HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2025
(On how the team focused throughout the week of practice) “I thought it was very good.
Yesterday’s walkthrough and throughout the course of practice, the energy was as good as
it’s probably been all season in a lot of ways. But building off of I think the last few weeks
we’ve had good practices within the amount that we’ve actually been able to do. There’s so
much more walkthrough that goes on around this time of the year, but when we were able
to go full speed yesterday, I thought our guys really communicated at a high level and
buzzed around pretty good.”
(On how to make sure players are focused with multiple walkthroughs) “Yeah, we did a
good amount. We had still had a three-play mamba yesterday, where we went good on
good against each other, obviously, and then had the normal D and D [down and distance],
and then third down full speed yesterday, which I thought those guys were moving around
at a good clip. And then today, obviously, we’ll have the four periods of full speed fast
Friday. But I thought our offensive line on Wednesday in the walkthrough were as good as
we’ve been all season in terms of picked up the pace a little bit, but also just the hat
placement, the details, the getting to the second level and getting in a body position to go
block the defender. Little details that we’re trying to focus on and harp on throughout the
week. Yeah, that’s why they’re pros ultimately, they have the ability to take care of their
bodies, but also practice with intentionality, and I’m never too concerned if our guys are
going to show up to play on Sundays.”
(On how CB Jourdan Lewis has looked since returning) “Yeah, he is an elite communicator
in terms of the way he sees the game for sure. He’s got a calming presence that I think
helps out a lot of guys, an accountability factor out there as well. So, I think the guys trust
him and know that he’s going to compete his tail off getting better and better, healthier and
healthier, but I’ve been really pleased with those other guys too, that have played and
stepped in and had to give us a lot of meaningful snaps to help us get to the point where
we’re at on defense right now.”
(On how it felt to see DE Travon Walker practicing yesterday) “Yeah, it was great to have
Travon back out there. Watching him buzz around in Indy [individual drills] a little bit and
talking to him this morning, he’s confident and feels positive right now, so we’ll see what it
looks out there today. We buzz around on Fast Friday, see what that looks, but he’s excited.”
(On if it is an emotional lift to get Walker and WR Parker Washington back practicing) “Yeah,
I think so. You look at these games down the stretch are, like I mentioned the other day,
limited options, limited opportunities. And even though we see these guys again, I
definitely think there’s a heightened sense of awareness. You want to go play, you want to
compete in games like this, ultimately, so we’ll see. We’ve got to make sure that we’re doing
right by those guys and what’s best for our team, though.”
(On if he learns a lot about his team during a week like this before a big game) “Yeah, I think
you have a pretty good clue of what your team is in a lot of ways even though there’s still so
much room for growth, but I fully expected our team to, hey, let’s go take care of business
as we needed to this past week and then approach this one, hey, what it is, it’s potential
playoff opportunity. So, nobody’s had to say anything, but the way that the guys have
prepared throughout the week… Look, win, lose or draw, I think our guys are ready to go
play this game.”
(On whether this game will serve as an evaluation process due to its importance) “Yeah, it’s
a great—a lot of your best players typically rise up in a lot of these moments. And then
there are others that you figure out do as well. And that’s a cool part of as you just
mentioned, learning about your team and learning about playing in critical moments, but
not making it too big either. That’s that fine line that we walk in this profession and in this
game, that these guys are ultimately out there performing. So, I really want them to go out
with a truly, man, let’s just see what the heck happens, and let’s go play our best ball and
see what happens. And that’s ultimately all you can ask for from your players.”
(On how OL Coach Shaun Sarrett coaches his unit) “Yeah, we’ve been shuffling. You guys
all were losing your minds in training camp when we had shuffling going on, and it’s like, ‘oh
my God, is this guy going to start here and this and that?’ It’s just moving them around
(laugh). It was the biggest story after a scrimmage (laugh). No, seriously, we’ve tried to do
that for a long time, and that’s kind of been our philosophy to ultimately just try to get them
as comfortable playing with different combinations because it’s such a volatile position,
guys. I’ve been absolutely crushed by it before, to where you don’t have enough, and you
don’t have the continuity, and you’re getting guys off the street to come in and play, and it’s
hard. It’s such a hard position to go cohesively play together, and it’s so few positions in the
NFL that for it to really work, it’s got to work together. And so, I think that Shaun, Keli’i
[Assistant Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Specialist Keli’i Kekuewa] and Trevor [Offensive
Assistant Trevor Mendelson] have done a nice job of making sure that we’re intentional
about doing that in the course—even though sometimes it can frustrate you because you’re
trying to build a five in training camp or whatever it is, but you’re also trying to build
sustained continuity and guys that can go out and not maybe miss too many beats if they’re
in. And I think that’s been a good journey and a good process for us.”
(On the importance of preparing for poor weather on Sunday) “Yeah, we definitely did a
good amount of it yesterday. I thought Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] in Indy specifically
threw it—I know he is able to throw in the wet, in the weather and all that stuff. It’s more
just what we talked about, a heightened sense of fundamentals, technique, playing
underneath yourselves, coming to balance, long stride, short stride, when we’re coming to
make a tackle. When you’re at the second level, how fundamental can you be? Because
sometimes you get lost and lose your footing or whatever it is. You see it last night in some
of the Dallas game on the turf. But it’s just one of those things that we just try to preach, not
as much about this [holding motion] and the wet ball. It’s more the fundamentals and the
heightened sense of awareness that ball security is, the kicking game, all those kind of
things.”
(On the challenge of preparing for an experienced defensive coordinator) “Yeah, it’s hard to
know exactly what you’re going to get. It’s not one of those weeks where you’re always
sitting there, okay, you know you’re going to maybe get X, Y and Z at X, Y and Z time and X, Y
and Z situation, or D and D, whatever it is. Lou [Colts DC Lou Anarumo] does a nice job of
mixing it up and rolling the dice a little bit. And he has the game plan. We’re going to see
something at some point that we probably haven’t seen a ton on tape. And that’s the
challenge as coaches, that’s the beauty of it when you get into it, how can you go and
adjust and make sure that your players are given the best chance to be successful? So
that’s something that can be frustrating but also exciting to know because that’s the chess
match.”
(On the secondary staff’s ability to prepare multiple players this season) “There’s a lot of
guys that have played defensive back for us this season and I think that Milo [Secondary
Coach Ron Milus] and Perk [Defensive Backs Coach Anthony Perkins] and [Assistant
Defensive Backs Coach] Drew Lascari and those guys and [Senior Defensive Assistant] Bill
Sheridan and those guys have done a nice job, really nice job of preparing people. The
amount of time that Antonio [S Antonio Johnson] and Jarrian [CB Jarrian Jones] and these
guys are up, Rayuan [DB Rayuan Lane III], Cam [DB Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig], they’re up
there getting extra, extra, extra. And that’s something that we want, I want guys up here
getting extra work as much as possible within the realm of what’s manageable for their time
and our coaches’ time. But I think those guys have really poured into it, really tried to get
the message to the players so that it’s communicated properly on the field better. They’ve
done a nice job.”
(On why strong rushing games have followed up poor ones this season) “I think that look,
you get what you emphasize sometimes and per each defense, yes, it’s not always the
same in terms of how that defensive line or linebackers play. There are some teams that are
penetrating, there are some teams that are a little bit more readers and then there are blitz
teams and then there are not blitz teams. And what I think the message for our guys is just
as much to let’s not tweak too much of what we do upfront for what we’re seeing
defensively. They’ve got to stop our run game, they’ve got to deal with us running double
teams and getting on the perimeter and doing our thing and just kind of taking the fight
more so to the opponent as opposed to maybe waiting to see what happens.”
(On P Logan Cooke’s nomination for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year) “Yeah, it is. I’m very
proud of Logan. He’s been as steady a person since I’ve gotten here as I think you can have.
His personality does not change at all, regardless of circumstances or good, bad. He’s very
much even-keeled. You’re getting exactly who you’re getting. There’s not much hiding from
who Logan Cooke is, I think, in our locker room in terms of the confidence, the swagger, but
also he’s a consistent pro, and he does it at a high level, so very proud for him and his
family.”
(On if he has seen the new episode of ‘The Hunt’ featuring DE Josh Hines-Allen’s journey) “I
haven’t gotten to see it yet, but I actually got a great text from a friend actually in Tampa
talking about The Hunt and some of that footage. And I think our production, they do a
phenomenal job with that series, and I’ve gotten so much positive feedback on that series
itself. But for Josh specifically to have the, X months, six months, eight months that he’s
had as a family, as a man, as a person, as a father, and as a competitor, I’ve been very
proud of the way that he’s been able to find his way here in terms of fighting through some
tough stuff as a family, as a man, but also as a teammate, as a leader. A whole new, a lot of
new going on and I think you’ve started to really see a surge from him and a confidence
from him, a little bit of that weight lift off in some ways. And you’re just seeing a guy go out
and compete ass his off every play and fight and scratch and claw. And I’ve been really
proud of that.”
(On the plan for the WR room if Washington cannot play) “Yeah, if Parker’s unable, then it’ll
be a mix of Dyami [WR Dyami Brown], [WR] Tim Patrick, and also [WR] Austin Trammell for
right now, I would say. So, it’s a matter of those guys being able to fill and then also be able
to play Z and X at some of those other positions as well, with Dyami and Tim being able to
do some of those things as well. So, all those guys have made big plays for us at some point
this season. Love to have Parker out there and obviously for special teams and for offense,
but really trust that we’ll be able to go out and get the job done regardless.”
(On if he implements Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli’s
mindset that the next game is ‘the most important game in franchise history’) “Yeah, that’s
definitely something that Tony’s mentioned a lot, and it kind of goes into the same theme of
trying to go 1-0 each week. Because you truly cannot take for granted any of these
opportunities in the National Football League. You take one of those for granted, and you’re
going to see yourself on the bad end of maybe a game you feel like you should win, or
you’ve gotten to a point in the season where you feel you’re going to win a game like that,
and then, oh, shoot, you just laid an egg. And we’ve felt that before, we have. We have felt
that in terms of not taking for granted when you’re in a pretty cool position, a position to
take advantage of the moment. And you look at some of those big games that we have had
here so far this season, and you look at obviously San Francisco, and you look at Kansas
City, and you look at some of those games that we have taken advantage of the moment.
And then you look at obviously Houston’s second half and not taking advantage of it, so
now you feel that way, and you know what that feels like, that approach needs to remain for
four quarters.”
