Read the full transcript from Head Coach Mike McDaniel's press conference on December 19, 2025.
Q: LB Jordyn Brooks – do you expect him to play Sunday?
"We'll see how today goes. I'll just cut to the chase – there will be some form of participation for all players today with exception to Minkah Fitzpatrick who will be out for the game. He's worked tirelessly hard, Jordyn (Brooks) has, to make himself available. He'll be doing some stuff today and we'll see how it responds and we're hopeful."
Q: I'm curious, was there a particular moment maybe in practice over the last few weeks or so that kind of confirmed to you that like, "okay, I want QB Quinn Ewers to be the guy going forward for the rest of the year"?
"No, I think like I said before, I wasn't tackling this decision until – my job is to respond to the information presented to me. I think it's more the accumulation of the body of work and you learn so much about people when it's day in, day out, work grind and he got an opportunity to prepare and be the backup earlier in the year. I evaluated that as well as I evaluated his emergency third designation from that game on. You never stop assessing people, but as far as when I knew, I knew after I watched the film and made an assessment off that."
Q: To kind of piggyback off that, what have you seen from QB Quinn Ewers this week in practice since he got the promotion to the No. 1 job?
"I saw the reason why we made the move that way because I saw him – it wasn't perfect, but the competitive response and the conviction at the position after anything would go awry, that's what I really, really like about him and that's what he showed off. I think yesterday in particular there were a lot of plays that he was able to make both on third down and first and second down and I think it's more about I saw the team really respond and derive energy from what he was doing at the quarterback position."
Q: Have you seen anything from the rest of the team in particular this week? It's obviously a decision that affects everybody.
"I think I've seen directly people respond to his involvement and to bring energy based upon their excitement to play with him or play in a different phase. I think the team is confident in his ability and like playing football with him as a teammate."
Q: When you look at this rookie class, I think QB Quinn Ewers is going to be the sixth of the eight draftees to start. What do you think about the development of this class?
"I'm very happy with really their long vision, their relentless approach and I'm happy that we got the right type of football guys that as rookies can survive the inherent longevity of the season. People talk about a rookie wall, it's because you're going from your college season to workouts to your new team and it seems endless and so you better have some rookies that love football if they're going to participate in November and December and help your team. I've seen the players individually and just the class as a whole follow through with our expectation of a group of guys that really love football for the right reasons."
Q: And what about the three defensive linemen? Has DT Jordan Phillips been the best? Has he been the most consistent? Where is DT Kenneth Grant's development and what about DT Zeek Biggers coming on late here?
"It's hard not to think of the d-line room when I think of the rookie class just because such a high proportion of our players in the d-line room are rookies, and we were really counting on those guys to come through for us. I would say probably Jordan (Phillips) had the quickest development and with Zeek (Biggers) finally getting on, what was it – four or five games ago – but really all three of them have, particularly the pass rush influence, pushing the pocket that 'KG' (Kenneth Grant) has been able to really string together some impactful snaps each game, the last handful of games. I think they've all done what you absolutely are vulnerable to and need these guys to do, which is continue to develop without blinking over a success or failure. They're all three very important to what we do. One of the reasons we've been able to put together some better defensive football in the second half of the season, is directly correlated to their ability to rely on technique, fundamentals and stop the run in light boxes and impact the game in a lot of ways particularly by the box score of our backers. They're able to get free to the ball when there's a lot of disruption on the line of scrimmage. We're building a wall in the front and they're able to find the ball and make the tackles."
Q: Is this the week we see K Jason Sanders, do you think or no?
"He's doing a great job. What you don't want to do is do wrong by him and do it a little too early and we're very fortunate to have a kicker in Riley (Patterson) that's allowing for him to come back at the appropriate time. I don't think it will be this week, but I would say look for next week, week after, something like that."
Q: OL Andrew Meyer?
"Andrew Meyer as you know, you have to execute some roster moves to get him available. He hasn't had any setbacks and he's doing well. I would just look more for those roster moves to absorb his roster spot probably next week or the following."
Q: I wanted to ask you about a postgame incident or episode. QB Tua Tagovailoa spotted talking to Steelers CB Jalen Ramsey on TV cameras. Fans are kind of up in arms about this. JJ Watt made a comment about it. Tua was seen laughing and people are saying that shows that he's not professional, that he might not care about losing. That's what people are saying. What are your thoughts about that? Does that bother you? I know players exchange jerseys postgame. What are your thoughts about that?
"I'd be kind of flying blind assessing something I haven't seen. I was very motivated after the game to watch the game tape and that's where I spent my time, so I haven't really seen any of it so it would be tough for me to talk about my feelings towards it. But generally, I try to keep my focus where the team and the fanbase and everybody I think really needs me to be and that's play and how to improve it or schematically how to change things so I kept it about football and I don't really have much more to add on that one."
Q: You obviously have great trust in Quarterbacks Coach Darrell Bevell and he does a very good job with the quarterbacks, but have you popped you head more into meetings this week just because you are breaking in a rookie guy. Has your involvement with the quarterbacks changed at all this week?
"I think, yeah, there's extra conversations and there's a little extra film, but I do have the fortune of having a stable of coaches who I very much trust and do a great job. Naturally, just to bridge the gap of maybe some unforeseen or unthought of things, crossing your t's and dotting your i's certainly adjusted a little bit my face time with the quarterbacks."
Q: Second part of the season you guys have started this trend of taking the ball when you win the coin toss. How has that worked out for you, what motivated that change?
"I don't know the scorecard but there's been a couple times that we've won the game and last week we lost it. Realistically, there's a multitude of factors that end up going to how you want to start the game and who do you want to be the first punch and who do you want to be the second punch. Philosophically, I haven't done that every game. It's been a case by case, but it usually has to do with the collective match ups and how we're trying to create momentum at the beginning of the game. It's worked out for us in terms of correlation and causation. We've done it in wins and we did it last week and lost, so case by case."
Q: Are you a believer in the middle eight, the last four of the second quarter, the first four of the third quarter, and does taking the ball kind of effect that?
"No, I think philosophically all things equal, that's something that I've kind of leaned into and it's very effective if you execute within it. The key factor in that is that you can – we call it 'lap them' – but being able to end the first half with possession or points and then being able to get points out the half is a very effective tool. One that we ultimately fell victim towards against the Steelers; they were able to do it. The key is the execution piece of it and it is beneficial when you're able to get two drives of points before the opposing team has a chance to counterpunch."
