Interim Head Coach Mike Kafka

KAFKA: Just a couple things on the injury front, we sent (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) home, just an illness. Same thing with (tight end) Theo (Johnson) and (wide receiver) Jalin Hyatt. (Wide receiver) Beaux Collins is out, (cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott is out for today, (safety Jevón) Holland's out for today, (offensive lineman) Evan Neal and (wide receiver) Wan'Dale (Robinson) is out for today. Just holding them back just from stuff in the game, so we'll see how they progress throughout the week. Everyone else will get some work done.

Q: How does it look for Jevón? Is it something serious down the road?

KAFKA: No, we're going to progress and see how it goes through the week. He's getting treatment and stuff, so we'll kind of just take it day by day.

Q: So it doesn't look like anything long term?

KAFKA: I think it's just too early to tell, but he's getting treatment and stuff and he's still in the concussion protocol as well, so we're kind of working through that as well as working through the knee.

Q: What about Wan'Dale? What happened to him?

KAFKA: Ribs, just from the game, some soreness. So again, just holding him out today.

Q: What would it mean for you and for the team to finish out the season with a win Sunday?

KAFKA: I think for us as a group, I think the most important thing is today. We're not looking too far down the road. Yeah, we want to find a way to get a win, but we've got to prepare that way, we've got to practice that way, mentally, physically. So for us, we're just focused on today, not getting too overstrung out on things in the future. Just what's most important today is just getting our work in, getting our work ready for it.

Q: Have you decided as far as guys like (outside linebacker Brian) Burns, (defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II) Dex, if they're going to play or how long they're going to play? Have you guys come up with a plan yet for that?

KAFKA: We have a plan and we're playing the game. Everyone's rolling all the way through.

Q: So your normal second half, you wouldn't…?

KAFKA: No, we're not even thinking that way at all. Going straight through. Straight through all 60 minutes or whatever it takes.

Q: Speaking of whatever it takes, the last game against Dallas, obviously, went into overtime. How far away does that seem right now? Did you go back and watch it and say, oh, I forgot that happened?

KAFKA: Yeah, you review it and it's like, you look at their team, you look at our team, it's a completely different unit. You have to be able to make adjustments throughout the season. You see how they've grown, how they've adjusted their scheme, how they've adjusted their personnel. Same thing with us, how we're adjusting, how we're operating, we're playing now. So, you still have to look at that because there are tendencies, there are things that we've done, there are things that were successful, there's the things that we need to clean up, and you can use that and apply it to this week's game plan. So, absolutely, you review it and then you kind of continue to do your self-scout and figure out what works best for us in this week.

Q: When you see the things that you were successful at offensively in that game, what do you see? How do you reconcile that with how the last three months have gone?

KAFKA: You combine it with the things that we're doing well right now and you continue to find ways to put players in those positions to be successful. Our coaches have done a great job spending a lot of time self-scouting ourselves, where are our tendencies at, where are some of the things that they're looking at that they could see, and then how do we counteract that to balance it out?

Q: At the end of a long season with the last game, does the fact that it's the Cowboys help get guys motivated? It's a team you haven't beaten in a while, it's a division rival, it's the Cowboys. Does that help naturally get guys interested in this game?

KAFKA: I think guys, they're in the right frame of mind. They have been all season. They're preparing themselves to win, they're preparing themselves to get their minds right and go out there and execute with their teammates. I think this week, it's a division game. It's a division game, it's at home. That's important to all of us, so I think it's important that we put in the work and be detailed throughout this week to prepare ourselves to go play the game.

Q: I know you wanted to really put the focus on the team and it's not about when you took over as head coach. I'm just curious, you wanted the team to get better day-to-day, game-to-game. Do you stand here, one game left in this season, feeling like you've improved in the position that you currently have now and how have you gone about that? Do you think it's the focus that you've put on the team that has helped you gain in this job?

KAFKA: Absolutely. You're learning something new every single day. I think if you have that kind of mindset, and that's what we want to stress to our players, is you have that growth mindset, you have that ability to correct and the ability to problem solve and the ability to think through critical situations that are coming up. How can you improve not only as a coach, as a player, as a person, as a leader? That's something that I have to work through every single day with every single part of the organization, talking through our medical staff, talking with our equipment staff, the players, the coaches, individual position groups, the coordinators. Those conversations are happening all the time. Even when you're not in the office, those conversations are still happening. The time management and how you want to dedicate your time and what's prioritized, that ends up being something that I've learned a lot of. But yeah, you're always learning. But if you don't have that mindset, then you wasted that opportunity. So, I think for us as a team, that's one thing that we've continued to stress is let's take advantage of these learning experiences. How can we grow? How can we get better? Chip away at it. Where are those moments, those learning, those teaching moments that whether it was something really good that we can build on it or it's something that we need to improve on that, all right, hey, we can fix it by this is the solution to fix that problem. And that's happened individually, that's happened as a group and I'm really proud of our staff for organizing that and addressing it and being honest with each other about how we can improve and get better.

Q: You talked about urgency. How much did you talk to the guys about this being the last time you guys are going to be together as this unit for this game? Can you talk about that as far as just boosting the urgency a little bit more?

KAFKA: We've operated normal these last couple days. Yesterday the team, we gave the team off yesterday to get their bodies back. Today was the first time together. But we've operated the same in terms of our meetings, in terms of our meeting schedule. They know what's in front of them and they know what the challenge is and the things that we have to do to give ourselves a chance to win.

Q: Obviously stepping into an interim job is a little different beast, right, than maybe if you were just hired from the start of the season. How much do you think the way you handle everything, whether it's on the field, off the field, in-game, sort of reflects on your prospects of being a head coach long-term?

KAFKA: I haven't put much thought into that. The only thing I've been thinking about really is just our players. How can I put them in the best position to be successful? You certainly, as I thought about this role in general, you certainly have a plan, you certainly have thoughts on how you would handle certain situations, how you would handle certain players, how you would handle certain things throughout the week and I've tried to implement those things. Again, the whole basis and the genesis of everything when I first got it was let's not just make change to make change just because. Let's do it with intent. Let's do it for the right reasons and let's have a well-thought-out process in doing that. That's how we've attacked it personally, that's how I've attacked it with the staff and with the players and I think they've responded well.

Q: Are there things that you would have normally implemented had this been a traditional hiring that you just weren't able to do?

KAFKA: Yeah, sure. There are several things that you do, but then you weigh, you go through kind of weighing what's most important, where can you prioritize certain things and time? Those are just decisions you have to make and I went with the ones that I thought was best.

Q: When you take over in that situation, it's probably oh, there's a lot of time left in the season. When you get to this week, has it gone even faster than what you would anticipate?

KAFKA: I don't think so. I don't think so, just because I've been in my process. We've been in our routines for so long that, yeah, we all know it's the last game of the season, but I think it's important for these guys to understand it's also the first game of the 2026 season and it's an opportunity for our guys to set the tone for the future.

Q: I know you're not internalizing this at all, you've said that several times. But looking back now at the first six games, and you have one more coming up, do you in your head now think to yourself, I can do this? You always wonder being a head coach, I'm sure. Do you look now and say, I can do this at some point sometime?

KAFKA: Yeah, I have a lot of confidence in my abilities as a coach and as a leader. But again, I haven't had a whole lot of time to think about that. We've been just in the season. I'll have time to reflect after the season, but I have a lot of confidence in myself.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart

Q: What would it mean to you and to the organization to finish off the season with a win?

DART: Yeah, it'd be big for us. Not only just for us, this team this year, we have one more opportunity to go out there and play as brothers and compete against a division team, a division rival. It's going to be huge for us. Then at the same time continue to carry momentum.

Q: I think you made your first appearance against the Cowboys, right?

DART: Yeah.

Q: Does it mean anything to you to have a chance to play against the Cowboys and what they represent and everything?

DART: I mean, this is a huge division game. That obviously matters to me a ton and I'm excited to go out there and compete against them for sure.

Q: But just in general, like with them obviously being a big-name brand or a game like watching growing up, does that mean anything to you or just a division game?

DART: It's another NFL game for me, so I'm really excited for it. And the fact that it's the Cowboys, there's a little extra something to it for sure.

Q: How far back does that game seem? Like when you watched it, I'm sure you went back and watched the film.

DART: Forever. Definitely feels like forever.

Q: Were there things that happened in that game that you didn't even remember when you went back and watched it?

DART: There were just some incredible plays at the very end of the game. (Quarterback) Russ (Wilson) balled. They played good in the final minutes to win it for him. I'm excited to get an opportunity to play against them again.

Q: Does the season seem very long to you? I mean, your first NFL season is longer than the college season. Does it seem like it's about ready to end here?
DART: I would love to continue to keep playing. I love football. There's no thought for me of hoping this to be over. I want to keep going. It's going to kill me to watch other teams play while we're not. I just had a ton of fun competing this year. I just, I've loved the opportunity. I think for all of us, it's a dream to have this opportunity to play a season.

Q: Will you watch the playoffs? Or do you tune it out?

DART: No, I'll watch. I'll watch, yeah.

Q: How would you sum up your rookie season in general?

DART: First and foremost, definitely wish we won more games. That's kind of just on the forefront of my mind of preparing. Then I think that at the same time, I think I've done some good things. I feel like I've had a productive year, played at a high level. Obviously, there's a lot to continue to grow from and take strides on. But I've been happy with some things. Obviously, you want to clean up on some other areas as well.

Q: What did you see from the tape on Sunday that worked?

DART: That worked?

Q: From the tape, Sunday's tape. What did you like out of that?

DART: Everything. I mean, we balled, so I thought we were just in a rhythm and a flow. Just played super productive football.

Q: There was a video afterwards where you went up to (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe Schoen in the locker room and said something like, 'we've got to start doing this more often.' What was that moment like? What's your relationship like with Joe? Because, obviously, he's upstairs, you're downstairs.

DART: Joe's very involved with all of his players. There's definitely a relationship piece. At the same time, he's the person who drafted me and had a lot of time with him during the draft process. So, just excited for the future here. I know that we're going to win a lot of games.

Q: What did you learn about yourself this year? The biggest lesson you learned about yourself and playing in the NFL?

DART: Playing in the NFL, number one, it's a week-to-week season. It's a week-to-week league. In college, it's like if you lose two or more than two games, you're kind of out of it. In the NFL, you've got to be able to bounce back quickly. So that was probably number one. Then number two, the biggest thing is if you don't capitalize on plays at the very end of the game in crunch time situations, and the other team does, there's a good chance that they might win the game. You've got to capitalize on every single moment.

Q: I understand the focus is the team and winning, but I don't know if you've had a chance to think about it. What would rookie of the year mean to you?

DART: I mean, I haven't really thought of that too much. I'm just trying to go out there and win games. I'm not really thinking about that right now, to be honest with you.

Q: When you look at week-to-week, you say it's a week-to-week league. In your mind, when you're looking at tape, I know you're getting ready for the next opponent. How much is, other than the bye week, a self-scout for you, or is this an off-season kind of thing where once everything calms down, that's when you start making your checklist as to things you want to improve, or is that a day-to-day thing for you, that you do make that list for yourself, like okay, here's where I want to go this week versus next week?

DART: Yeah, I would say probably the day off during the week is kind of the day where you kind of have more time to reflect on what you need to improve on from the previous week, but like you said, during the bye week, that's kind of the time where it entails the full picture of everything. I think at the same time you try to just take those opportunities in practice, whether it's in individual drills or just bringing out a list of, all right, this is what I need to improve on today, because so much of your time is obviously towards the very next opponent. I think I'm just continuing to evolve and learn study habits throughout this year, and it's been great to have Russ and (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) in the room to at the same time hold myself accountable and hold us as a room accountable.

Q: We asked you a lot at the beginning about Russ and Jameis being in that room with you now that we're basically at the finish line, I'm curious, what were you able to learn from them, and what ways were they able to support you and help you?

DART: That's a loaded question because there's so much. I can't really just pinpoint just one thing. I spend so much time, like extra time with them every single day, whether we're watching our own cutups together. Obviously, you watch film by yourself when you go home or whatever, but we spend so much time as a room, as a group, at the facility. One thing they've just been awesome with me is they've constantly been asking questions like, hey, what more can we give you in this area or during the process of preparing for the game. I've just had an immense amount of respect towards them, and I'm definitely blessed to have those guys as leaders and people who I really respect.

Q: What's been the best part of the experience, like this season as a whole for you?

DART: Obviously, just week to week, being able to play against the best players in the world and there's only 32 teams, so there's not a lot, and you're the one percent of your profession. Just having that opportunity to go out there against these great players, it's been a lot of fun just competing, and I'm just excited for the future to continue to grow. It's going to be a lot of fun going forward.

Q: Did you prove anything to yourself this year?

DART: I wouldn't say I proved anything. I'm confident in my abilities, so I know that if I prepare the right way that I'm going to perform, I'm going to bounce back from mistakes, and in situations I'm going to thrive as well. I just love being able to play at this level and continue to go forward.

Q: I know you have relationships with the receivers that you've played with all season, but (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers), you only played with him for half. The next game you're playing after this one, ideally you'll be together. What do you look forward to in that relationship with him?

DART: We'll for sure continue to be together and light it up. I'm excited. Those are conversations that we have a lot, and we're two of some of the younger guys in the entire league at 22, so we've got a long future together, and there's going to be a lot of great moments. I know that he's been attacking this recovery process, and he's going to come back stronger and better, and he's going to be hungry for sure.

Q: What did you think of his pancake commercial?

DART: I thought it was funny.

Q: It's funny because it's like fantasy football, but that's sort of your reality too. Does that sting a little bit?

DART: Definitely. It stings not to have him out there everywhere. He's an incredible talent. He could beat anybody in the world. When you have a guy like that out there, he's a safety guy who's going to come down with the ball at all costs.

Q: Beyond a win, what are you looking to get personally out of the last game? I guess to be a full, personnel group, anything that you want to work on?

DART: Win is number one, and just to take advantage of the opportunity with the team that we have right now and the coaching staff that we have. The league, there's so much movement from year to year, so you never know what's going to happen, how it's going to shake. I have a ton of respect for the guys in this locker room, and I've been able to make great relationships with them. I just want to give it my all for them and to take advantage of the opportunity that we have.

Q: You just mentioned you're a confident guy. I don't think anyone's ever questioned your confidence. Are you more confident right now than you were the day you walked in, and do you look at the league right now and yourself and say, I could be a great quarterback in this league?

DART: Absolutely. Absolutely. That's the vision that I have for myself. That's the expectation, and everybody here has the highest expectation for that. That's the environment that I want to be in. That's the environment that I want to thrive in, and I think that I'm just going to continue to make strides. I've done that my entire career, and I'm just really excited.

Q: Obviously when we get to Monday, they're going to launch into a coaching search. Do you want to have any input on that, or what are you looking for in a coach here?

DART: Well, first of all, I've really enjoyed and have a ton of respect for the coaching staff that we have right now. They work tremendously hard, and we have great relationships on and off the field. So that's number one for me. Number two, I care about winning, so whatever that takes. I'm really just focused on this last game, to be honest with you.

Q: Is this team far off from turning it around next season?

DART: No. I mean, we've got the pieces. This is not an excuse, but obviously we've had a tough schedule, and we've been in really tight games where this season could completely flip. So that's kind of just the league. It's those one-score games and who can capitalize on those moments, and there are a lot of teams who have great records right now where it could be completely flipped for them as well. So, we've got a lot of talent. We have some good vets, and we have a ton of young guys who are going to continue to thrive. I've said this a lot, we just have a ton of excitement for the future because we know what this thing can do and how we can flip this around.

Q: Have you guys stayed together, even obviously with the losing streak, but how tight has the locker room been?

DART: The guys in there are awesome. There hasn't been any fall-off from intensity in practices, and I think that shows a lot about just the character that we have as a team. But at the same time, there's a lot where you look on this year and you're going to make sure that (stuff) doesn't happen going forward. We've got to clean it up, and we've got to prepare harder. We've got to have great habits moving forward as a team and grow our relationship so we can win moving forward.