November 29, 2025 • 6 mins
Interim head coach Mike Kafka speaks to the media Saturday from the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Everyone will be doing some work today. I'm sorry, he's
(00:05):
gonna do some work today. So let's evaluated after after today.
Just today, how's Jackson looked. Yeah, he's had a couple
of good days put together. You know, no more important
than today in the red zone. So it's a good
emphasis for us. We got some good some new stuff
in excuse me, So we're working through some of those
(00:28):
mechanics and details. But he's doing a good job.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Right.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
How much you can handle Jackson differently in game, if
at all coming off for concussion.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
You're certainly you know, you're mindful of it and you
understand that. But I think you know, the game will
kind of declare itself and you know, get into the game.
We have our openers, things that we like early in
the game, so we'll roll with those and then be
able to adjust as the kind of the flow of
the game determines itself.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Wow, we're think stame with the debo. I think he's
been limited all week. Got to it out for a while.
Just what's his outlook for this week?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah, he looks, he looked good, had a good day yesterday.
So we'll continue to get some work today and then
you know, we'll make a call, you know, kind of
after how today it works out.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I don't have the exact number, but your opening drive
touchdown rate has to be through the roof. And I
just heard you say the word you have your open
ears that you're like, why do you think that is?
Why are you guys so successful getting in the end
zone on first possessions.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
It just goes back to the players just being dialed
into what, you know, the early part of the game.
You know, starting fast and then going out there and executing.
You know, they're just doing a nice job of executing. Continue,
It's the same drives whether it's on third down or
on fourth down, and then you get opportunities in the
red zone. They're just doing a good job of executing.
So hats off to those guys for making it making
it work, and then hats off to the coaching staff.
(01:42):
We'll getting the other a good plan that they can
go execute fast.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Talking about Jackson's TK was talking about jackson situational awareness.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
How have you seen him grow into that and that development?
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah, absolutely, you see it. You see it from week
to week. Each each week that he started, it's grown
and grown and grown. And then you know, really. You know,
the last time he played in Chicago, there were some
of those examples of his situation where he's third down,
where he need to get down, when he needed to
get a first down, when he knew to make a
big play with his feet or with his arm and scramble.
So you know, he's continued to build off of that.
(02:15):
He's watching the veteran guys who stepped in while he
was out and watched James do the same thing and
continue to learn and grow. But as a young player,
that's you're you're absorbing all of those experiences and continue
to build your own game.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
What have you seen him pick up from Jams? I
guess have you talked about what he saw off from.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Well, you know when you're when you watch the tape
and you look at the corrections or look at the
things that James did really well, whether it was the
fourth and tent scramble with his legs, you know at
the end of the game, or you know, stepping up
and delivering a shot when there's you know, defenders right
in your face. You know, those are this experience he
can continue to see and watch how the veterans rack
to those type of plays and then you know, build
it and kind of work it within himself and how
(02:52):
he would do in those situations.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
The third week in this role, I'm sure that first
week was probably kind of crazy. I don't know as
it settled down, like where, like, what is this experience
been like for you? Come taking over in midstream?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Like this, it's been, It's been. It's been a great
experience so far, just being able to deal with everybody
and work with everybody together and kind of get everyone
on the same page as best I can. And you know,
today's today's a super important day. You know, I haven't
had a lot of time to reflect on the whole experience,
but you know, today's a super important day. I'm excited
for the players to come out here and work through
the red zone game plan.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
You've interviewed for a bunch of jobs, you've obviously thought of.
It would be like if you became head coach. How
different is it though? When you take you can't change
as much obviously as you probably would like. When you're
you know, coming in on the fly like this, how
you try to balance what you do change what you
just acted.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yeah, yeah, no, that's that's good thought. Because I've you
try and take little bits and pieces, And again, I
guess one of the biggest intent that we had was
not just the change, just because it was just having
a really intent and it was all built around just
the players and how we can maximize the football time
in the building and eliminate some of the dead time
and time where you know, it's not meeting time or whatever, like,
(03:55):
let's just really confine it and make it really, really
efficient for our players. When they're in the building, it's
a ball, it's all football, it's getting your body right,
and then it's all ball we're on the practice field,
we get off the practice field right into meetings, going
through the corrections and getting those things cleaned up. So
that was really my focus and emphasis, and you know,
took bits and pieces from places I've been in the
past and just try to make it a little bit
(04:15):
cleaner in my opinion, for the players.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
The changing of the defensive coordinators, how much has that
shifted your time and your energy to certain places throughout
this week maybe and compared to the past too.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah, I'd say it's similar. Just you know, as I'm
working through it myself, I'm learning a little bit more
about myself and how I want to organize that a
little bit better. So I'm trying to be more efficient
with my time. Of course, I still have to stay
on top of all the offensive stuff, but being able
there and just go and communicate with the special teams
coordinator defensive coordinator, like just talk through what's in the game,
and just kind of touch base as we get through,
(04:47):
you know, kind of each night, late late at night,
just touch base with each other and make sure we're
on the same page. But yeah, I'm working through that
myself and continue to get better at it.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
About cave on either this is I think it's started
a fourth game. How's he doing? And it is just
something that might shut him down for the season At
this point.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I think it's too soon to tell. I think he's
working his tail off to get back and get better,
and our doctors are taking care of him. And again
he's he's attacking. I see him in the building getting
the rehab. So he's working his tail off to get
back in better force.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
The veto will be on the other team. You've worked
with first round picks, You've worked with veteran guys. Obviously
his story was a little bit unique. What was that
like and what do you see him as in this
league going forward?
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, I mean the Vito's di Vidos, in my opinions,
is a starter in this league. He does a nice job.
He's always been he has started in this league, so
of course I see him that way. What a great
person what a great personality. Always brought energy to the room,
brought energy to the group, rough energy to the offense.
You know, a guy that I'm proud of for where
he began, you know, as a tryout type guy and
(05:51):
stepping up and kind of being in the room and
learning to be a pro. And then when he got
his opportunity, he took advantage of it and you know
once in big games. One once some once in big
games for us and a lot of great memories with
the Vita.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
What do you remember, first of like your first encounters
with him?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Oh yeah, you can you can ask the Vito about
that one. We had a we had a couple of
good conversations as a young player. But again for his
for him like his growth, his maturity, and he really
just took took from that room just every day to
continue to improve and was probably one of our most
improved players from day one to day thirty today sixty
to day ninety, like just overtime, ended up being one
(06:28):
of our most improved players through the course of that
Everyone will be doing some work today. I'm sorry, he's
(00:05):
gonna do some work today. So let's evaluated after after today.
Just today, how's Jackson looked. Yeah, he's had a couple
of good days put together. You know, no more important
than today in the red zone. So it's a good
emphasis for us. We got some good some new stuff
in excuse me, So we're working through some of those
(00:28):
mechanics and details. But he's doing a good job.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Right.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
How much you can handle Jackson differently in game, if
at all coming off for concussion.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
You're certainly you know, you're mindful of it and you
understand that. But I think you know, the game will
kind of declare itself and you know, get into the game.
We have our openers, things that we like early in
the game, so we'll roll with those and then be
able to adjust as the kind of the flow of
the game determines itself.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Wow, we're think stame with the debo. I think he's
been limited all week. Got to it out for a while.
Just what's his outlook for this week?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Yeah, he looks, he looked good, had a good day yesterday.
So we'll continue to get some work today and then
you know, we'll make a call, you know, kind of
after how today it works out.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I don't have the exact number, but your opening drive
touchdown rate has to be through the roof. And I
just heard you say the word you have your open
ears that you're like, why do you think that is?
Why are you guys so successful getting in the end
zone on first possessions.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
It just goes back to the players just being dialed
into what, you know, the early part of the game.
You know, starting fast and then going out there and executing.
You know, they're just doing a nice job of executing. Continue,
It's the same drives whether it's on third down or
on fourth down, and then you get opportunities in the
red zone. They're just doing a good job of executing.
So hats off to those guys for making it making
it work, and then hats off to the coaching staff.
(01:42):
We'll getting the other a good plan that they can
go execute fast.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Talking about Jackson's TK was talking about jackson situational awareness.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
How have you seen him grow into that and that development?
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah, absolutely, you see it. You see it from week
to week. Each each week that he started, it's grown
and grown and grown. And then you know, really. You know,
the last time he played in Chicago, there were some
of those examples of his situation where he's third down,
where he need to get down, when he needed to
get a first down, when he knew to make a
big play with his feet or with his arm and scramble.
So you know, he's continued to build off of that.
(02:15):
He's watching the veteran guys who stepped in while he
was out and watched James do the same thing and
continue to learn and grow. But as a young player,
that's you're you're absorbing all of those experiences and continue
to build your own game.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
What have you seen him pick up from Jams? I
guess have you talked about what he saw off from.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Well, you know when you're when you watch the tape
and you look at the corrections or look at the
things that James did really well, whether it was the
fourth and tent scramble with his legs, you know at
the end of the game, or you know, stepping up
and delivering a shot when there's you know, defenders right
in your face. You know, those are this experience he
can continue to see and watch how the veterans rack
to those type of plays and then you know, build
it and kind of work it within himself and how
(02:52):
he would do in those situations.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
The third week in this role, I'm sure that first
week was probably kind of crazy. I don't know as
it settled down, like where, like, what is this experience
been like for you? Come taking over in midstream?
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Like this, it's been, It's been. It's been a great
experience so far, just being able to deal with everybody
and work with everybody together and kind of get everyone
on the same page as best I can. And you know,
today's today's a super important day. You know, I haven't
had a lot of time to reflect on the whole experience,
but you know, today's a super important day. I'm excited
for the players to come out here and work through
the red zone game plan.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
You've interviewed for a bunch of jobs, you've obviously thought of.
It would be like if you became head coach. How
different is it though? When you take you can't change
as much obviously as you probably would like. When you're
you know, coming in on the fly like this, how
you try to balance what you do change what you
just acted.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
Yeah, yeah, no, that's that's good thought. Because I've you
try and take little bits and pieces, And again, I
guess one of the biggest intent that we had was
not just the change, just because it was just having
a really intent and it was all built around just
the players and how we can maximize the football time
in the building and eliminate some of the dead time
and time where you know, it's not meeting time or whatever, like,
(03:55):
let's just really confine it and make it really, really
efficient for our players. When they're in the building, it's
a ball, it's all football, it's getting your body right,
and then it's all ball we're on the practice field,
we get off the practice field right into meetings, going
through the corrections and getting those things cleaned up. So
that was really my focus and emphasis, and you know,
took bits and pieces from places I've been in the
past and just try to make it a little bit
(04:15):
cleaner in my opinion, for the players.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
The changing of the defensive coordinators, how much has that
shifted your time and your energy to certain places throughout
this week maybe and compared to the past too.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Yeah, I'd say it's similar. Just you know, as I'm
working through it myself, I'm learning a little bit more
about myself and how I want to organize that a
little bit better. So I'm trying to be more efficient
with my time. Of course, I still have to stay
on top of all the offensive stuff, but being able
there and just go and communicate with the special teams
coordinator defensive coordinator, like just talk through what's in the game,
and just kind of touch base as we get through,
(04:47):
you know, kind of each night, late late at night,
just touch base with each other and make sure we're
on the same page. But yeah, I'm working through that
myself and continue to get better at it.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
About cave on either this is I think it's started
a fourth game. How's he doing? And it is just
something that might shut him down for the season At
this point.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I think it's too soon to tell. I think he's
working his tail off to get back and get better,
and our doctors are taking care of him. And again
he's he's attacking. I see him in the building getting
the rehab. So he's working his tail off to get
back in better force.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
The veto will be on the other team. You've worked
with first round picks, You've worked with veteran guys. Obviously
his story was a little bit unique. What was that
like and what do you see him as in this
league going forward?
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, I mean the Vito's di Vidos, in my opinions,
is a starter in this league. He does a nice job.
He's always been he has started in this league, so
of course I see him that way. What a great
person what a great personality. Always brought energy to the room,
brought energy to the group, rough energy to the offense.
You know, a guy that I'm proud of for where
he began, you know, as a tryout type guy and
(05:51):
stepping up and kind of being in the room and
learning to be a pro. And then when he got
his opportunity, he took advantage of it and you know
once in big games. One once some once in big
games for us and a lot of great memories with
the Vita.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
What do you remember, first of like your first encounters
with him?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Oh yeah, you can you can ask the Vito about
that one. We had a we had a couple of
good conversations as a young player. But again for his
for him like his growth, his maturity, and he really
just took took from that room just every day to
continue to improve and was probably one of our most
improved players from day one to day thirty today sixty
to day ninety, like just overtime, ended up being one
(06:28):
of our most improved players through the course of that
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