Jason Sanders – December 24, 2023 (Postgame)
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Sunday, December 24, 2023
Postgame – Dallas
Miami Dolphins K Jason Sanders
Q. Big smile on your face for a reason. How special was today for you and to put your team in the position you did?
JASON SANDERS: It was awesome. I felt like I’ve been waiting for that moment since the Jets game last year. To come on a big game like this against a good opponent, it feels good. I have to give a lot of credit to Jake (Bailey) and Blake (Ferguson). They don’t get a lot of credit on kicks like that. So to have a snapper like Blake and a holder like Jake, it makes my job that much easier.
Q. It felt like you kind of started it off, set the tone with a career-long field goal. I’m just curious looking back at that was there any discussion about even attempting it? What was the discussion before you went out and attempted that career-long field goal?
JASON SANDERS: We were always going to kick it, I believe, but when he called the timeout, it felt good knowing that your coach believed we were going to get these three points. When you have a coach that believes like that, it makes it that much easier, too.
Q. Was there anything that you did differently, felt differently today? Seemed like the ball was exploding off your foot?
JASON SANDERS: No, it’s just Christmas. Christmas is here. (laughter) I treat every game the same. Every preparation, every Wednesday is going to be the same for me. So coming out here against a good opponent, that’s what makes it that much better.
Q. If you spend any amount of time at one place, you’ll have ups and downs. Tua was talking about your journey, highs and lows you’ve had so far. Obviously this is probably one of the highest moments in your career.
JASON SANDERS: Not every year can be an All-Pro year. So I think I’m still hitting the kicks. I’m still right where I need to be. Couple blocks here and there. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.
Q. Last two years it’s been your kicks that get the Dolphins into the postseason. What’s it like just to have such momentous plays lying on your foot?
JASON SANDERS: It’s like one of those things. Good things happen, but it just feels that much better that it was against a quality opponent.
Q. How old were you when you first decided to play kicker?
JASON SANDERS: My brother was the kicker in high school when I was a freshman. That was the first time I struck leather. But it didn’t get serious until junior year, senior year, when you thought you could probably do something with it.
Q. You mentioned the quality of the opponent. Of course the narrative was that this team hasn’t beaten a team like that. Were you at all paying attention to that?
JASON SANDERS: That’s all noise. It’s, like, people don’t realize how hard it is to win every Sunday. So whether it’s a less opponent, every game is going to be just as difficult.
Q. What were you feeling at the end there? Looked like you were counting off the number of field goals?
JASON SANDERS: Nah, I was in the moment. I was in the moment. It was fun.
Q. Do you remember your first ever game-winning kick? I’m not talking about NFL or New Mexico. Just first-ever?
JASON SANDERS: First-ever was my senior year in college against Tulsa. And then first-ever here was the Bears, overtime.
Q. What do you remember about that kick against Tulsa?
JASON SANDERS: Just a lot of emotions go through your head. You’re calm for so long and then it’s finally time to celebrate because it’s over. You get to enjoy what happened.
Q. It’s kind of like relief?
JASON SANDERS: Yes.
Q. On the game-winner, how much do you notice the crowd? What do you see? What do you feel?
JASON SANDERS: You’re locked in. It’s between you and the uprights. When you’ve got Jake (Bailey) and Blake (Ferguson) it’s truly between you and the uprights. You can trust what they’re going to do and worry about yourself.
Q. Tyreek said he might bring back the ping-pong table for you?
JASON SANDERS: If they want to lose. That was my thing. There was a tournament. I was the guy. If they want competition, I’ll be there.
Q. The 57-yarder, did you know the distance, and did you know that it was a career-long for you?
JASON SANDERS: No. You know when it’s a long or short one. You’re not going to know the exact yardage because you want to stay locked in. The yardage doesn’t matter. So, no, I didn’t.
Q. Was it a distraction, Jake Bailey counts 10 and you guys have that. Was that a distraction?
JASON SANDERS: That just goes back to Jake’s preparation as well. He knows if we have 10 we’re not snapping that ball at all. Points are points, and we’ve got to have the points. So you’ll never snap the ball with 10 guys on the field on field goal. If you want to take the delay, take the delay. But if you have a guy that believes in you, you take the timeout and take three.
Q. Blake told me he told the offense just give us a chance. Do you ever tell the offense that? Do you ever talk to those guys and say anything to them?
JASON SANDERS: No, they know exactly what to do. You have a special teams coach that has a mouth in people’s ears. There’s progression. Everybody knows their assignment.
