Drake London - Player, falcons Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-08-07 | Full transcript (primary source).
On August 7, 2026, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London addressed the media during a press conference, discussing the team's training camp and the importance of physical preparation for the upcoming season. London highlighted the benefits of acclimating to the rigors of football and expressed enthusiasm about teammate Bijan Robinson's return to practice, noting the positive impact he has on the team's morale.
Transcript
London: It's really cool. It's dope to get us acclimated, and also to just keeping our team healthy and stuff like that, because that's part of the game. So callous in our body up. To go in and play an actual game is really good for us. So it was a cool thing that coach implemented, and I'm excited we're doing it.
London: Yeah, I mean, the best way I could put it is like the first time you get your toe stepped on by a lineman or something like that crap is excruciating. But if it happens in like week three, week four of the season, you're like, oh, yeah, this just happens, and I play through it. So like, that's a small example. But callous in your body up to get hit mentally. You know, there's going to be some stuff that may hurt, but you get past it, and it's just football at the end of the day.
Reporter: When was the last time you had loud tackling at this point in training camp?
London: I don't think ever.
Reporter: How about Bijan back up on the field? Does he bring like a little just excitement to the team for him to be participating?
London: Well, yeah, it's fun to have a superhero back there. So it's always good to have Bijan back there, and especially, too, just again, the type of dude he is in the locker room and off the field, and then, too, just in the huddle. You look over to your right, you see Bijan, you know we're going to be good.
Reporter: You mentioned on Wednesday that he wants to leave his mark here, like be a legend here. And I remember when you got signed, that was one thing you brought up as well. So how much is that of trying to be a legend here, kind of really last long, and have people remember your name and all that stuff? How much does that kind of drive you guys, do you think?
London: It drives us a lot. I mean, we talk about it a lot, but we all, I think, strive to be in one place for our whole career, and I think that says a lot about a player, you know? And then striving for greatness, I think that's just a competitor in all of us, and especially him, too. He wants to be legendary, and I think he's walking the right path right now.
Reporter: Coach, it's the fans who have talked about all of you guys getting all of your extensions as kind of you guys being like the foundation of being so young and everything. How does that make you feel that this organization is just looking at you guys as kind of building what is next?
London: Yeah, it makes me feel good, and I think it makes us feel good as well to be a part of something that's growing and building, and that means that they have trust in us. So we're walking in the right direction towards being, say, legendary or in the right step. So that's what we're trying to do, and it's cool to have that, but there's work to be done right now, and we're focused on that.
Reporter: Drake saw you and John Dotson out there with Matt Ryan kind of doing some individual work, catching some passes, running some routes. Is there anything in particular that Matt's kind of showing you out there that's unique from the coaching step?
London: He always wants to throw. He always wants to get out there and throw. Nah, but he has great words of wisdom, and I obviously take that to the heart whenever he has something to say, because he's done this, and he is a legendary player in this organization. He's taken us the farthest we've ever been, so anytime he speaks, I listen, and he's always willing to work and get better with us, so I think that's really, really cool from our president.
Reporter: And how has it been sort of dealing with two and Michael, each dealing with their own injuries, kind of dealing with their own progressions, getting back into the full swing of things as a pass catcher, you know, working with Jack and Cooper, too?
London: Yeah, again, I just focus on doing my job right now. I know those guys are gonna be ready when it comes time, and yeah, I just do my job and try to make my plays.
Reporter: I got some more here. A week away from the first game, actual game, you're probably gonna see a lot of Jack. How is he progressing to you?
London: Sorry, what was that?
Reporter: How is Jack progressing? A week away from an actual game, so how's he?
London: Yeah, I mean, again, he was thrown into the fire, and you can either get burned by it or throw in your fire suit, and he's thrown on his fire suit, so I think he's gonna be ready. He's a quiet dude, but on the field, he shows himself, so I'm excited for him.
Reporter: Coach Devance, you touched on Cash's versatility. When you, just think of your conversations with him and what you've seen from the field. What impresses you about Cash Jones so far?
London: You said his full name is Cassius? Cass Jones. Okay. Oh. No, he's covering it. Okay. Yeah, Cash is smooth, man. You don't know he really got the moves until he puts them out there and showcases it, but now he's a great dude, and he's great in the locker room as well. I just appreciate him for the person he is, you know? But yeah, he's a smooth player, he's a killer, and he's discreet, I'll say that.
Reporter: Last one here, please.
London: Oh, no, yeah. We had Johanna here, I think, last weekend. I kind of asked her about what makes you, you. It was interesting, like the main thing he brought up originally was the, you know, hooping pass that you had, and I kind of went through it. I saw, like, a lot of you guys, you know, played, you know, high-level high school ball. Why do you think it translates? Like, what do you think about hooping in high school and playing high-level hoops can help you guys?
London: Footwork, body positioning, spatial awareness. It helps a lot of stuff, and then, too, you're working out a little bit different muscles in your calves than what you would be in football and stuff like that. But mainly, the big thing is just footwork. I mean, you get into a triple threat, and you're using that to power off and go another way, right? So that's the same as doing a release. You add that, you act like you have a ball in your hands, and now you're just doing a football release, you know? So there's a lot of correlations to football and basketball that I have pulled in my own experience.
Reporter: How much do you lean on, like, the whole crossover package as you have to my school?
London: Shoot, my package probably wasn't that deep at that time, so nothing too much. I'm a football player now, so I don't really reminisce.
Reporter: Mike, what's your impressions of Avion so far? What'd you like about him?
London: I love his game, bro. He has no fear. He goes out there, plays free. He knows what he's capable of, so he's an aggressive guy, not the biggest corner. I'm kind of reminded by myself. I didn't, you know, the final ten corners are not really in style anymore, so we got to have a different knack to it, and he has that knack for the ball, and he's been getting after it.
Reporter: I think Nate Ollie gets a lot of credit, I guess, for how loud he is and boisterous he is, but Justin Hood can be pretty loud and boisterous as well. Like, how important is he to your group in bringing the energy and all of that?
London: Oh, Hood's my guy, man. He's like a big brother, and whenever he takes his coach's hat off, he's a big brother to me, so he's been good for us, man. Just having that player-coach relationship, he understands us, and, you know, it's been fun, man. I can't say enough about him. Words can't really describe him, but, you know, I wouldn't be where I am right now without him, so.
Reporter: Hey, man, how is everything coming together with new folks, you know, the same scheme, but you got new pieces moving around back there?
London: Yeah, like I said, just bringing everybody along, having guys buy into the system, and everybody's doing a good job of it. Everybody's working. Nobody's, you know, afraid of the competition, so everybody's coming along well, man, and I think it's going to just make everybody better at the end of the day.
Reporter: When was the last time y'all saw tackling to the ground?
London: We saw that the other day. Since January. So, you know, it's always good to get your pass wet, and obviously we want to be hitting a different color, but, you know, it starts at practice, so it's been good for us.
Reporter: I mean, have you, last time in practice, have you been with anybody?
London: Oh, I got you, I got you. Oh, yeah, it's been a while. It's been a while. You know, coaches usually take care of us. Coaches are fancy to take care of us, too, but, you know, it has to be a way to break in the pass and to get that feel back, because there's no really other way to kind of simulate that, so it's been good for us.
Reporter: And kind of get that physical tone set for the team?
London: Most definitely, yes, sir.
Reporter: Earlier this hot season, Jesse was talking about, you know, defense last year, set the record in sacks. I think he was joking that, you know, let's do the record in interceptions. Is that anything that you all are talking about kind of this time of year, and do you have any incentive program or competition in place amongst you all to see you can get the most best?
London: Yeah, we do, but I don't want to disclose that to everybody. But, yeah, it's definitely a challenge, you know. I mean, even with the sack, you want to kind of build off of that and try to see if you can beat that record as well. So, yeah, we definitely got a plan in place. We want to get our hands on some footballs this year. So, yeah, we got a little something.
Reporter: How's it going to feel tomorrow, getting to play at the high school in front of the fans? Like, what's that going to feel like for you guys? Does it bring a different level of intensity?
London: It brings a level of intensity because we want to give the fans something to show for. But all in all, it's just work, you know what I mean? At the end of the day, we're just going out there, doing our jobs, doing what we're supposed to do, and just keep stacking days.
Reporter: You hear a lot of players talk about when they're scuffles going training camp, that that's a good thing in the sense that you compete because you're competing, but when you don't have scuffles here, what is the benefit of that?
London: The benefit of it is the camaraderie. You know, everybody wants to see each other succeed. So, you know, at the end of the day, we're all for each other. You know, it's all love between the lines, but, you know, we're still at work at the end of the day. So, you know, it's all love between everybody.
Reporter: Coach Sue Bancy, you've talked about your versatility. I know you've had reps with running backs, wide receivers. What's been the biggest learning curve since coming to the NFL?
London: Shoot. It's a lot faster, obviously, making that transition. Thankfully, I did go to Georgia, so Coach Martin, he definitely put us in some high-stress situations. So, going there definitely helped me out. But just listening to the vets and listening to them, figuring out how to do the little things better and just slow eyes, fast feet, or yeah, yeah, slow eyes, fast feet helps out a lot.
Reporter: With Coach Smart and the other coaches at Georgia, what was the biggest thing you learned from them or you took away that feel like helped you in this situation now?
London: Just a recovery. Coach Smart, really hard time recovery. At this level, your body is like your resume. So, I'm really taking advantage of all the times we have off, whether it's eating the right food and getting in the tubs, recovery, all that I can. And Jesse put me in a lot of high-stress situations. I was the third down back of Georgia, so a lot of third downs get pretty stressful. So, I'm super blessed to be here and could be more happy.
Reporter: You mentioned learning things from some of the vets. What's the best piece of advice you've gotten so far?
London: Shoot, go fast. Try not to think as much. As a rookie, they throw a lot of information at you, so the less you think, the more you can really just go out there and be free and have fun. That's probably the best advice I've gotten so far.
Reporter: To have B. John out here with you, what's the biggest thing that you are impressed with with him and what also may have you learned from him?
London: I didn't realize how fast he was. This is the first time I've really seen him open up and run full speed since I've been here, but he's a great guy, free calf beat, along with the other backs in there, but super glad for everything that he has gotten to be able to do so far, and super excited to see what he can do in the future.
Reporter: Cash, what if anything has surprised you out here? I know you were prepared to come out in the individual position. What has surprised you as your jacket?
London: I guess the pre-snap's a little faster. The Kans and the Chex and all that, that's a little bit faster, but we get a lot of great reps in practice, so I just come out here every day and get a lot of mental reps and just trying to take advantage of every situation possible.
Reporter: Any challenges with two left-handed quarterbacks?
London: It's actually the first time I've ever caught a football from a lefty, but the first one I was like, well, that was a little weird, but ever since then it's pretty normal now, but honestly, I kind of like catching from a lefty better. Something a little different makes it a little interesting, but it's been a lot of fun. They're both great quarterbacks, and I'm excited to see what happens.
Reporter: The spin is what's different, I guess?
London: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Reporter: You have kind of a unique skill set. Is there anybody around the league or growing up kind of watched to model your game after?
London: Shoot, I watched a lot of like Julian Adelman, Wes Walker, kind of like the can do it all guys. Going to Georgia, I got to watch like James Cook, Zamir White, Kenny McIntosh. A lot of great backs came before me, and really just watching them and seeing what they do and kind of putting my own little kink on things. It's really been able to help me out, and I'm super blessed to be around that.
Reporter: What did you see on that little touchdown run there in the red zone there? You skipped it out and got the two teams on there.
London: Shoot, that was all the O-line right there. They did a great job. Makes my job a heck of a lot easier whenever they can do stuff like that, but just a little tight zone run, and super blessed to be able to be in that situation.
Reporter: I saw Avion kind of come up and poke ball out, what's the relationship like amongst the rookie group? Because it seemed like that was a moment where y'all may be having some fun.
London: Yes, sir. He's always punching the ball. I know that's our livelihood. That's the organization right there is the football. So anytime you have the football, you don't ever want to turn it over. Our goal is to give it back to the referee or the manager at any time possible, but he's just always working to get me better and all the other backs. So he punched it, popped up in the air, and I was trying to get it popped up, and we're trying to fight for it a little bit on the ground, but it was good work.
Reporter: Have you spoken to any of the coaches at Back at Georgia since coming to the Falcons?
London: I talked to Coach Bobo a little bit, and I talked to Coach Streeter a little bit. They're doing good. They said they'd miss me, and of course, I miss them. I miss Athens. Thankfully, I'm only 15 minutes away, so I can hopefully get back there. I can probably week or any situation where they have a game at home. We have time off, so I'm excited.
Reporter: How are you feeling about this year's team in Athens?
London: I really don't know too much about them, but I know that the University of Georgia, they're going to go in there, put their head down, work hard, and have fun. That's our goal is to go in there and win every time that you can.
Reporter: When you met Zach Branch last year, how early on did you tell he was a really good, really unique dude?
London: Day one. As soon as I met him, he came up, and we talked for 15, 20 minutes, you know, getting to know each other, our history, and our past a little bit, but I just really realized how good of a person he was and how well his parents did, raising him, and the man he has to become today. He acclimated well last year there. He looks really good here already so far.
Reporter: Why do you think he can just hit the ground running as well as he has?
London: He's a freak athlete. You know, he can be running full speed and stop on a dot. He has great hands. Super smart kid. And I'm really... Guess not. I tried. Super smart kid and... Cheers, y'all come back. Super smart kid, and I'm super excited to see what happens this year for him.
Reporter: How much does having players that you knew from the past really kind of make the transition easier as far as on and off the field?
London: You know, at Georgia, our main goal is connection, and at the Falcons, our main goal is... One of our main goals is connections as well. So it definitely helps. So it's like, hey, Zach's like, hey, meet this guy. I'm like, hey, Zach, meet this guy. He's another rookie or another vet. This guy just got here. So everybody's super nice, super great organization. And, yeah, it's just been going awesome so far.
Reporter: Don't know if you got a chance to watch, but how was it last night, seeing Carson Beck having a good performance last night?
London: No, I'm super happy for him. He's a super hard worker, super smart guy, and I knew he was going to do a great job. And I'm super... I didn't see the end of the game. What happened? Did they win, or...?
Reporter: They ain't king, actually.
London: Oh, really? Dang, Georgia Tech. Ooh. But, no, it was a good game. It was good to see Carson out there getting his work in, and super happy for him.
Reporter: Tomorrow Night's an epic overtime game, though. They showed the eight overtime game.
London: Oh, they did? No, that was the craziest game ever. Oh my gosh.
Reporter: Tomorrow Night's a little different. You get to leave the facility, go apart as the high school for no fans, kind of silently on the lights. Are you looking forward to that, and what excites you about that most?
London: Obviously, you know, anytime I get to compete, I get excited. It doesn't really matter where we're at, but just being able to go against any competition or anything like the competition we're going out against today, it's super awesome. So you get that good work, and good reps, and mental reps. But going out there in front of the fans, it's just like a bonus almost. It makes it that much more fun, and everybody gets to hear the oohs and the ahhs of practice. But I'm super excited.