HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
AUGUST 11, 2026
(On if starters will play in Preseason Week 1) “No. Not in Week 1, for sure.”
(On dealing with injuries during camp) “Yeah, you just get thin. You get thin. You start
putting more reps on other guys that may not be truly prepared for the amount of reps that
they then have to take, which, as you could see today, thins out a little bit of the groups.
Your twos are more so mixed of threes and fours and it just kind of gets a little bit thinned
out, unfortunately.”
(On how injuries could affect the plan for New Orleans ) “Hopefully get somebody back
before that, one of the guys. I mean, the ones we’re planning on getting the majority of the
work anyway in the joint, so hopefully we can survive with the ones and twos getting the
majority of the joint, and then the younger guys, give them a little bit of a break so that they
can play in the game.”
(On what he took away from the joint practice in Miami last year) “I just think that it’s a
controlled environment that you’re still getting physical work, but you’re thudding; you’re
not tackling to the ground. Not as many blind shots and hits that guys maybe aren’t going to
see. And then just in a game setting, obviously that occurs, right? Much more. And where
we’re at right now, especially from a health standpoint, we can’t really afford to go into a
game and let them roll and see what that would look like from an injury standpoint. I just
think it’s a more controlled setting. You practice against pros that know how to practice,
and you’re doing it with coaches that stress the same things of taking care of one another
and let’s be pros about this. I think that that’s when you can feel comfortable about going
and doing that.”
(On how being “thinned out” at practice impacts how he assesses practice) “I thought the
defense came out with more energy and better mindset and mentality. I thought the
offensive skill players, obviously, and some of the pass game stuff was good. But they kind
of took the fight to us, to the offense in the run game today. [DT] Albert Regis had a better
day. Armstead [DT Arik Armstead] showed up again. When those guys are coming off the
rock and setting edges as they’ve been, whether it’s on the perimeter or inside, I mean, we
were the number one run defense in the NFL, so it’s like, it’s not going to always be perfect.
You’re expecting the defense to do some good things, even though it pisses me off at
times.”
(On if camp has been more physical than last year) “I’d say it’s probably similar at this
point. I think that you’ve got a couple of guys, I mean, we’ve got an ankle. We’ve got a
couple—not a ton of injuries that would maybe pop up from hitting. More so the general
soft tissue hammy stuff, right, and groins and things like that that you guys see popping up
all over the NFL right now. Thankfully we haven’t had a ton of big, big ones, right? Knock on
wood. It’s just these are the times of the year it happens, it occurs. We were supposed to
do more today, and if I felt good about how they came out, I was going to—we were
supposed to do four minute today, and go hit, bang, run, run, run, run, run. And, the way
that those guys came out on defense, at the end of the day, I’m the head coach. I’ve got to
be happy with something.”
(On what he has been surprised about with the defense) “The communication in the back
end’s been good where you have a little new, right? You’ve got Travis [WR/CB Travis Hunter]
back in the fold, you’ve added [Defensive Pass Game Coordinator] Mathieu Araujo into the
fold as a new coach, and I think the communication and what they’re doing in man
coverage with some of the tools that we have, I think they’re doing a really nice job of
communicating with those tools and putting them in advantageous positions. Not wanting
to lock certain looks or wanting to top hat or do different coverage looks to different looks.
That’s been fun to watch and hear. And then it’s always fun to see, like, all right, who’s going
to be the next [DE] Danny Striggow, [DE] B.J. Green II, right? Like, who are going to be those
next guys who maybe we didn’t slot to be contributors at the moment or in the future, and
they end up doing things to surprise us and end up helping us.”
(On whom he thinks could be this season’s Striggow and Green II) “I can’t say. Honestly, we
had a personnel meeting the other day, yesterday, and it’s still so early. I think we’ll have a
better idea after this joint, after this game. That’s usually when you try to have a little bit of
that in terms of you guys have all seen maybe some of the younger guys in their own way
stand out here. We all kind of know who those people are, but, when you actually have to
go play tackle football and play in a game… When we do one-on-ones and stuff, that’s not
football to me. It’s a part of football. It’s an aspect of it, but we’re not grading that as much.
So, I want to go see these guys play football.”
(On if the recent signings of linebackers are for depth) “Yeah. Straight depth.”
(On how impressed he is with S Antonio Johnson development) “He’s the guy. We talked
about this in the personnel meeting yesterday, last year at this time: where was Antonio
Johnson in his development? Like, where was he on our depth chart? Where was he in
terms of contribution? And he was a starting gunner, and he was our fourth safety, right?
So, it’s like, that’s the kind of person that you’re like, ‘All right, who is that? In this crop, who
is that?’ And at this stage, last year, Antonio was still right there. He was our starting gunner,
and he was our fourth safety. So, it’s like, I don’t know who that’s going to be. And so that’s
what’s cool about this. That’s what’s fun about this, is that you get to kind of keep grinding
through it, seeing who’s going to keep getting through that wall, if you will, of camp and that
tough spot of it, and come out on the other side and get better.”
(On not showing too much of his hand during preseason play) “Look, you want to be able to
practice the things ultimately that you want to do and major in. It’s more so just, ‘Hey, let’s,
let’s try to keep it to installs one through three for the most part,’ which is plenty of
inventory to go play a game and not feel like it’s just we’re not giving our guys a chance to go
win, because ultimately, we want to win the game and go execute at a high level. But also,
you’re not trying to show maybe some of the new things that you’ve been working on or
things that you picked up in the spring after watching self-scouting around the league and
things that you’re implementing. So, we’ll keep it fairly basic but give these guys a chance.”
(On if he has liked what he has seen from WR/CB Travis Hunter on defense) “The play they
made the other day and Trevor [QB Trevor Lawrence] scrambled and threw it in the middle.
The play was dead. He was sacked, but Travis just came out of nowhere and makes the
play, like I can’t coach it. And so, I think the length, the anticipation on defense, we got him
today on the one, but when you have length and anticipation and have a good feel for
routes, I think that the play making, getting your hands on balls or just denying the ball with
good coverage. That’s a win in itself that I think goes a little bit unnoticed from corners. It’s
like, yeah, when they don’t get a lot of work, it’s probably because they’re doing their job
and doing it at a high level, so I’ve been pleased with him.”
(On CB Jabbar Muhammad) “I’d say Jabbar, you go back to the spring, he’s probably one of
the most improved players on the team. He’s doing a heck of a job playing obviously corner
and nickel. I’m excited. I want to see him get in the game mix. I remember last year in the
first preseason game, he showed up on a play just like running it down from the other side
of the field and you’re just excited to go see what that could look like. And if he’s truly taken
that next step that we’ve seen, ultimately, we do need to see it in a game-like scenario.”
(On expectations for QB Carter Bradley on Saturday) “He’s definitely going to play. He’s
going to get a good amount of play, good amount of burn. I really want to see Carter just go
execute the offense at a high level. Eliminate any pre-snaps, the delays or pre-snap motion
issues. Like, don’t overthink it. Don’t overanalyze it, man. Just go play one play at a time,
execute the offense, and then let your playmaking skills take over. You guys saw it all
season where, on our scout team, he’s out there running around, making plays, making
throws, running around, doing some good things. And so, you ultimately want to just see
him operate, but also, man, do what also makes you good and how you like to play. I don’t
want to take that away, but we can’t have some of the pre-snaps and things. Want it to be
clean.”
(On Regis) “I thought today was a better outing. I think maybe the previous few weren’t up
to his or our standard. Look, it’s a work in progress for any of these young guys. I think DL,
especially IDL, is one of the most difficult positions in the NFL to play young. To play early. I
think it’s extremely difficult. You’re 23 years old playing against a lot of grown men and
savvy. O-linemen are typically smart, savvy, tough, strong, those things. And so, you can get
exposed a little bit in there, not just because of getting moved, but little details of technique
and fundamentals that I think takes time. You look at D-Ham [DT DaVon Hamilton]. How
old’s D-Ham? 28? 29? Right? And he’s what? At this point in his career, he’s probably at one
of the peaks in terms of the way he played. And so, that does take time, D-Linemen in
general, but especially IDL.”
(On how Offensive Coordinator Grant Udinski calling plays will change his process) “It
relieves a little anxiety (laughs). It’s just good opportunities. I was provided that opportunity
in L.A. with Sean [Rams Head Coach Sean McVay], and I know that it gave Sean a little bit
more of an opportunity to go on the defensive side and hear a little bit more of what’s going
on over there. Not because you’re not in between drives as much, thinking about the next
drive and working through it. So, you can really, truly hear all of the communication on the
defensive side of the ball, be able to be engaged and really involved a little bit more than I
normally am in that setting. And be able to provide a little bit of a different lens where
maybe not every play I want to fight somebody or something. You’re not as concerned
about the outcome. You really just want to see everybody, the big picture, compete, and
take a little bit of a backseat to caring so much about the offense every play, not living and
dying by it.”
(On how it will be a challenge for Udinski with less players available) “I’ve been there, man.
It’s hard. It is. It’s challenging when you’re thin, and you have a limited inventory of plays.
It’s not easy. Everybody thinks it’s really easy to come up with your preseason call sheet,
and it’s actually a little challenging because you want to make sure that you do enough to
what is going to maybe give the defense a problem. But also, when you don’t have a ton of
guys that have maybe repped a lot, you’ve got to keep it simple. But it’s great exposure for
him to work through situational football, get his flow a little bit of how he calls in and how
he sees it within the system. It’s not like he’s going to be putting in plays that we don’t run.
It’s all our offense, he gets to call it and it’s good exposure. Until you’ve done it and actually
go and do it in those settings, you don’t truly get an appreciation for it.”
(On if he will be throwing the challenge flag) “Yes. Right now, I will. I’m looking at potentially
not at one point in the preseason being the head knocker. Like, potentially do some plans
there. But yes, for this game against the Saints, I’ll be throwing the challenge flag and doing
the head coach duties.”
SAFETY ANTONIO JOHNSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
AUGUST 11, 2026
(On his growth over the last year) “Oh, man. I feel like night and day, honestly. Like you said,
starting off as a core special team guy, and then gradually working my way up on the depth
chart. I think I’m a good representation for the younger guys that’s coming in undrafted or
late draftees. I’m just able to show them you have to work. You have to do your time on
special teams sometimes and it’s okay. Your time will come, and when your time comes,
just take advantage.”
(On his mindset now that he’s in a bigger role on defense) “Really just sharpening my game,
sharpening my skills, being really on top of the details of the game. And being an older guy
in the room, being able to just help the younger guys navigate through this time and this
process.”
(On why he’s thrived in this defense) “I think Coach Camp [Defensive Coordinator Anthony
Campanile] does a really great job of teaching the scheme, and then not only teaching the
scheme, but demanding greatness out of us as a defense. And as you see each day, we go
out there and we work hard. He’s going to coach us hard, but I feel like most importantly,
the players have really taken on the culture that he instilled into this defense and we’re an
aggressive, attacking team. You can’t go four quarters with us like that, you know what I’m
saying? So that’s our whole motto, make a team go four quarters.”
(On playing in the slot) “I feel like coming out I thought I’d play way more nickel because
that’s what I played in college, but I feel like me playing nickel gave me a little bit more
versatility of playing man, going zone. Teams don’t know what I’m doing. I could blitz, all
different types of things so I feel like it just adds to my bag so if we can want to go base, we
can go cover. I feel like all our safeties really can cover, not just me.”
(On if the secondary is improved from last year) “I feel like the most difference from last
year to this year is us really understanding the defense and the scheme. So, now we can
make it our own and we’re manipulating the offense now because we’re not just learning
the defense. We understand it, we know what our issues are, so we’re dictating what we
want the offense to do.”
(On his weight) “I’m like 210, 212. Yeah.”
(On what he would have considered a successful year last training camp) “I feel like just
solidifying myself on the roster as a guy the team could trust, if that’s special teams or
defense. I feel like that would be successful. Whenever my opportunity comes, take full
advantage of it.”
(On what he learned about preparation last year) “I learned a lot. Yeah, I learned a lot for
sure. With the coaches and with the older guys in the room. I give a lot of credit to [S] Eric
Murray and [CB] Jourdan Lewis for just taking a lot of time with the younger guys and
breaking down film and going through different situations just with us and no coaches. So, I
think that’s where a lot of our guys’ game elevated as a unit.”
(On S Jalen Huskey) “J-Huskey, he’s a dog. He’s rangy. He’s going to come up, he’s going to
hit. I see a lot of myself in him. He is going to be a good player. Yeah, he is going to be a
good player.”
(On whom he emulates his game after) “I wouldn’t say just one player. I like to just take
things from each and every player that I grew up watching. Like [HOF S] Troy Polamalu is
one of the ones. [HOF S] Ed Reed and then I like [Steelers CB] Jalen Ramsey. I feel like his
versatility is similar to mine. Like, he could go inside, outside. He blitzes, he plays safety
now, so I feel like him. Those are just a few.”
(On why the secondary has played well) “I feel like, like I said earlier, we just understand the
scheme now. It’s not like we’re learning, now we know our issues, so when we are in certain
coverages, we are making the offense do what we want them to do versus, like, just
showing, giving them what they want. So, I feel like that’s what makes us a dominant
defense and what’s going to make us a dominant defense.”
(On S Caleb Ransaw) “Caleb’s doing a great job. We already knew he was a good player
before he got hurt. He’s fast, he’s physical. He could cover really well. With him, he’s getting
into his flow of his game. He’s getting, from his injury, he’s getting back to his flow. And like I
said, he’s very athletic. He’s understanding the playbook at a high level, and he’s made a lot
of plays out here during camp.”
(On what he specifically has learned from S Eric Murray) “Oh, man. Just reading the
quarterback. I think me and him talked the most about just reading the quarterback and
understanding how quarterbacks operate on their drop backs and stuff like that and being
able to get the jump on therm. Also, we talk about a lot of just ball together. Plays, like when
we’re going through a game, he talked to me about plays and formations. He’s really helped
me elevate my game of watching film. So now, when I’m going into a game, I’m anticipating
certain things because of how he broke down film and how we watch film together.”
