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Everything Maxwell Hairston said in his introductory press conference with Buffalo Bills

Keon Coleman gave advice on buying clearance Macy’s jackets last year. Maxwell Hairston talked about designing his own jackets this year.

Hairston, a cornerback out of the University of Kentucky who the Buffalo Bills selected at 30th overall in the NFL Draft on Thursday, had his introductory press conference with the organization at One Bills Drive on Friday.

Hairston talked about his playing style, clothing brand, love for his family, and what he’s going to do if he intercepts Josh Allen in practice.

Here’s Hairston’s full interview with the media:

What did you think about Buffalo, the facilities, the people you’ve met?

I’ve had a great time. I got a chance to sit down with coach McDermott and coach Beane and I’m just enjoying myself. It’s been a fun last couple hours. This is my new home so I’m excited.

What else have you done since you got here?

Just really get a feel for everybody. I got to give my family a tour around the facility. I can here for my 30 visit so I led the tour. That was exciting, just to show them around my new home. I’m excited to get to work.

It seems like you have a real tight-knit family. They all spoke on the broadcast last night. What has their support mean to you and how has that close-knit relationship developed and how do you use that to your advantage?

Their support really is what keeps me going. They keep me level-headed, never let me get too high or too low. I always have my family through thick or thin. If I have a bad game, if I have a good game I know I can always rely on my family. They’re always there for me. They have always been, my entire life.

What is it like for you growing up in Michigan getting an opportunity to play close to home?

I love that. It’s a five-hour drive, about an hour-and-a-half, hour flight. It’s easy to get here so I know I’m going to have my family here every game. Even it was farther away I know my family would still make the trip.

What was it like for you waking up and being a Buffalo Bill?

I haven’t taken this hat off since I got it. I’m stoked. I’m excited to start. So excited to be part of this program, this organization. And I’m ready to get to work.

Last night we saw you shaking hands and dapping up all the guys who were getting drafted. Why was it so exciting for to see them drafted and have their moment?

Because we work so hard for this. I know it’s hard to get to that point and I just was so happy for those guys. Because I knew a lot of those guys from the Combine and I train with a lot of them so it’s like we already built that relationship. So it was just genuine excitement. Just seeing them get that call, seeing the reaction, seeing their parents’ reaction, that just made me happy. I almost shed a tear for a couple of those guys. Just the fact they got their name called that deserves to be celebrated. I was always there to dap them up. I had the best seat in the house so I took advantage of that.

What were your exposure to scheme today in your meetings and coaches and what were your initial impressions on how you might fit?

We got a chance to talk about my comfort with zone and man. I just feel I’m so versatile because it’s a mixture of both. I’m a player that you could put me anywhere on the field, whether I’m in zone or whether I’m a man, whether I’m pressing or whether I’m off. And, know, they trust me to go out there and make the plays if the opportunity presents itself.

How do you approach knowing there’s a spot open and you’ll be in that competition once you get to practice?

I just approach it with the same attitude that got me to this point and that’s just to put my head down and work. I want to learn. This corners group, they have a lot of experience and guys that’s done this for years so I just want to be a sponge, learn from the guys, kind of follow their lead and just go out there and compete.

What do you say about the confidence that all cornerbacks need and the short memories that all cornerbacks need? How you develop that?

Just having short-term memory, but also just, you know, having swagger. Like, you know, when I feel good, I play good. Just having confidence and going out there and trusting that the man to the left of me is going do his job, and the man to the right of me is going to do his job. So can go out there and play 110%.

What are some of your intentions of impact, you know, going into this year?

Honestly, I just want to be able to, you know, do whatever the coaches tell me to do, whether that’s go out there and play corner or go out there and be on special teams. I just want to be able to help and contribute to the team. And even if I’m not contributing on the field, just be a good teammate and always encourage the guys.

I’m a youth coach for a little league team. How instrumental were those youth coaches?

So my little league team was called the West Bloomfield Panthers and that’s actually where I got the nickname Mad Max from.  My coach, you know, he was real and you know, I  kind of liked the hard coach and that’s what I had growing up and I feel like that kind of gets you the mindset to, you got that dog in you. And I feel like that also just comes from being from Michigan. Like you just got that grit in it.

Obviously you have a relationship with Ray Davis, you guys played together in Kentucky, you went to the game in Detroit and you saw the Bills. What did you know about the team before the pre-draft process and what have you learned about them since the process?

I know that Josh Allen is the best quarterback in NFL and watching him against Detroit, you know, that dude was just, looked like was a video game the way he was out there, you know, making stuff happen out of nothing. I’m just so excited to be a part of that and knowing that I can give Josh Allen on the ball back. So I’m eager to get to work.

Has he reached out to you? He usually reaches out to a lot of the picks.

We was actually on the phone last night. I got to FaceTime him when I first got my name called. I got the FaceTime Ray Davis as well. So that was cool. Just a nice little intro to the team. They had me hyped.

What was that like, you know, talking to Josh and knowing who he is and him, the meaningfulness of him reaching out to you?

It meant a lot. I actually had to tell Josh, I said, if I ever pick you off in practice, I’m keeping that ball. It’s not personal, but you’re kind of just that guy. Being able to call him my teammate, it’s truly an honor and I can’t wait to go out there and win some games with him.

What is your background with returning kicks? I know that you didn’t have any stats at UK. It’s not really in your scouting reports, but with your speed, why hasn’t that been a part of your game yet?

It’s something that I’ve practiced, but at Kentucky we had our guy for that, my dog, Barion  Brown, and he was pretty good at that. So we didn’t have to worry about that at Kentucky, but like I said, I’m going do anything the coach asks me to do. And if I have to learn how kick returns and all that stuff, I’m going do it just for the team.

What was last time you did it?

We practiced that going into the season. I just never did it in an actual game.

You and (former high school teammate) Donovan Edwards played that last high school game in late January (2021). How important was it for you guys to go back and help you guys finish that season really tight?

That meant a lot. Me and Donovan, we grew up together and you know we taught ourselves going into that season because we knew it was going to be you know it got postponed a bunch of times and COVID this and COVID that but we were determined to finish that season if they allowed us to and we did exactly that. That was our senior year, that was our last chance and my school’s never won a state championship. To be the first ones to win a state championship at West Bloomfield High School, that’s truly a big honor and I had that picture in my suit jacket yesterday.

What are some of the things that Ray Davis was telling you before you got drafted to Buffalo? What were some of the things he was telling you about Buffalo?

He was telling me about the Buffalo wings, telling me about the hockey games, just telling me that, you know, it’s great vibes out here. I got out here for my 30 visit so I got a chance to see it and I’m here now and I do definitely feel those vibes and I’m excited to try some Buffalo wings.

Reading your bio, you have a lot of family that are very good high level athletes, including it says Taiwan Jones, not the one that played here, another Taiwan Jones, who made it to the NFL. Siblings, cousins. How competitive was it growing up  around your family with so many high competitive athletes?

Very competitive and even speaking on Taiwan, I wanted to be like him. So, you know, having a family member that got somewhere before me, it was just extra motivation. And he let me know that it was possible for me to do that as well.

Did you run track?

I ran a 100, 200, four-by-one, four-by-two. Every occasion, I throw in the long jump in there. COVID, man, ruined my junior year, canceled the season. And then I enrolled early in my senior year, but I got a chance to go all-state my sophomore year in the four-by-one relay.

Jahmile Addae will be your cornerbacks coach. After getting to meet with him and talk with him, why do you believe is the right next coach for you as you make your transition into the NFL?

That’s my guy, man. That’s my guy. And I honestly feel like he’s real. He’s not going to sugarcoat nothing. He’s going keep it real. And that’s all I aske for. From from the moment I talked to him at my formal at the combine to my 30 visit to even a Zoom to even just talking to him now I have the utmost faith in him and I feel like he’s going lead me in the right direction. 

Just to triple-check. I know last night you said you prefer Max over Maxwell. Is that the same in writing? Everywhere you want it to be Max?

In writing and all that stuff, I don’t mind Maxwell. It looks a little more professional.

Degree in community leadership and development. What made you choose that?

Honestly, I chose that degree because it’s so versatile. Like I can go into coaching, I can help the community. I can give back to not even just my home community, but anywhere. That’s really why I wanted to major in that, because I want to be able to help people. I want to be a resource for people. I want to motivate the youth. And I want to be able to just share the knowledge that was taught me. I want to share that down to the new generation.

Max, you mentioned Josh earlier, obviously, and Ray as well. Is there anybody else on the team where you’re like, whoa, I can’t believe I’m teammates with that guy now?

Yes, Tre White, the corner that we just brought. I can’t wait to learn. I can’t wait to pick his brains, man. That’s a vet and I know he’s going to teach me so much. 

How much do know about Tre?

I know that growing up, I used to watch him a lot. He was a Pro Bowler. Dealt with a couple injuries, but he’s still that guy. That’s still someone that I know he can teach me a lot. And I feel like we have some similarities in our game, especially coming out in the draft. And that’s someone I can’t wait to meet him.

Why do you feel like there’s perception that tackling is the strongest part of your game?

Hey, you mean you got to find something to knock somebody on, but I’m definitely somebody that wants to tackle. I want to get my nose dirty. It just comes down to being consistent in my technique and really following what the coaches taught me with, you know, short stride and near knee to his hip and just running through the guy.

What is your biggest attribute off the field?

My personality, man, honestly. And then two, I got my clothing brand, so I’m real big on fashion. So I like to get fly. You look good, you feel good, you play good type of deal. 

How did you start and when did you start your clothing line?

I actually started my clothing line a year ago, a couple of days ago. And it’s been fun. Just seeing other people wear my clothes, that’s truly an honor. Seeing people swag my clothes, get fly with my clothes. That’s nice.

You always been into fashion and doing that kind of thing?

I have. I’m big on shoes, big on clothes. Shoot, my house in Kentucky, I had to have two rooms just to fit all my clothes and shoes in there. I get busy.

Anything inside the jacket today? 

Oh, no, no. This one I just have to put the alumni sticker on there. I graduated last December.

You told Ray Davis you was moving in. You going have some room for your shoes?

I said I might have to use some of your room now, you might have to share some space now. But I for sure told Ray I’m moving in.

Who do you have here family-wise?

My entire family that was with me yesterday at the draft.

Getting to take your family around the facility, wearing the hat, being here, I’m going imagine it’s all starting to sink in. What does this moment feel like?

This moment is everything. This moment is truly a dream come true. Like I said, I bring my family with me because I truly wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. And to be able to give them the master tour today that I got on my 30 visit, that meant a lot. I kind of surprised myself, like, okay, you memorized the facility pretty good now. So, happy I could do that.

What do you know about Bills fans, Bills Mafia?

I know that Bill’s Mafia has the best fan base in the NFL.

The Bills might be looking for another defensive tackle. You get your guy Deone Walker on the line?

Hey, we bring we bring Deone here. I’m going to for sure get that ball back then because he’s going get in the quarterback’s face.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills welcome Maxwell Hairston – Full press conference transcript

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