DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ARIK ARMSTEAD
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
(On how the deal with the Jaguars came together) “It all happened very quickly. My free agency was a
little delayed, and so on Wednesday when I was officially released, I then had the opportunity to talk to
some teams. It all happened very fast and me and Trent [General Manager Trent Baalke] have a great
relationship. He drafted me nine years ago back in San Francisco and we were able to talk and discuss my
situation and where I’m at in my career. I felt like this was the best decision for me and my family. I’m
very excited to get it going.”
(On how he feels he fits into the defense) “I feel that it’s tailormade for the defensive line. Coach Nielsen
[Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen] being a former defensive lineman himself, I feel that I could play a
multitude of roles in it. From lining up on the edge and playing the run to moving into the inside of the
pass rusher. I’m excited to see how the plans are and how they plan on using me.”
(On using a common General Manager Trent Baalke phrase ‘masterclass’ on his social media) “I had no
clue that was terminology he uses, so that’s news to me. I just use it on my own. I’ve been one place for
a very long time, so coming into a new place, I want to learn the lay of the land, their sayings, how
people operate. I don’t want to misspeak, so I feel like I got a lot of learning to do before I’m able to just
run with it. I’m here for all the education and this next stage of the process, getting to know the people
in Jacksonville and getting to know the town and my teammates and the organization.”
(On his relationship with General Manager Trent Baalke) “We’ve had a great relationship, being with him
for those few years and drafting me, getting to know me as a younger guy. Then, him watching me from
afar when we played the Jags, I would always see him right there pregame. We would talk and the
sentiment of how proud he was of me and how my career has gone. He felt like he made a good decision
then and he feels like he’s making a good decision now. Having that someone that you’re comfortable
with and that you’ve been around is going to make this transition much smoother.”
(On how much the contract played into his decision) “Well in all honesty, just like I’m sure all of you can
agree with, money is a big factor. You have to take care of your family, I have to take care of my family.
Financially, it is a big deal in the situation. We play football because we love the game and we’ve been
blessed and we’re passionate and we love and make sacrifices. Those sacrifices at the end of the day are
to take care of the people we love. Contractually, that is a big deal. It’s a big deal but it’s not the only
deal. You don’t want to be in a bad situation where you’re miserable and unhappy. Then, what’s money
at that point when you feel terrible? Getting that piece taken care and having the opportunity to learn
about the city and people’s experiences playing here and living here, just really sold me down in
Jacksonville.”
(On confidence about his body’s health) “I’m very confident, these past couple of years I’ve had some
random nagging things going on. But football is a sport with one hundred percent injury rate, people
want to talk about my past two years and I missed four or five games last year. I finished the playoffs, I
played in the Super Bowl. Before these past two years, I hadn’t missed a game in five years. Injuries are a
part of sports and I have my plan together in place to make sure I’m putting my body and myself in the
best position to be out there for my team. I’m going to do that, and I think it’s going to go very well. I
plan to have a long career; I think I got a good five or six more years in me. I don’t plan on stopping
anytime soon.”
(On where his location is on the call) “I’m in Miami.”
(On how his meniscus injury is healing and if he has any concerns about moving across the country)
“Knee is feeling good, surgery went great. I’ll be back very soon, I’m excited about that. I’m on a very
good road to recovery, so I plan on being back to football fulltime very soon when my team needs me. As
far as moving, I feel like everything happens for a reason and God is going to put me where he wants me
to be and needs me to be, to be a blessing to others and put me in certain situations to learn and grow. I
think it’s going to be very great for my life, some transition and getting out of my comfort zone. Meeting
a whole new host of people that I’m able to bond with and share a relationship with and get to know me
and my family. I’m excited about it.”
(On what stood out about the Jaguars through free agency) “My goal was to find the next stage of my
career in some place that I feel comfortable, that valued me as a player as well too, and a place I can take
the next step and grow in. A place that’s competitive and that I feel I can come in and help get them over
the hump. The Jags were a good team before me and whenever I enter a situation, not just in football
but in life in general when I’m meeting people and when I’m entering situations working with people, I
want to make the place better than when I found it. I want to a positive impact in. I think this team was
already a phenomenal team and I think I can help get them to the next level. Having that opportunity is
something I look forward to as well.”
(On his thoughts when playing the Jaguars in Week 10 last season) “Yeah, the last year, that game got
out of hand. But to be honest with you, going into it, we felt like we had a lot of challenges on our hands.
Coming into that with my old team, we were coming off the bye week and looking at it like, ‘Wow, we
have lost three games previously, this can’t be four in a row.’ We really gave it our all, but we were
definitely faced with a lot of challenges going into the game. The game got out of hand and sometimes
football goes that way, but I don’t think that’s an indicator of what type of team the Jags had then and
the team we’re going to have this year. I’m excited to be on the other side and continue to get better.”
(On if he’s spoken with OLB Travon Walker and OLB Josh Allen yet) “Yeah, I talked to them and I’ve been
in contact with them. I look forward to connecting with the rest of the guys as well too as soon as I can.
Obviously, those two guys stick out immediately; the type of talent they have and the production they’ve
had in the NFL. Playing with those guys and Roy [DL Roy Robertson-Harris] and Hamilton [DT DaVon
Hamilton] and a bunch of the other guys too that I can’t wait to meet, it’s going to be phenomenal. I
think it’s important, especially being in the league this long that no one can do it on their own. I’ve seen
a lot of situations where you don’t get the full potential out of guys because they’re not surrounded by
other great players as well too. I’m excited to take the field with those guys and learn this new defense
together and start that journey.”
(On if plans on bringing some of his community work to Jacksonville) “Yeah, one hundred percent. Part
of my master class tweet and what I want to get into is learning more about the city, learning where
impoverish communities need the most help and how I can bridge that gap. I’m excited to get to know
the people there. My nonprofit is education based, which is across the globe. I’m sure there’s education
inequities in Jacksonville as well too, that I’m excited to explore more and really seek how I can be a
huge impact in Jacksonville as well too. It’s across the country, but like I said, these issues that I’m trying
to solve are across our nation and in every community. There’s equity gap, there’s achievement gap,
there’s poverty. I really feel that education is the key to solving a lot of issues in our country when you
look at social injustice and other issues as well too. I’m passionate about that and that’s going to follow
me wherever I’m at, so I’m excited to learn about Jacksonville and see where and how I can help.”
(On when working with local communities start for him) “It started my rookie year. I had a free football
camp and it just started with that. After my free football camp, I was like, ‘I don’t feel like I’m doing
enough for my people.’ So it turned into doing a football camp and a health fair and offering health
services and blending the two. Then, I was like, ‘Dang, I still don’t feel like I’m doing enough. How can I
have a bigger impact?’ Education was the glaring space to have impact. We talk about living the
‘American Dream’ but how can you live the ‘American Dream’ without having a quality, equitable
education? To me, that’s where I got passionate and felt that I could have the opportunity to have a huge
impact. Something as simple as getting kids to a reading level by fifth grade, percentages show that they
have a way high percentage of being successful and graduating high school and going on to get a job.
Those things I’m passionate about and I love trying to tackle and love trying to accomplish. It grew
throughout my career. It’s really a huge foundation in my faith and in my family as well too. As a kid, we
used to do stuff like this all the time. It’s just in me and always will be.”
(On how much conversation with the Jaguars was about leadership and ability to succeed) “I think they
both go hand in hand. We had conversations about that and I’m sure the Jags and other teams saw that
as well, too. Teams are always trying to get a winning culture in the building and guys that have had
success and know what it looks like. That definitely is part of it and that’s something I look forward to
entering year 10, I feel like I have a lot to offer to my teammates, not just from a football perspective or
not just what I do on the field but being able to share the knowledge of different situations I’ve been
through in this league. It’s been a lot, and being able to share that with them, something as simple as a
Super Bowl experience. This team has Super Bowl aspirations and when we get there, I’ve already been
through that, and I know what it’s going to look like and what to expect. I know how guys can get into
the wrong things at a Super Bowl and how to stay focused and locked in on the game, there’s a lot that
comes with it. Just something simple like that, playoff games, different things that I’ve been through that
I feel I’ll be able to help with and share.”
(On the results he got by asking Twitter what he needed to know about Jacksonville) “That we hate the
Titans. Okay, so I understand that rivalry. I noted that. Somebody sent me a bunch of good food places,
which I appreciate. I’m a big foodie. Other things to do around town, so those were the two big
takeaways, is our rivalry with Tennessee which I wasn’t aware of until now and some good spots to check
out around town.”
(On if being in his 10th year is significant to him as a player) “I view it as it is an accomplishment. Having
longevity in his league is tough for a multitude of reasons, but I do view it as an accomplishment. Also
too, I view it as I’ve got a lot more to give, a lot more to offer, a lot more football ahead of me. I view it as
I continue to get better. Last year, I’m constantly working on my game, working on my craft. I continue to
get better. Last year I had one of my best pass rush seasons of my career in year nine, so in the
offseason, what I do is I watch all my film, how to finetune, how to get better, work on my technique,
different things I need to do to work on my body. I still feel like I’m an ascending player even though
that’s tough to say for most people in year 10.”
