an opportunity to eat.
So, I think we do a good job of that and we’re all super selfless too. We all want each other
to succeed, and I think that’s what I love the most about this group.”
(On if there was a moment where he knew that this Jaguars team could be different) “Yeah
man, just in OTAs and coming in from the beginning, you kind of realize what we have. And
even from the years past, I feel like we’ve had a special group. We have always had
talented players and I think now we’re just starting to put it together. We’re starting to figure
out what it takes each and every week, and I think we do that through our preparation. We
do a great job, and Coach [Head Coach Liam Coen] does a great job of preparing us every
single week, so I think we have a special group. I always think we have a special group, and
I think we’re just figuring out how to do it now.”
(On why the team is successful on the road) “I don’t know, man. We’ve done a great job this
year of going on the road and getting wins. I personally love playing in front of Duval. I don’t
like playing anywhere else really, but I also love going on the road and going in someone
else’s environment and just letting the crowd get more and more silent throughout the
entire game. It’s good going in somewhere else and just taking over, so I love that feeling as
well but there’s no better feeling than playing in front of Duval.”
(On seeing WR Parker Washington’s career game) “It’s nothing new for me. I’ve been seeing
it, like you said, I’ve known him for a super long time, so it’s nothing new for me. I know
that’s what Parker can do. Parker is super special. He is a talented player, and he always
comes to work and works hard, so he deserves every single bit of it.”
(On if the Jaguars are the best team in the AFC) “I think we are. I think that we do the things
that we need to do and we just need to keep being us, man. That’s the biggest thing is just
keep being us, week in and week out. Doing what we need to do to prepare and everything
else will take care of itself. You can’t really say anything until it’s all over that final whistle in
that final game, so we’re not looking ahead. We’re going to be where our feet are, but I think
that we have the confidence, and I think that we know what we have in this building.”
(On what the identity of the team is) “Something that Liam and Gladstone [General
Manager James Gladstone] and Tony [Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony
Boselli], they always say is ‘Be us.’ And that’s something that I love that they say, because
it’s kind of something that I’ve gone through my whole entire life. It’s just every time I step
on that field, I feel like personally, myself, I don’t have to do anything else but be who I am
and that that’ll do the job for me. So, I always feel like it’s a faceless opponent and in front
of me, and I’m just battling trying to be the best version of myself. And I think that they do a
great job of just pulling that out of us each and every week.”
(On if Coen takes disrespect as strongly as players do) “I can’t really speak for anybody else
but I think that Liam does a great job of giving us an edge each and every single week. He
does a great job at what he does. Like I say, he does a great job of preparing us and getting
us ready, our mindset before the game and having us ready for everything that the defense
could present to us. So, I’m super thankful to have a coach like that and a coaching staff
that gets us ready each and every week.”
(On Coen’s fist bump celebration in the locker room) “(Laugh) Yeah, I’m not sure what it is
either if it’s a fist pump or whatever, but yeah, it’s pretty exciting every single week to see
him come in and just have the juice and energy. Our leader to have that, it gives us juice
and energy as well. It makes us want to fight for him and fight for the organization and fight
for everybody in the building even more. So, we love Coach Liam and everything that he’s
done for us and is going to continue to do for us.”
(On the belt celebration in the locker room) “Just having a little bit of fun with it, man. It’s a
fun game. It’s an emotional game and we just want to have fun with it. We put a lot of work
into this and we work really hard, so it’s good to be able to just come in and just enjoy it
after the win. Enjoy it as a team and just mess around a little bit because at the end of the
day it’s a kids’ game. We’re grown men, but it’s a kid’s game and we just love playing this
sport. We’ve played this sport since we’ve been kids, and it’s nothing different.”
(On how Coen changes the message to keep the team motivated) “Yeah, I think we are a
motivated team, but he definitely keeps us in the right head space all the time and brings
us back to being level when we need to be level and just helps us realize the opportunity
that we have in front of us. I think that’s the biggest thing is just him showing us the
opportunity that we have in front of us. But at the end of the day, I feel like we’re a motivated
team and we all have the same goals.”
