HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2025
(On if he has spoken to younger players about the difference of playoff football) “Yeah, we
haven’t had any of those conversations. I agree with what you’re saying. I felt that in 2018,
we [L.A. Rams] played the Dallas Cowboys in a playoff game, which was my first ever
playoff game experience in the National Football League. And I felt from the box a different
speed, physicality, all of that in a playoff game versus a regular season game in a lot of
ways. Now, I think that the last X amount of games have been, in a lot of ways around the
league, you watch playoff caliber type games, not quite there. You watch that Rams-
Seahawks game last week or whatever it was, that was a playoff football game, and you
watch a lot of these games around the league. And so, I think it’s trending that way towards
the end of the season as you’re playing meaningful games in December and January and
this week for us will be no different. We’re playing for a division. We’re obviously playing for
a number of things and for us to go and execute at the level we need to, it needs to be
trending towards playoff football. And I think a lot of these guys will understand that this
week.”
(On how proud he is of his team to face adversity and win on the road) “Very much so.
That’s the warrior mentality we’ve been talking about for quite some time since Houston,
getting the job done regardless of the circumstances and regardless of guys being at a
hundred percent or the amount of people we had sick during the week, or the amount of
guys playing in different spots they hadn’t played or whatever it is. And getting the job done
regardless. That’s what I’m proud of, is no excuses, no flinch, no blink, just keep competing,
especially down 10 on the road. That was a Super Bowl contending team a few weeks back
with a different quarterback. So that’s still a damn good football team, a well-coached
football team. And I thought they actually had a pretty good crowd for being in the
circumstances they’re in. And so, that’s a good win. Any of these are good, but to not play
great in the red zone offensively and to have a little bit of a slow start as a team, I thought it
was a gritty win for our guys.”
(On his evaluation of the offensive line play) “I thought they actually did some really good
things. Threw it 36 times I think, and he got hit some, but they were pressuring, they were
dialing, they were mixing it up with three-man, four-man, five-man, six-man pressures. They
did a lot. I thought Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] and the guys up front handled a lot of the
things they were doing well. We beat the blitz a lot and then they just kept bringing it. So,
you’re going to get some hits on the quarterback and that’s the way it is. So, I thought those
guys played well. I thought we ran it better. We blocked better in the run game. Still some
hidden yards that we’re missing that we need to take advantage of, whether it’s at the
running back position, tight end, whatever it is, we can clean up some of that. But with
multiple players playing without a ton of reps, I was proud of that group.”
(On why teams continue to blitz Lawrence when he has recently found success over it) “I
don’t really know. I really appreciate Grant [Offensive Coordinator Grant Udinski] and
Spence [Quarterbacks Coach Spencer Whipple] and Shane [Pass Game Coordinator
Shane Waldron], all these guys. Their attention to detail when it comes to our blitz plan and
the amount of different ways that we were able to kind of beat the blitz yesterday. You look
at the second play of the game, that was a check to TJ [RB Travis Etienne Jr.] on that drive,
the out cut to Parker [WR Parker Washington], that was a check. The run to [RB] DeeJay
Dallas, that was the check. Those were all what we call toolbox plays. And those aren’t in
the play call. Like those were not in the play call. That is Trevor using the toolbox that he has
at his disposal each week based on the look that he’s being presented and getting us into
those plays. So that’s preparation. Obviously, those guys schematically having that plan
and coming up with that plan and then giving him those looks throughout the week so that
he’s prepared for those looks and those moments and going out and executing it at a high
level. So, I was very proud of the way that Trevor handled the blitz, the way that we were
prepared for the pressure. We knew they were going to junk it up more. But as a play caller,
it gets hard because you’re like, oh, well we just beat the blitz three, four times. I’m thinking
it’s going to stop, but then it doesn’t. And so, you’re like, well, alright, guess we’re going to
keep doing it. So, I thought they handled it really well.”
(On what about the loss to Houston helped the team begin this week streak) “Honesty, real
conversations. I think credit all of us, players, coaches, everybody in here looking ourselves
in the mirror and having some honest evaluations and conversations and taking that
information, coaching points, reflection, whatever it is, and doing something with it and
doing something about it. So, I won’t get into too many of the actual conversations and
details that occurred, but it was at multiple different positions, multiple different sides of
ball. We just needed to have some honest conversations about what we really wanted this
thing to look like at the end of the day. And credit this team for being honest with
themselves, with each other and coming together because of it. So many times, we learn
and grow in life through hard stuff, hard things, hard times, and football is no different.
That’s why you want kids to play this sport. It’s not for the glory. It’s because of the life
lessons that you learn throughout this process that helps you become a better person,
player, all those things and I think that’s maybe an example of what occurred there.”
(On if the team is learning to close games out and developing a ‘killer instinct’) “Yeah, that’s
what you’re trying to develop. Look, there’s a play there, a block, a technique, a call. Like
there’s a number of different ways that you can execute better at the end of the game when
a team knows you’re running the football. You’re not going to throw it. You’ve got three runs
essentially to get them—to end the football game. And so, it is usually the most
challenging. That was the most stressful time when I coached for the Rams, being on the
headset with Sean [Rams Head Coach Sean McVay], was in four-minute. Just because
you’ve got an opportunity to win the game, you want to close it out on the offense’s terms.
And look, there’s a couple things here and there that you can fix, a play call, a detail, a
block. It’s sometimes just one block that can get made and you end up picking up that first
down. So that’s why you want to consistently try to do that because that builds confidence.
It builds that killer instinct you mentioned. And to be able to go forward as an offense, as a
team, you want to be able to do those things and that’s what winning teams do.”
(On when he felt that Lawrence was comfortable against the blitz) “Man, I’m trying to think
back to any specific time. I think his preparation has just consistently evolved and gotten
better and better each week. How on it he’s been with the looks he’s seeing, the amount of
time that he and Spence and Grant and these guys spend extra just looking at these looks
and presenting them these looks, whether it’s in the walkthrough, meetings, practice, giving
those guys, giving Trevor as many different scenarios as possible, but honing in those
scenarios and really detailing when they could show up and giving him a toolbox that is he’s
got options, but maybe it’s not like, okay, the whole menu is up every week. Like, these are
the specific things that we may want to get to versus this team’s specific blitz package. And
he’s done a nice job executing it, and it’s not just him. He has to ultimately get us in the
right call, but the other 10 have to go and execute it as well. It’s not like he’s just making one
check, and it just affects him. It may affect the entire play. All other 10 players have to
execute and credit those guys for being able to do that on a week in and week out basis.”
(On OL Jonah Monheim’s performance) “Yeah, I thought he did a great job. The operation
was clean, didn’t feel like there were any real issues from that standpoint, or handling the
silent, handling multiple different cadences throughout the game. His snaps were all really
good. I didn’t feel any sort of difference. So, credit a guy that has prepared the right way all
season long. Every week you really can tell Jonah’s locked into the plan. He takes so much
from Hainsey [OL Robert Hainsey], they communicate so much. That group has
communicated at a high level and credit the coaching staff for continuously working with
him to get him prepared. And I was proud of Jonah.”
(On the special teams performance on Sunday) “Look, the Colts, that’s a good special
teams group. It’s not like they’re slacking. I knew when Dulin [Colts WR Ashton Dulin] was
activated, I was a little concerned going into the game. He’s a really good special teams
player, not just in the return game, but he’s one of the best gunners in the NFL. So, you
knew that they would have a spark there with him. We played a little bit outside of our jobs
on a few of those returns that we needed to clean up. And then we had the silly, the block in
the back on the return that we get out to the 50 and instead we’re backed up to the 18.
That’s a 30-yard penalty there. So that was critical. But that being said, I thought our
specialists played special. Ross [LS Ross Matiscik], Cam [K Cam Little], Logan [P Logan
Cooke]. Cam making two critical, huge kicks. Logan flipping the field on a big-time punt
where Ray [DB Rayuan Lane III] makes the great play as the gunner, Ross was automatic
with his snaps and [RB] LeQuint Allen [Jr.] did a great job on teams as well. So, a couple
things to clean up, but I know that that group will continue to respond and they’re doing a
great job for us.”
(On how to get players in the ‘next play’ mindset) “That’s a great point. That’s something
that we’ve stressed a lot here is playing the next play like that. We talk about that so often.
And how good, bad or ugly, what just happened does not matter. The most important thing
is the next play. And we’ve talked a lot as coaches that we’ve got to be caddies in these
games in a lot of ways. Caddy, it’s like, man, next shot. It doesn’t matter what just
happened. It’s a next shot mentality. Give them the next club and let them go hit the next
shot with confidence. That’s really what it comes down to. You go back to Tin Cup and
remembering that clip where he hits seven balls in the water and he just keeps, ‘Yeah, keep
giving me the club.’ And that’s our job. Our job8 specifically on game day is, it does not
matter what just occurred. Let’s live in the moment. Let’s stay where our feet are. Our
whole culture of C.L.E.A.T.S.: commitment, love, energy, authentic, tough, smart. What that
means is to be where your feet are, cleats in the ground, be where your feet are. The next
play is the most important play. And that’s got to be the way that we live, living in the
moment. For us as a team, it’s the same reason why we haven’t talked about the playoffs.
We haven’t talked about the division, we haven’t talked about the conference, we haven’t
talked about the Super Bowl. We’re talking about going 1-0 each week, and this week’s no
different. And so, trying to keep that focus singular there in terms of next shot, next play,
next op. That’s what this is about. [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Tony
Boselli says it all the time, this is the most important game in the history of the franchise
because it’s the next one. That’s all that really matters. It’s the next one. And so, winning in
this league’s hard, executing in this league is hard. And so, you’ve got to give each other and
give yourself a little grace, especially in game, where yeah, you might have an awesome
play. Well great, let’s feed off that. But the next play is completely its own entity, and
anything can happen on the next play. Okay, you just screwed up. You had a missed
assignment, or you got beat one on one. Well, okay, go beat his ass the next play. Like,
that’s what this is, that’s the opportunity that we have, that’s the beauty of playing the
game. And so yeah, we’ve talked a lot about responding and how to respond and it’s a lot
easier said than done.”
WIDE RECEIVER PARKER WASHINGTON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2025
(On if there was a point in the offseason where he knew he would have a good season) “I
just more so focused on my preparation of just being ready for an opportunity. I didn’t know
what was in store this season. I was just putting the work in and just ready to put my best
foot forward regardless of the situation. And so, I feel like it’s just been special just to be
ready for the opportunity to make the most of them.”
(On how he is a better receiver this year than last year) “It’s funny like—well, I’ll just say just
this, it’s my third year, growth has to take place. And I feel like just being more familiar with
what I’m getting myself into as far as what a training camp looks like and even last year, my
second year, I had opportunities to see what it’s like to be in a bigger role as a receiver. So
just more familiar with that. And I just feel like, for me, the growth is just understanding
what it takes to make plays in the NFL and it’s just been fun.”
(On gaining yards after catch) “I feel like, first it’s just a mindset thing most importantly of
just saying like first off, make the catch. That’s the most important. You can’t do anything
without the ball but just wanting to get more yards after the catch. I feel like just a mindset.
And I feel like with that, I just try to put myself in different situations, different catches
against different coverages and ways that I’m thinking I can get more YAC [yards after
catch]. And I feel like with that, at the end of the day, it’s all instincts. So, I feel like the more
and more I practice it and study it and see other great receivers that do it well and how they
do it, I just kind of use that. And then once you get in the game, it’s just whatever instinct
kicks in, kicks in. And it’s just been special, but most importantly it’s just been starting with
that mindset of being like, I want to get more YAC.”
(On the team’s win streak and how the Week 10 loss helped fuel it) “I feel like since the
beginning, just as a unit, as a team, Liam [Head Coach Liam Coen] just said, ‘We’ve got to
come together and not let anybody tear us apart.’ And I feel like that’s been really cool
because each time we’ve had an opportunity to answer to adversity, we’ve done a great job
and we’ve came together and became closer as a team. So, I feel like we’re just building on
that, keeping that momentum going, and we just want to put our best foot forward and
make the run and have some fun doing it.”
(On the opportunity to clinch the division at home) “Just since I got here as a rookie, just
trying to get this organization and turn it around. It’s been lots of glimpses and we know
we’ve had a special team since then and it’s just been cool to have this staff push us to be
better and it’s just cool to see where we’re at now. We’re not just looking too far in the past
of course we’re talking about this opportunity ahead, but it’s just exciting to be like, we’ve
came a long way and we’re just going to keep building on that. So, I’m excited, we’re excited
and we’re ready to have some fun.”
(On how he keeps the season one week at a time and avoids outside noise) “I feel like for
me, it’s just a part of my process, just the discipline and consistency of just staying present
too and just being in the moment. And I feel like from the beginning our team, making it
about us, that’s so important when we started to look at the outside noise too much and let
that be our foundation, that’s when it crumbles. But it’s just been cool because this whole
process we’ve just been looking within and then letting a little bit of outside noise fuel us in
a way and just give us that extra little cherry on top. And it’s just been cool. When you’re
doing something new and changing the organization or program around, a lot of people
aren’t going to believe. So, it’s just been cool to make this change and have some fun doing
it, and we’re excited.”
DEFENSIVE END TRAVON WALKER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2025
(On his advice to younger teammates on playoff football) “To be honest, it’s one of those
things, it’s kind of tricky. It’s one of those things where you really still want guys to
continuously do what they’ve been doing throughout the whole process of the season. I
feel like that’s going to play a major part in—it did play a major part in where we are now
into our season. Everybody’s preparation, what they’ve been doing leading up into games
and things of that nature. But I really don’t like trying to make it bigger than it’s supposed to
be because we’ve been doing this all a year and we just want to continuously do what we’ve
been doing prepping wise to get to where we are now.”
(On what the locker room was like after the loss to Houston and how that has impacted the
team) “Obviously because we know that was a game that we should have had. We pretty
much dominated that whole game, I say. It’s just all about finishing. We came out, we
started playing fast and that’s the thing that we’ve been emphasizing a lot on this back half
of the year. Especially after starting fast and finishing fast regardless of however long it
might take. We might have to do it all four quarters. Sometimes you might have to do it
more than four quarters, but coming out of that game, like I said, all the guys, we just want
to continuously tell each other, we’ve got to finish, continuously come closer together as
the game goes on, throughout the ebbs and flows and things of that nature, just stand
together. So, like you said, definitely sparked us. And I feel like we needed that. We needed
that game.”
(On how the defense is able to perform well against the run and successfully rush the
passer) “It is more so just about going out there and being able to execute the play that’s
being called. It’s never about the play that’s being called. It’s always about your athletes
being in the position to make those plays. And I feel like Campy [Defensive Coordinator
Anthony Campanile] does a great job. Whatever he does call, I feel like there’s guys on each
level that can step up to the plate and make plays whenever it’s needed. Whether that’s up
front, whether that’s on the backend, linebackers or whether that’s DBs, I feel like
everything kind of ties in together. And speaking on the run game, I just feel like everyone
buys in. We know we have to stop the run in order to be able to rush the passer. So, I feel
like we always take big pride into winning first down. I feel like once you win first down, get
them behind the chains a little, get them behind the sticks a little bit, then we kind of have
the upper hand on the defensive side of the ball as far as if they’re going to play pass the
ball right here or if they’re going to try to run or whatever the situation may be.”
(On if he is ‘getting over the hump’regarding injuries) “Most definitely. It’s always tough
when you’re dealing with injuries, especially surgery, things of that nature. But for me it’s
more so just about staying the course, doing whatever the team needs me to do, whether
that’s pass rush at this moment or whether it stop the run. For me, like I said, it’s definitely
been a challenge, but I also do feel myself getting a lot healthier as the weeks go on, and I
feel like that’s going to play a big part down the stretch as well.”
(On if yesterday was his best game since injuring his wrist) “In my opinion, when I went
back and looked at the game, I felt like I had a lot that I could go back and do a lot better.
But I did feel like I definitely made a couple big plays to help the team out. But like I said, I
still have a lot of room to grow. For me, I really don’t like putting a ceiling on myself saying
this was my best game or that was my best game. I feel like the sky’s always the limit for me
and I’m just trying to keep going, trying to continue to get healthy as the week goes on.”
(On being able to win the division at home)” Having a home game, especially having a home
playoff game, obviously we love that. We really need that. Just as far as the atmosphere,
there’s nothing like once you get into the playoffs, a home game and the crowd’s just
electrifying, I feel like that’s kind of an extra defender or extra player that we have, the fans.
And I feel like that’ll play a major role and that’ll definitely be lovely to get a home playoff
game as well.”
(On his relationship with DE Josh Hines-Allen) “Ever since I’ve been drafted Josh, like I
always said, he’s been one of those guys when I first came in, just teaching me a lot of the
things. Because obviously he’s been in the league longer than I have, just teaching me
some of the things that he had to experience throughout his process. And obviously having
somebody on the other side of you that’s willing to compete with you at practice day in, day
out, not just on the field but off the field. He wants me to be a better person as well. But
when it comes to on the field things, we both have that mindset to where we’re not going to
be out worked, whether we’re working against each other, where we’re working against our
other players that play defensive end or whatever. We just always hold each other to a high
standard. And I feel like that’s what really keeps everything flowing how it should. Like I
said, it only can make you better at the end of the day, once you have guys like that, that
can stay on you and push you to the limit that you need to be pushed to continuously get
yourself better.”
