Joe Tippmann, 4.28 (2023 NFL Draft Round Two)
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Brian Costello, New York Post: What was the feeling like when you got the phone call from the Jets?
It was a surreal feeling, being able to be there together with my family and in that environment and to be able to be accepted into such a great environment that is the Jets.
Brian Costello, New York Post: Are you at home, Joe, in Indiana?
Yeah, I’m at home. Did it at my house with my family.
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News: For those that don’t know, just talk about the player that you are and what you’ll be bringing to the Jets.
I’m a physical, dominant player. Athletic as well. Someone who’s hopefully going to be able to get out and pull. As far as for the Jets, first things first, I need to earn the trust and respect from the rest of my teammates before anything, I guess.
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News: In Wisconsin, we often saw you just kind of using your football IQ and just kind of making adjustments at the line, just talk about that and how it progressed during your career getting to that point at Wisconsin.
Yeah, so I guess in my first year at Wisconsin starting I just had a little taste of that. Coach (Joe) Rudolph at Wisconsin, he kind of entrusted me to be able to kind of make a little bit of adjustments. I was always making the Mike point, but going into the next year, it’s when it really opened up for me and I was able to re-Mike it, flip the protections. That’s something that I kind of enjoyed having on my plate. It’s something I guess I carried well and I’m excited to be able to do.
Rich Cimini, ESPN.com: Joe, usually a guy that’s 6’6” ends up out at tackle. Could you just describe your journey to the middle of the line?
Yeah, I started at Wisconsin, I was starting at kind of that guard-tackle position, so my first and second year, first year, I was pretty much just on scout team there, and then my second year was when I kind of started competing for actual playing time and I was able to kind of play that tackle-guard position, a little bit of center as well, but it was really going into that next year, I guess, going into that summer of my third season, Coach (Paul) Chryst and Coach Rudolph sat me down and told me they wanted me to take the starting center spot and I kind of just put my head down and worked and I was able to take it and that was kind of the end of that.
Brian Costello, New York Post: Joe, Jason Fabini is a guy a lot of Jets fans remember well. Can you just tell us what your relationship is with him and how that started?
Yeah, so Coach Fabini, he coached me fifth grade through senior year of high school. I was able to absorb so much from him. He was someone who helped me in my transition from high school to college. He’s someone who’s currently helping me with my transition from college to the NFL. He’s someone who’s been a mentor to me, kind of like a lifeline, somebody that I can always lean on, someone that I can always count on to be able to assist me with anything and kind of just push me to be a better player.
Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic: Joe, did you talk to the Jets at all throughout the pre-draft process? Like did you have an inkling that they might be interested in you?
Yeah, I took a visit with them, one of the top 30 visits. I was able to sit down, kind of meet the staff, kind of, I guess, a feel for the culture, and it was something that I really enjoyed being able to do. Even back then when I was taking the visit, I was really excited about the Jets.
Zack Rosenblatt, The Athletic: You obviously were in Wisconsin, your quarterback spent the last 18 years in Wisconsin, obviously. What kind of excitement do you have at the chance to play with somebody like Aaron Rodgers?
Oh, I mean, it’s an awesome feeling, especially knowing somebody as a seasoned veteran like him, I just feel like there’s so much opportunity there for me to learn from him and it would be a dream to be able to play with him and those dreams are coming through.
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News: Outside of Aaron Rodgers, what else do you know about the Jets organization?
I was able to get a feel for a culture a little bit. I guess that’s kind of the extent of it. I’ve always been kind of a Jets fan just because with Coach Fabini, he’s actually my relative, a cousin of mine, I don’t really know how to explain it—I definitely have a feel for the Jets, but I’m eager to be able to kind of dive in and learn a lot more and be able to fully immerse myself in the culture and the playbook and the team.
Brian Costello, New York Post: Joe, have you ever met Kevin Mawae through Fabini? Kevin Mawae was the center back then.
No, I have not met him.