Read the full transcript from Quarterback Quinn Ewers' press conference on Dec 17, 2025.
Q: What was your initial reaction to the news when Head Coach Mike McDaniel told you you would be starting this week?)
"It's a dream come true for me. I've always wanted to have the opportunity to play in the NFL, and for that to be coming is truly a blessing and I'm thankful for the opportunity. I'm just happy."
Q: You went from being the guy at Texas, to coming here and being the third stringer to now you're the guy again. Just walk me through the swing of emotions and also the patience you had to endure for the first however many weeks until this point?
"Definitely have been through a lot leading up to where I am now. At Texas, shoot, even in high school, I think that's all led me to where I am right now and I just lean back on my faith and that foundation that I think I've done a good job to build up and leaning into that. And leaning into – I try to figure out the reason why I'm here and I think the Lord has just always shown me a way, and again I just try to lean on that because it's a strong foundation at the end of the day."
Q: What do you think you've shown the coaches behind the scenes that made it clear from your perspective that you should be the guy?
"I think just preparing week in and week out with the mental, whether I'm playing or not, just the mentality that I am going in there to play and trying to be ready. At the end of the day that's our jobs, me and Zach (Wilson), and any backup quarterback in the NFL; is to be ready when your name is called. I think I've done a good job of studying even though I'm not getting any reps with the ones prior to this week. I think I've done a good job showing them that."
Q: You talked about your foundation a minute ago and I know your family is part of that and they're going to be here on Sunday to watch you. When you reflect back working with your dad and throwing the football around, what stands out for you? How important was that in helping you get to where you are today?
"I think it's super important. I think it's very important. I think our father figures are the most important people in our lives until we turn 18, even so on, but just having that father figure growing up was huge for me and I know he's proud of me and I'm happy that he's proud of me, and I can't wait to just go out there and enjoy the memories with them."
Q: Head Coach Mike McDaniel told us he brought the quarterbacks room together. What were the conversations like with you and QB Tua Tagovailoa? He told us that he's ready to help you in any way that he can. Can you share some of those conversations you've had with him?)
"In Tua's shoes it's tough. Last year I was benched in the middle of a game last year so I know how he feels and it's a bad feeling. This morning, we figured out and even within these hours he's helped me a ton, obviously because the guys are used to him being in there so I have to do some minute things, some of his mannerisms and the cadence and how he shifts people and whatnot, and who shifts on themselves sometimes. He's been really helpful in a tough situation and I know a frustrating situation that he's in."
Q: What does this opportunity present for you?
"I think just to go out there and at the end of the day play the football that I know. It's a wonderful opportunity and I'm super thankful that the staff believes in me to go out there and give us an opportunity to go win an NFL football game. I know going back on it, telling my 10-year-old, 12-year-old self the opportunity that I have in front of me, he'd be pretty stoked."
Q: The similarities in the offense you ran at Texas to what you're running here at the Dolphins, how much does that help you?
"It's very similar. We both like to motion a lot, like to add a lot of eye candy to the defense, and we run a lot of the same schemes., which has helped a lot. (Steve) Sarkisian was in Atlanta running the same type of offense so it's only helped for sure."
Q: I've heard the phrase gunslinger, which excites fans and media types. "He's a gunslinger." How do you balance the desire to be an aggressive quarterback with the knowledge that turnovers are a killer in this league?
"There's a couple of stats that really matter in the wins and losses column and I think that's turnover margin so it's definitely very important, but at the same time you want to be able to play with that conviction and the aggression to where you're not hesitant. There is definitely a happy medium in that for sure."
Q: I heard that word conviction a lot with coach this morning kind of talking about you being the starting quarterback. How have the last seven months of developing your game here helped further your conviction here as a quarterback?
"With time and reps you get more comfortable within the offense and I think that – me and Zach (Wilson) don't get a ton of reps within the offense, but at the end of the day it's our job to show them that we're convicted in what we do. I think Coach (McDaniel) does a really good job of harping on conviction over perfection, which I think allows us to play and have no fear of failure at the end of the day."
Q: How much confidence did you get in that little time that you did get to play? There were some good things that you were able to do. Does that carry over to this start?
"I feel like it's been forever since then. It's definitely good, it felt good to get some playing time. It won't be my first regular season snaps. It definitely adds some of that stability for sure."
Q: What do you take away from that? Just what do you remember from getting in there?
"I remember being a little frantic so I'll try to calm down a little bit."
Q: Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were known for not having their backups get any snaps in practice. I'm just curious how many snaps would you say you got through a regular practice week?
"I got scout team reps. Me or Zach (Wilson) didn't get any of the game plan reps or anything like that, base game plan or anything, but at the end of the day it's our job to be ready when our name's called."
Q: You're almost like a freshman all over again this year. What has that taught you about game day prep as you sit and you watch QB Tua Tagovailoa and you watch QB Zach Wilson? What has that experience taught you?
"It's easier when you don't have to go to class. (laughter) You have more time because at the end of the day you can call it that. We're studying the game so I guess that's our class, but we have a lot more time to deep dive into the game plan, base game plan, red zone. Watching Tua in game and in practice has helped a lot because he's been successful in this league. He's definitely a good one to look up to and watch."
Q: Not having to go to class, was that a learning curve for you at all figuring out what to do with the time you would otherwise spend on school?
"Yeah, finding that routine I think is very important. I've had to kind of figure out what works for me without playing. Now I kind of have to find one that works while playing for now."
Q: You just said that you were stoked, but what is that level of excitement knowing that this is something that you've worked for since you were little, probably in Pee Wee doing all the football things, in college, and now here becoming the starter on Sunday?
"I think it's just a testament to not only myself but everyone who's helped me along the way. It's cool to get text messages from people like that, that are happy for you, who have helped you out along the way and it's just cool to see stuff like that."
Q: Your first NFL start, you're going to be going against Bengals QB Joe Borrow on the other side. What do you think about dueling potentially against him?
"It's pretty cool to go against a guy of his talent in my first start. A couple of guys who went to Ohio State I guess, so we'll see. (laughter) It's going to be a lot of fun to get to play against a quarterback of his caliber."
