Tristan Wirfs - , buccaneers Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-10 | Full transcript (primary source).
Tristan Wirfs spoke at a press conference for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 10, 2026. The event focused on the team's preparations and outlook as they approach the upcoming NFL season.
Transcript
Wirfs: How are we doing? How are we doing, everybody? Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah, he's not in here. I couldn't, you know, could be more excited for him. Couldn't happen to a better guy. Super excited for him, Emily, you know, the kids. And, you know, happy they get to stick around for a couple more years. We get to hang out some more, drink a couple more beers. No, it's huge. I think it's huge for this organization. Like, he leads us week in and week out, leads us on Sundays, leads us to victories, through the ups, through the downs. He's the same guy, same bad ass, same dog. And to see it get done and know that he's going to be here for the long haul is pretty cool.
Wirfs: From where this line was started last year, is all the movie pieces, the first couple of weeks, to where you guys are now, where you've been attacked, and you're going to be able to push for relief on that, just kind of like a 180. Yeah, I think it's huge. I mean, you know, us five have played a lot of football together, and hopefully a lot more to come. But I think, you know, we play well together. I mean, the nonverbal communication is there. The trust is there. You know, the confidence is there. I think we all feel better when we're all out there together. I think Baker feels better when we're all out there together. So I think it's big time, you know. I think it's fun. It's nice to be out there with everybody and have us all feeling good and flying around.
Wirfs: It's almost time to see Zach Robinson's offense here for the first officials. Yeah. What do you guys think about, you know, just the new system of kind of having its moment here tonight? Yeah, I think it's awesome. I think it's a lot of fun. It's been a long time coming, you know, all through OTAs, minicamp, you know, everything, the whole off season, and then through training camp and kind of dialing it in and getting things where we want it. But it's been a good time. I'm excited. I'm excited to get things rolling, you know, get to hit somebody new and showcase what we've been working on.
Wirfs: I mean, obviously, they're front, you know. They did a lot this off season to acquire some good guys. I mean, obviously, Jonathan Allen and Dexter Lawrence are two pretty solid guys. But all across the board, you know, their edge rushes are solid too. I mean, I told you guys last year, there's no bad D lines in this league. But that's where the game's going to start, you know, with us up front. And, you know, Interior's got a big week. You know, me and Luke have a big week. So I think we've got to come out and set the tone. Like I said, you know, in Jack Smells, we want to be the tone setters. We want people to turn on the tape. And those guys are a bunch of ass kickers. So it starts with us up front. And I think we're excited to finally get out there and get rolling.
Wirfs: Tristan, you had a touchdown last season. I did. I hope so. I hope so. That'd be sweet, you know. I kept the stat sheet that week, said 78, one reception, one touchdown. So that'd be sweet to get another one.
Wirfs: Do you think Zach Robinson, have you made him aware of that? You know, in walk-throughs, you know, I would like, you know, catch a ball or something, you know, from him. You know, let him know. I got some hands. Maybe pull up a clip of it. I can remember this. But we'll see. You know, Luke still needs to get one. You know, for a couple of years, a couple of years we had a play in and it didn't get called for Luke. So I can't give anything away, but we'll see. We'll see.
Wirfs: Tristan, when you're off, it's going one-on-one. Yeah. When you're off, it's a one-on-one swing. Yeah. These two backs. Yeah. Yeah. Just what you thought about what you could do on an offensive one-on-one. I mean, what year was it, 2024? Like, our running game was something else. Like, top five. And that's when we're at our best. And, I mean, Kenny G coming in. Freak of nature. Like, bucky back. Like, literally a joystick. All these guys. Tuck, tucks are freak. You know, when tuck gets downhill, like, it's hard to stop him. So, I don't know. That's where it starts. And I think, again, it starts with us up front. Like, we got to be on top of our stuff, on top of our combinations. Moving the line of scrimmage. And getting them up to the second and third level. You know, getting them in space. So, yeah, that's when we're at our best when our run game's going. So, I think, you know, and Z-Rob's new offense. I think we got all the pieces to do it. You know, it's just up to us. You know, we got to go out and execute and start it off.
Wirfs: Based on what you saw during the training camp, what should fans expect to see from this guy this year? Man. I don't know. He's a freak. His bend, I think his motor, his determination, everything. I don't know if I want to put expectation. You know, I think, being a first-round pick, you already have such high expectations for yourself. You know, coach have high expectations for you. But I think that what you put on yourself is, you know, second to none. And I think he's going to go out there and give it his all, give it his best. I mean, you guys see him working. He does it day in and day out. But, man, I don't know. I wouldn't want to. It'd be tough. We're going to have a tough day, you know, if you're blocking three out there. So, you know, I'm excited for him. I'm really excited to watch him in action.
Wirfs: Shout out, Ben. Shout out, Dan. Thanks, boys. Thanks, guys.
Wirfs: What's up, everybody? How you doing? Great. How are you guys doing? You still get a pretty good nerves, or is it more excitement, or is it just kind of business use? I think it's a little bit of both. I mean, I get like nerves before every game. I love what I do. You know, like I think the excitement before a game is kind of like what brings you back. And week one is always special, right? It's a brand new team. Another opportunity to get out there. But everyone's always like riled up and ready to go. So I'm excited about the opportunity, man.
Wirfs: The official debut, Zach Robinson's real offense. What are your fans going to have in store to see that? I think we got a lot of versatility on our offense in general. And I think that Zach, I think he does a great job of using that to, you know, to our advantage. I'm interested to see how he's going to call things. But, you know, it'll be a lot of excitement, a lot of moving parts.
Wirfs: What's it been like working with him? It's been great. Like, I think I said this earlier in the off season. I think he's done a great job of coaching and just like teaching this game. I think he has a great feel for that. Like, you can tell he's confident in who he is and what he brings to the table. And that's how consistent throughout, you know, throughout training camp. I feel like I've heard him yell one time, right? I think he was having a bad day. But he's been great at communicating the offense with us and being specific about exactly how he wants things.
Wirfs: Jacob said that he feels like this is the best version of Chris Godwin that he's ever seen. Do you feel that? I know you were able to get through training camp. Yeah. That's a victory. Yeah, I mean, I really like to think that every year that I go into it, I get a little bit better. You know, I think that at the end of the day, like when the season's over, we'll see if it was the best version. But I'm excited about where I'm at. I've been moving around good. I'm excited to be healthy, which is the biggest thing. And just have to get out there and go play with the guys half so far.
Wirfs: How eager is this group of wide receivers, yourself included, to show fans, to show people around the league that, although 13 was a big part of this organization and for a very long time, you're still a really, really talented unit. Yeah, I mean, we're excited to go out there to prove what we can do just in general, right? It's like all we can control is what we do out there and, you know, like how fans feel about like anything going into it, like we can't control that, right? But we have a great group of guys that have been working our asses off throughout the entire offseason. We got a lot of faith in our offense court and a lot of faith in our offense in general. So like I said, it's going to be exciting getting out there and getting to actually like have a full game together and really put the product on the field.
Wirfs: A lot of guys in the locker room, they've talked about this, you know, how last year ended, bad taste is left in your mouth all off season. It's kind of that kind of opportunity to continue that emotion and, you know, channel into a positive start to a season, I guess. I mean, I'll say yes and no. It's like you have the bad taste in your mouth from last year, but to at least personally, like for me, like it doesn't last to the training camp. Like you get to a new year and it's like whether you won the Super Bowl or whether you like finished last in the league, it's like everyone is equally as excited and eager to not only prove themselves, but to make a run for, you know, for the title this year because what you did in the past, it doesn't really matter. What matters is what you do right now. So we're excited about that.
Wirfs: Yeah. I mean, honestly, it's always tough week one because, you know, you have like changes in roster, like guys, like the expectation is that guys improve, you know, from the previous year. And then like when you add guys, you don't know how they're going to be teamed up in their system. But I mean, they have a bunch of talented guys over there. They got some good guys up front, you know, got some experienced guys in the back. So I think it's going to prove to be a challenge for us. And, you know, it's up to us to go out there and execute at a high level if we want to be successful.
Wirfs: What was your reaction when you heard that Baker signed his new deal? I was hyped. I was very excited. Obviously excited that it got done, but also just excited for him and his family. Like, Baker's a phenomenal guy. I've been fortunate to get to know him over these past couple of years, like really well. And just like happy for him to be able to put some roots down here. I'm sure like whenever this deal is done or his tenure is done, it'll be the longest tenure that he's had. And as a player, like I understand, like that's important. It's important for you to have somewhere to call home. And I'm happy for him and his family.
Wirfs: Yeah, for sure. Exactly. Which is like why I say that. Like it can be tough like not knowing like if you're going to be in a location like for more than a year or two or whatever. But, you know, for him, Emily and their kids, I'm sure they're really happy that they get the beer.
Wirfs: What do you think you've gotten better this year? You said you feel like you get a little bit better each year. What do you think about this year? I think my experience, like I learned from my experiences from the past, working on, always working on improving my route running and my ability to feel like zoned and mad and just present myself as a valid target for the quarterback.
Wirfs: This offense, I know there's a lot of emphasis on the Z and the F. How about that kind of theater to you guys' strengths as a group? Yeah, I mean, I think that's just, I don't know, I think by schematically you just kind of like scheme up things for your guys. Whether it's like, you know, F, Z, X, it doesn't particularly matter. We got a new reporter here. But I just think that like when it comes down to it, like you got to like scheme your guys up to, you know, to be able to put them in positions to make plays and then it's up to them to actually execute.
Wirfs: Thank you guys.
Wirfs: How y'all doing? Yeah, it's kind of good going against the same defense I seen last year. Got some familiar faces over there and, you know, I'm excited to play against those guys. It really don't change too much, you know, interiorly. We'll let the big guys up front handle them and we just don't go to work as backs. I'm truly excited about what he has me and Bucky doing and, you know, the fans just got to be ready for explosive plays and, you know, us being on fire all game.
Wirfs: What's that relationship with Bucky? Like Zach Robson mentioned before, that's the two of you kind of fed off each other. Yeah, I mean, the relationship has grown stronger and stronger each and every day. I love the way he come to work and like, I mean, me and him just trying to get on the same page with what we need to be doing and, you know, I'm loving what he put on the field and I love it.
Wirfs: What do you see with this offensive line when those five guys are together as they are now in the official magazine? Yeah, I mean, I truly love what those guys bring go front. They bring a high energy each and every day and having them back all together, I mean, it feels good to have them. I mean, confidently, it helps us, but at the same time, we have to take each game one game at a time, one day at a time, one play at a time. So, I mean, it'll help us out truly, but at the same time, we know we have a long season to go.
Wirfs: What do you think about the variety of weapons at this offensive channels that they pretend to be, you know, this person? I know he's truly happy about that and I just think, I think it's just going to be a show, you know, and I'm truly happy that, you know, we have those weapons and that we can go out there and like, ball.
Wirfs: Yeah, no, most definitely. I mean, it's truly a good thing to have many weapons high, low, guys in the backfield that can run routes. I mean, it's a good, it's a good piece to have for him. I enjoy everybody. I'm learning from everybody, but I enjoy every day as one of these guys. It's not no specific guy that I can like pick out.
Wirfs: I love everybody. I think his struggles for his injuries and things like that, but you have been kind of part of the rebuilding process of him getting his strength back and even getting some of this confidence back that goes away when you have an injury. What have you seen from him in his growth this year? I've seen a lot. I haven't been with him, been with him, you know, the previous years, but what I have been seeing since he's been back since OTAs, I mean, it's been, it's been a grind for him. And I mean, he's taking it day by day. I mean, I'm helping him out whatever I can do on and off the field. But at the same time, you know, I'm truly happy seeing him back healthy and ready to go out there and have fun on Sunday.
Wirfs: Thank you.
