Interim Head Coach Mike Kafka

MIKE KAFKA: All right. So just a couple minor things. Nothing too serious. They're getting looked at right now. Normal guys that were in and out. Obviously, (defensive lineman) Dex (Lawrence) battled through for us with the illness. Primarily in a third down role but did a nice job when he was asked to go out there, had an impact.

Q. Mike, with everything that's happened this year, what does a two-game win streak mean for you all?

MIKE KAFKA: I'm just really proud of the players and the coaches for hanging tough, putting in the work every single day, every single week. They never wavered. They never wavered. I know the results weren't there, but the process was right. The way they went about it, the competitive stamina, they went about it to turn this thing around the last couple weeks and make a statement in terms of how they played and how they prepared, how they practiced. Just really cool. Really proud of them. Obviously, seeing these guys in the locker room, the smiles on their faces. The season wasn't what we all wanted, but they finished it the right way.

Q. What do you say to (wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski) in terms of not getting his second touchdown pass?

MIKE KAFKA: I'm sure he wants that one back. I'm proud of him. 100 yards receiving today, stepped up in the role when (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) goes down, one of our premiere receivers. He steps right into that spot and has production like that. Huge critical third downs. Big plays down the field one-on-one. They played a bunch of man coverage, and Gunner took advantage of it.

Q. Mike, what are your emotions as we come to the end of the season? You don't know what's going to happen next.

MIKE KAFKA: I'm not really thinking about that. I'm thinking about this great win we just had and enjoying this with the players and the coaches and the family. We had a bunch of family in town as well today so I'm looking forward to enjoying that tonight.

Q. Mike, did it mean anything more to you? The first couple weeks after you took over, it didn't go so well. You got the win against the Raiders and get this one too in front of the fans, your family in attendance. Does it mean something to you?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah. All these games are so important. They mean a lot because we put a lot into it. We spend a lot of time at the facility, spend a lot of time away from your family, spend a lot of time studying and having to figure out and have problems and find solutions. You spend a lot of time talking about it. It ends up being this is a people business so you've got to work with people and you've got to find solutions that make it the best for what those players are and what's best for the team. So, you have those conversations and basically the entire day is all you're thinking about is the players, the team, the organization. What puts these guys in the best position. So, yeah, absolutely, these mean more because there's people that are involved. There's families that are involved. You want to do the best for them.

Q. Mike, (quarterback) Jaxson (Dart) got off to a little slow start but picked it up. What did you see in him?

MIKE KAFKA: I thought offensively, we just had a couple drives early in the game that we could have executed at a higher level. I think there were a couple calls I'd like to have back as well. Just not finishing in the red zone, I really thought we could have taken more control of the game earlier if we'd finished some drives in the red zone. We took some field goals, which was still good. Kept us in the flow of it. But there was a couple missed opportunities, whether it was penalties or whether it was a poor play call, which I thought I had a couple of those I want back. I'll go back and look at it. I'd say the early start of that, I could have helped Jaxson out better.

Q. What does it mean for (running back) Tyrone (Tracy Jr.) to get over 100 yards today?

MIKE KAFKA: It was great. He became the third (player) in Giants history to have 1,000-yard back-to-back seasons (from scrimmage in his first two seasons) so that was a cool milestone for him. You weren't in the locker room, but he gave a lot of praise to the offensive line, the tight ends, the coaches. Those are the guys. He understands that. He understands it's an 11-man operation and those guys make it go. He has to make plays as well. He did. He had opportunities today. He knew he was close to that milestone. It was cool for him to get. It's a pretty big deal when you talk about the history of the Giants, and he's the third player to do that. That's pretty cool for him.

Q. Can you talk about the performance of (kicker) Ben Sauls today?

MIKE KAFKA: Yeah, Ben has been lights out. He's been doing a really good job for us. He had some opportunities with the extra points and the field goals early in the game to keep the us up, and he was nailing them.

Q. What was your message to the team postgame today in the locker room?

MIKE KAFKA: Postgame, I just told them how proud I was of them for competing, for finishing the right way. Throughout the week, teams can go one of two ways. These guys just kept on staying on it, kept on preparing the right way, giving themselves the best opportunity to get out here and get a win. Then they came out and played it the right way. They had a great mindset. They were tackling and running and blocking. And then they were making plays, which at the end of the day, that's what it's about. Your best players making plays. You had (inside linebacker) Bobby Okereke with an interception, a huge one on their side of the field that set us up for a touchdown there. Then you have players like Gunner who steps up in a role and are making plays down the field. Ben Sauls, early in the game, we sputtered in the red zone, he steps up and makes a play for us and hits the field goal. Really proud of those guys for stepping up.

Q. Was there a point when you were named interim coach, how long did it take you and the staff to get into the rhythm you wanted them to have?

MIKE KAFKA: I really wasn't concerned about when we were going to get into a rhythm. I think very early on, myself communicating as clearly as I can the standards and how we're going to operate. That was, on my end of it, reinforcing that, what I thought was important and giving it to them. These guys are a great coaching staff to work with. They're great coaches. So, we've been on the same page. I've been working with them all year, all season. Now it's in just a little bit different role. Just being really clear with them with what I was expecting. If anything ever came up, we communicated, collaborated, and got it fixed.

Q. You talked this year about Jaxson's growth. Now after these last two games, two rushing touchdowns last game, two passing touchdowns, discipline with his running a little bit more. What can you say about his growth from when he started this journey to now where he is at the end of the season?

MIKE KAFKA: He's a young quarterback. You're going to go through those ups and downs, that's really normal. So, we felt like there might have been a little bit when he had a couple rough games, like it's going to swing. Oh, he's this or that. I think Jaxson has done a good job of just staying with his process, going through and continuing to ramp up his communication with the players and continuing to work his tail off to get the little things cleaned up, the details, his footwork, the mechanics, his eye progression. I thought Jaxson blocked out all that noise. You see just a player continuing to grow and continuing to learn. The more reps he's getting, the more information he's going to bank. Now you can springboard that into the off-season where now he's going to continue to grow and learn. All those things that we kind of went through the first time around, now he's seen it two, three, four, five times now. That memory bank's going to kick in for him because he rarely makes the same mistake twice. This is going to be a great off-season for him. It was a great way for him to cap off the season.

Q. What did you think about the way he bounced back from the game against the Vikings these past two games? He seemed to hit his stride. What did you think about his ability to brush that off and bounce back?

MIKE KAFKA: These are all the qualities we saw very early on with him in the draft process. His ability after an interception or after a bad play, what does he do the very next play? You study that and look at it. Hey, we're stepping up, he's throwing a big-time shot. Or he steps up and throws a touchdown, or he runs and scrambles and gets a big play. So, he has a very quick memory in that sense and that's a good quality to have for a quarterback. When things go wrong, you flush it, you move on, you get back on track and get back on the attack. I know Jaxson has that mindset, that aggressive mentality to do that and he's shown it.

Q. Going into the off-season, now is when you develop and putting plans in place for the team. Given the interim status, how do you approach that?

MIKE KAFKA: I haven't looked that far ahead. We're just going to enjoy tonight. We have plans laid out. We've had those conversations. Right now, it's a great night to enjoy it with the team, with the staff and the families.

Q. Mike, (President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Director) John Mara has some personal stuff going on. We know that, I'm not going to get into it. How important was it to win the last game and put a smile on his face?

MIKE KAFKA: It was great. It's great to have him around, to have him around the facility and the players and the coaches. He brings that energy to the locker room. He was there today. We presented him with a game ball. Talk about toughness and resiliency, he's the poster child for that. Coming up and continuing to lead our organization, very happy and very proud and very fortunate to work for a man like that.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q. Could you describe the emotions after this one in the locker room and everything this entailed?

JAXSON DART: Obviously, this is the last time this group is able to go out on the field together. We wanted to make the most of it; we just wanted to make the most of our opportunities together and I'm just proud of the guys that we were able to stay together this week and put together a good plan and then be out there on the field and compete at a high level. I didn't feel like there was any guys who really took it off or lowered the intensity. So, it's a way better feeling to win a game like this for sure.

Q. What's it like having (wide receiver) Gunner (Olszewski) in there? Did you have any quarterback tips for him to set his feet differently?

JAXSON DART: Shoot. I feel bad for him and (tight end) Chris (Manhertz) on that one. I know they both want that back. But Gunner played a great game, and he was very prepared all throughout the week. He's a guy in the locker room that everybody loves. I knew that him coming up and filling a role this week, I knew that I was going to get everything that he had. He's just a guy that competes at a really high level, who you can trust, who is going to give it his all. I was proud and happy he was able to get 100 today. But, yeah, we've got to talk about that throw for sure. We can't let that slide.

Q. Can you talk about how you would describe what you had to do on the play for (tight end Daniel) Bellinger to score the touchdown?

JAXSON DART: Oh, yeah. Just had a double-sided screen, fake to one side. The guy got up field fast so I was like, crap, I've got to make something happen here. He kind of got my face mask so it made me stumble a little bit. I knew that he was kind of a little scotch-free so I just tried to give him an opportunity. He got his knees up when he was running so he looked good scoring that touchdown. I was happy for him. It was a good play for our team.

Q. What do you mean that you felt like you had to make something happen?

JAXSON DART: Just gotta make it happen. Gotta flip it.

Q. Have you been able to build a relationship with (President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Director) John Mara since you've been here, and what does it mean to win this one for him?

JAXSON DART: Obviously, he's going through a lot so the fact that he shows up for us, still comes to the facility to work, and he just loves ball. He loves this organization. He gives it everything that he has. From my perspective and everybody around here just has the utmost respect for him and is rooting for him and praying for him. I just think that he's a special individual and to continue to support us while he's going through probably the hardest time of his life right now just says a lot.

Q. What was it like to see him get the game ball?

JAXSON DART: It was sweet. It was just a good moment for us as a team and for him to be the leader of our organization for sure. So, I was definitely happy for that.

Q. Obviously, you're relatively new and he's dealing with what he's dealing with. How much have you been able to build a relationship with him?

JAXSON DART: We talk, like, when we have the opportunities, when he's at the facility, and we are texting each other as well. So, it's been cool to create that relationship between each other, even though he's going through this. Like I said, I have the utmost respect for him. He's the head of everything in bringing me in here. So, I was happy that we were able to finish the season with a win.

Q. Can you talk about the connection with (running back) Tyrone Tracy?

JAXSON DART: Tracy is a baller. He's a guy who can do a little bit of everything. He's just a back that's so dependable in the pass game and the run game and does a good job with protections as well.

He's a really positive spirit throughout the locker room too. So, I just love growing a relationship with him. We know we're going to play with each other for a long time. So, this is just a steppingstone for us of what we see our future like. So, I was happy for him being able to reach that benchmark today as well.

Q. It's been a long losing streak against the Cowboys and against (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) Dak Prescott specifically. How do you feel to be a part of snapping those streaks?

JAXSON DART: Yeah, honestly, I don't even know what the streak is.

Q. Nine games, I believe, regular season games, 14 against Dak.

JAXSON DART: That's crazy. Well, that's good to stop that for sure. Dak's a helluva player. I know that the rivalry between the Cowboys and the Giants goes way back so it was definitely a good week of prep for us to come out and put on the performance that we did. I haven't been part of that. Hopefully, we can get things back on track.

Q. Jaxson, I know you're team first. How satisfying is it, how good is it for you to finish strong, two wins playing really well heading into the off-season program?

JAXSON DART: Definitely a better feeling than it being flipped. But I'm confident in myself. Every time I step on the field, I feel like I'm a player who can shift the game, change it in a way for our team to win. That's just the kind of confidence that I have from how I prepare each and every day, how I compete. So, I was proud of being able to bounce back from that Minnesota game and to have two solid weeks to come out with wins going into this off-season. Things are going to change here.

Q. Why do you say that? What makes you so certain things are going to change here? What makes you think you're heading in that direction?

JAXSON DART: Because there's no other option. That's how I see it. I'm not going to lead in a way that's not having the highest expectation in mind with everybody around me. I know we have guys in place that have that same mindset. (Linebacker) Abdul (Carter) gave a talk at the end of us breaking it down as well. So, we just have that energy and the outlook that it's just the only way it can go.

Q. Jaxson, there are a number of quarterbacks who went through issues. (Chicago Bears quarterback) Caleb Williams, (New England Patriots quarterback) Drake Maye. They turned it around, and both of those guys are headed to the playoffs. Is that what your focus is that this doesn't have to be a 3-4 year rebuild, that you guys can do that next year?

JAXSON DART: Absolutely. Absolutely. We can't accept what happened this year to happen ever again. I'm excited for the off-season to grow that culture and help put my hand in it. But it's going to have me and everybody else sick that we're going to have to watch other teams play, and we've got to make sure that we don't let that happen again.

Q. What was your favorite part of the season?

JAXSON DART: I don't know if I could point out one moment. I would just say probably just like the relationships that I've built here from my teammates to the coaches to everybody involved in the organization. Just a lot of really good people here. I don't think that -- you don't really know what you're stepping into at times going up from college to the NFL because you hear it's more business, like the locker room's different. But I've just been really impressed by the type of character that we have in this organization and just grateful to be able to make those relationships for a lifetime.

Q. Jaxson, I know you've been focused on your primary job, your professional job. Have you been sneaking a peek at your alma mater?

JAXSON DART: Hell yeah. We're rollin'. I'm excited. I'm going to be at the game this next one in Arizona and supporting those guys and they've got a squad. They've got a lot of guys who are playing with a chip on their shoulder and with a purpose. So, I'm excited to see them go make a run at it, and it's going to be a really cool thing to be able to experience from the outside.

Q. Jaxson, talking about the touchdown pass to Bellinger, Bellinger said that there's just something about you that makes believing impossible is possible. From your perspective, what about your game or your personality or how you approach things allows other people to believe?

JAXSON DART: That's very nice of him to say. I just try to give everything I have when I'm on the field. I try to be a spark, and I definitely want people to believe because I believe. And really the biggest thing is I have the utmost confidence, regardless of who's playing. Today, offensively, it was like we went out there with our starters. We had a lot of guys down, and I just have the utmost confidence in all the guys around me to make plays, and I try to give that belief to everybody around me. I just want the guys to know regardless of the situation, I'm going to give it my all to win the game. That was very nice for him to say.

Running Back Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Q: Could you talk about the touchdown? And how does it feel when you hear them play your song?

TRACY JR.: Honestly, I'm so in the zone that I can't even hear it. But obviously, they'll be telling me all the stuff. But the touchdown was nice. It was actually a different look than we got the whole week. They (the Cowboys defense) came out in man. We were preparing for quarters. But obviously, a touchdown's a touchdown. I'm just blessed that he (quarterback Jaxson Dart) threw the ball.

Q: 1000 yards from scrimmage. How does that feel to you—especially at the end of that game, it felt like they were trying to get you the ball. You felt good about that?
TRACY JR.: I think they knew what I needed going in. I knew what I needed going in. But to be honest, that really wasn't on the forefront of my mind. Obviously, I wanted to have a good game, but you can't really press for the yards. You can't press to make a play. You've got to allow it to come to you. And I really just had a good game. If you watch it, I had a couple runs that were one yard, two yards. I had a couple catches that were zero yards, one yard. As the game goes, you allow the game to come to you. And I've got an amazing o-line up front; they're doing an amazing job. And tight ends are doing work and a quarterback that's looking to get me the ball. When you have an offense like that that's really working with you, good things happen.

Q: How was it in here afterwards giving the game ball to (President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Director) John Mara?
TRACY JR.: It was amazing. Obviously, he's going through something that a lot of us can't even think of and fathom. So, for us to give him the ball, that's really just us telling him, 'We're here with you. We're thinking of you. We're praying for you.' We just want him to know that 'You're not in this alone.'

Q: His father always said, 'Beating the Cowboys is different.' Do you sense that?

TRACY JR.: I want to say this is the first time in four years or something like that--that we beat them?

Q: It's been nine in a row.

TRACY JR.: That's longer than I thought, but to get a win today was obviously big to end a season but going into next season. And obviously, it feels a little bit better when you beat the Cowboys.

Defensive Lineman Dexter Lawrence

Q: Dexter, back-to-back wins to finish out the season. I know how much losing hurts and I know much winning feels good, so how do you feel right now?

LAWRENCE II: Sick (laughs). But I'm happy with how we fought these last two games. It would've been easy to roll over, but we finished strong.

Q: You have had nine-straight losses to the Cowboys until today. I know you know what that is like in this rivalry.

LAWRENCE II: No doubt; it feels great to beat them. It's been a long time, and it just feels good.

Q: What do you want people to know about what you guys did in this strong finish that can help boost things going into the off-season?

LAWRENCE II: Honestly, just the fight and the want-to and the care for each other. That never changed throughout the whole year with everything that has happened. The fight that we have, the care, and the love for the game.

Q: As far as the X's-and-O's on the field, what was the best thing that improved over the final month that you guys believe you can carry over into next season in 2026?

LAWRENCE II: I think doing the little things right and holding guys accountable. Those guys responded.

Wide Receiver Gunner Olszewski

It was awesome to go out like that. Shoutout to all the guys. Shoutout to (Giants QB Jaxson) Dart for believing in me. It was a lot of fun. Most fun I've had in football.

Q: How much trouble did (Giants TE) Chris (Manhertz) give you after that short pass?

OLSZEWSKI: He didn't give me none. It's on my phone. It's all the rest of the guys. It's on me.

Q: Needless to say, your first one-hundred-yard game as a receiver and with anybody in the NFL…

OLSZEWSKI: In my life.

Q: In your life, too? Also college?

OLSZEWSKI: Sure, yeah. I didn't play receiver in college, so yeah.

Q: Alright, so that's got to be a pretty proud moment, especially since it came in a game when a lot of people said it doesn't really matter.

OLSZEWSKI: Sure, yeah. Maybe it don't matter to them, but to all the guys who put on this jersey and put on this helmet, it matters to us. It was a lot of fun to go out there and do what my team needed me to do. Step up in situations when somebody gets hurt. As a backup and special teamer, that's kind of what your job is.

Q: And I think that's important for people to understand because you're not a first-round draft pick, right, you're one of those guys on the depth chart. You play special teams. For you, especially, why is getting wins is a critical deal.

OLSZEWSKI: For sure. Nothing is guaranteed for guys like me and I wouldn't have it any other way, so every time I step on the field it's a fight to keep doing what I love to do so that's how I look at it.

Q: How much do you love playing with Jaxson Dart?
OLSZEWSKI: I love it more than anything. I was at 98 yards, and they had a different play called and Jaxson was like, we've got to get him two more yards, and he just went in the huddle, called his own play, called my shot and I was like, my guy, bro. I love it.