Aaron Jones - Player, vikings Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-20 | Full transcript (primary source).
Aaron Jones spoke at a press conference following the Minnesota Vikings' game on September 20, 2026. The event provided an opportunity for Jones to discuss the team's performance, his personal experiences during the game, and the challenges faced in varying weather conditions.
Transcript
Jones: Definitely a battle, but this is what I look forward to. We know when the climate is like that outside, that hey, it may turn into this kind of game. It may have to adapt, and that's what we did today. And those guys up front, along with the rest of the blocking unit did a great job. We were very efficient, four, five, six, four, five, six, a couple of eights. It may have a long one, but as long as we stay efficient, I think we'll be in good places and we'll get better as we keep going.
Reporter: I know you went out a little bit with the knee. How's that feeling?
Jones: Feels good. I got a little banged up, but put a brace on it and was able to finish it out, so confident.
Reporter: Then when they blew your helmet. You see the scar on my face?
Jones: Yeah, I got a little scar on my face. I'm surprised there was no helmet to helmet. Yeah. But just got to pop up and get your helmet back and get ready to play the next place. So my pop-up game was strong. The head didn't affect me. He was talking trash, but I wanted to say scoreboard. But I just let him have it. You guys made a good play and move on to the next one.
Reporter: Aaron, at the end of the game, you guys were able to take five minutes off the clock, and then you stay in bounds and seek the contact now. How important was that drive to closing out the game?
Jones: That was huge. If we can score on that drive, that's what we really wanted to do. But really, as long as we got three on the board, we felt like we would be good. But we really wanted seven. But as long as we could continue to chew that clock, and every time I go to the sideline, they would echo, hey, stay in bounds. Go tell all the other guys, stay in bounds. And when me and C.D. were on that left side, I seen the space. And I'm like, oh my gosh. Dude, I tried to run away from the defender. And I'm like, last second, I clicked in my hand. It was like this four minute, like, get off of the sideline. So that's why I went to initiate the contact. But no, it was a perfect play calling that one as well.
Reporter: What did you think of DJ Dallas' day today?
Jones: Oh, I love DJ. He did a great job coming in when we needed him. Whenever his numbers call, he's ready to pop up and do whatever's asked of him. And even, you know, sometimes he wasn't expecting to go in when I went down. Just the way he's been able to come in and pick up the playbook and play fast. It's been cool to see. And then also having him on the sideline. It's a bet that I can come to pick his brain. And then just when, like, the little adversity sat in and I got banged up. And he's there in my ear, him and Damon, they're there in my ear. And looking at my other teammates, that's what gets me back on the field. Their words, knowing I can't have those guys down. So both of those guys have been great for me.
Reporter: You mentioned C.D., what else can you say about your own line today?
Jones: Because, you know, when it's wet and it just seems to happen, it's all the field all the time. They did a great job. And they really set the tone for us. And we let them know that, hey, we go as you guys go. And I think, you know, Keith and Frank have done a great job of getting those guys going, ready to come off the ball. And now we're attacking people. We're not waiting for good stuff to happen to us. We're going to go, we're trying to make the good stuff go happen or take it. Or it's more aggressiveness and it's not sitting back or passing it. Or who's going to make the play or, you know, any of that is, hey, let's get this attack in mind. I said, let's play fast. When you play fast, you can get on edges and you make them have to react.
Reporter: Once you go through your mind, six seconds left, one second, there's a place where the beat is on the field. Like, what can go through your mind watching that?
Jones: I had an unbelievable doubt that they would get it done. You know, in this locker room, we talk about belief. No matter what, we're going to find a way to get it done. But you have to have that belief. If you don't have that belief, then as soon as you start thinking something different, that's what probably happened. So you've got to continue to have that belief throughout the whole game, no matter what happens. I honestly thought the game was over, but I see the ref running in like this, and I already knew when the missile was blown. I already knew that they were going to give them one more. But we always tell our defense, make them line up and snap it again. Make them snap it again. And that's what they kept doing and had some big, big red zone stops or making them end up backing up and getting out of field over age.
Reporter: Aaron, in terms of conditions, you played into your career where there was some rank in terms of uniqueness for a running back?
Jones: A running back loves this. But I would say it's right up there. Snow and rain, probably throw the ball a little more in the snow. Your footing just isn't there as much. I think the rain is just the ball is more slippery. Everything is more slippery. Everything is wet. The snow, if you hit the ground or those kind of things, it's not as wet. I think it's a little harder to play in rain games when it's really coming down, the field is not as great, can't cut as well, or people are slipping and sliding, those kind of things.
Reporter: So for, you say running backs love these games, for a defender having to chase around a guy like Caleb Williams?
Jones: Oh, it's tough. You're playing in mud first. Mud, dirt, water, sand. And he's such an elusive guy. He's going to stop his feet to see what you're doing. Then he can start back up so quick. And then the other factors, he has the ball in his hand where he can still throw him. He still has eligible receivers down the field. And as a defender, sometimes you may be contained. So you want to go get him, but you have to contain. Because as soon as you go in here, he can roll out, turn out, and get outside of it. So I think our guys did a good job of keeping him in the pocket for the most part. He's an athlete. He's going to make some plays. He gets paid, so he's going to make some plays. But for the most part, they did a great job.
Reporter: Because it's hard not to trash talk back when you're trash talking to you as you're getting hit?
Jones: Yes and no. I just don't look at the scoreboard. Sometimes the scoreboard has the stats up there. And I feel like it's not much that they can say to me. I've been pretty successful against them as a team, playing in Green Bay and playing here throughout my career. So I mean, I have a lot of respect for the fan base and everything. But I feel like it's not much the players can say to me.
