Read the full transcript from Head Coach Mike McDaniel's press conference on July 28, 2025.
Q: We saw CB Kader Kohou limp off on Saturday. Do you think he's going to miss a while or is it a short-term thing?)
"It's a day-to-day evaluation with some swelling. We're a couple evaluations away in the next couple days so we're really just taking it day-to-day and see where it's at but good spirits and the team is good."
Q: Your concern it could be something that sidelines him into the season?)
"If there would be concern it would be completely made up; I don't have the information to lean any way so I am optimistic that I know nothing."
Q: You signed two veteran corners in CB Mike Hilton and CB Jack Jones. Just what stood out to you about those two guys?
"We've been considering those two individuals for a while and I think timing with regard to where our group was and I think our young guys really are starting to develop earned confidence – actual, real confidence based upon what they're doing on the field – and I think they know where their coach is and where I'm at with that, and so they're big boys now and in comes some other competition so now you get to not only evaluate those players that you feel very good about, but you get to evaluate how those other players react to that and where their game goes because it's a very cool opportunity for all those guys involved. Mike (Hilton) and Jack (Jones) in particular are both guys that are very thirsty for the opportunity and guys that are right now working within the locker room and becoming a part of the team."
Q: Was it a relief to get some business done with S Minkah Fitzpatrick and just how have you seen his role with this new team?
"I really understand the individual players. I'm heavily invested in each and every guy so I get pumped any time business happens. I get even more pumped when the specific individual shows me – doesn't talk to me, but shows me – that he understands the critical factor in professional football in that all things must be justified by the football play. So whatever the contract is, whatever is going on; the most important thing is that our team is getting better at football and the focus is on that. I'm most pumped because I think it was a situation where we were playing football. Minkah (Fitzpatrick) was steadily learning this defense and taking command in his leadership role and a bunch of people were like, 'Oh, there was business going on. You got something done.' I think that's the way that football teams win in this league and so I'm happy about that."
Q: What's the skill that you think has made CB Mike Hilton an effective slot corner, if you wouldn't mind touching on the skills that CB Jack Jones has that appeal to you and General Manager Chris Grier, as well?)
"Mike Hilton for me comes with some scars from the other side of the ball. Playing against him in years past, he was the one guy in the defensive backfield that realistically and from a physicality standpoint, you're like, 'I wish they wouldn't be in nickel. I wish he wouldn't be on the field. I wish they would have a linebacker on the field.' That's how convicted he would play and how physical he plays the game from the defensive back position. Fired up that he was an option. We've been talking for a while, but my exposure going against him led me to find out what type of guy and how many people texted me, 'Weave' (Anthony Weaver), Chris (Grier) when we signed him attesting to what type of guy which we'd already gotten the information, so that to be verified, awesome to add to the locker room. Jack (Jones) is in a really cool spot. Had multiple conversations with him, including one at 6 a.m. today in the special teams coordinator's office about seizing opportunities and choosing to define your name and legacy by your actions. I think he's eager to really compete. I like that about him and I think he knows, like all the guys that are coming to this team, you can't help but feel the standard with which the locker room moves and operates and holds each other to. So I think all those guys know that to thrive on this team, their first job is to assimilate and stay in line with the order that is on the grass that we take true, dear to our hearts."
Q: With regards to CB Mike Hilton's run defense, watching him on tape over the weekend; I was curious to ask you from an offensive perspective, what are some of the unique challenges that he provides as that really good run defender with regards to how he can kind of fit the run from the B-gap from the depth of position?)
"I think it's not just the run game; it's the physicality that it does show up in the run game as well as re-routes, but you're talking about to be able to laterally adjust, get hands on receivers, to make sure that you are stopping the vertical momentum of an offense while also being able to utilize quick-trigger keys and be able to have the mindset to go fit the A or B-gap like a linebacker to have the quickness and football instincts to do it and utilizing your quickness. And yeah, you're generally outmatched in size in the box. Well, the one thing that can really balance that out is decisive, quick leverage, a player with strength and tenacity. They're always problems, talking about the original (Antoine) Winfield and you go to the (Ronde) Barbers and nickels that can play in the box and are a problem because they utilize their short stature and firmness. So to have those guys that are coverage players that can add to your physicality, I think that there's a snowball effect so fired up about that."
Q: How has T Patrick Paul been doing? What's your progress report on him?
"Patrick (Paul) has been doing great because he has to. Otherwise he would be miserable because you go in the grass against our edges – there's no days off. I think his growth has been monumental. I think he's one of the guys that you can feel a different energy based on earned confidence. He's like all the guys on the front seven – they're very eager for the pads to get on – however, they're training how to use appropriate technique so that you can play football without pads from a physical standpoint. HIs game's really developed. He is really one of the pillars of deliberate practice, I think, so where that lends his game is always positive which is why each and every day that he goes out and competes is a valuable day for his ascension."
Q: How is QB Quinn Ewers doing?
"Quinn Ewers is doing great. Rookies develop at different speeds, but regardless of their development, I think with Quinn it starts with a quarterback is a leader of men, and you can tell there is a personality trait within him that really, teammates gravitate to. I bring that up because as a rookie, a lot of times it's hard to see those things because rookies – I mean, it's embedded in failure – you mess something up to learn something and the guys kind of get quiet and lose their confidence. Quinn has learned, very smart, really starting to grasp timing stuff. But I think the whole quarterback room in general – I think Quinn has really benefitted from Zach (Wilson) really developing and then on top of that, Tua (Tagovailoa) leads the charge, so I think those guys are all pushing each other to grow as players and I think realistically Quinn's development is all him, but it's just as much coaching from the quarterback coaches and Zach and Tua, as him as well. They're creating a good environment that he has to keep up because the other two are rolling."
Q: I wanted to ask you for updates on two rookie defensive backs – S Dante Trader Jr. we haven't seen in a couple days. Is he injured? We saw CB BJ Adams carted off on Saturday. How's he doing?
"Trader – we're probably more preparing for a situation where we can see him compete and stay on the field in those joint practices, so that's kind of my measuring stick, is I want to see him consistently be on the field and then not have a regression. So we are taking the time up until that. I don't want to compromise that. He doesn't have to convince his teammates that he's all in, let's just say that. BJ (Adams) is doing well. It was one of those random football occurrences where you're playing football and you're chasing one receiver and there's some crossing patterns and there's an unintended collision, but he's in protocol and he's doing well."
Q: Year 2 under Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver. Just how important is that continuity in that role, just having that standard especially with the new guys?
"It's a great, great question in general, but the timing couldn't be better because it's National Anthony Weaver Day if you didn't know. It's his birthday – 45 years ago today he was birthed and now he's second-year coordinating. Really I think he's finding his groove. We were talking with some of the players – I want to say two days ago in a meeting – talking about the contents of the meeting were things that maybe we felt like we were able to get to much later in the process almost in season. So you want to talk about there's gigantic benefits not only from system consistency, but the reason Anthony Weaver is here is because – one of the main reasons I would say – is from an intentionality standpoint, he's in this profession to develop players passionately and gives everything he has to that process. There's exponential return on that in Year 2 because guys really – you can't hide from that consistency, so if you're consistent like that, guys truly believe your motivations and he's able to access and connect and I think guys trust his intentions which are pure more and more."
Q: Anything new on OL Aaron Brewer, S Ifeatu Melifonwu and TE Darren Waller?
"Brew (Aaron Brewer) we'll be sprinkling in some walkthrough settings this week so we're progressing there. 'Iffy' (Ifeatu Melifonwu) has been positive. I've been saying week-to-week, but after a player day off – who knows – he's coming soon. When that is, it's not too far away. (Darren Waller) is very active in his working time with Jon Embree. I feel great. Again, the biggest obstacle with him was you have a guy who's in tremendous shape but he hasn't played football, so we're not allowing his shape to trick us into thinking he's in football shape so we haven't had any setbacks with that."
Q: The last day before pads come on. How do you evaluate the guys without pads on especially the day before?
"I think you operate as though there's like an inherent understanding that pads aren't on, but you really coach through technique and fundamentals as they are on and understanding there's contact points and mass – there's things that change when the pads are on when you're watching a play without pads; however we try to minimize that gap. The players because of that are pretty excited for pads to come on. It's hot, it's sweaty, guys are frustrated, guys are physical, they're competitive. Pads are something that I think they'll embrace, but at the same time I'm very pumped about how are approaching our pad-less practice and we really just try to minimize the difference between the two because you can have tremendous gains of technique, fundamentals and how you play if you're able to get as close to pad-like practices without pads."
