Kayvon Thibodeaux is working on enhancing his performance as an outside linebacker by incorporating wrestling techniques into his training. After recording 5.5 sacks last season, he aims to improve his play-finishing skills.
“Wrestling is another form of tackling,” Thibodeaux explained after the second practice of his fourth training camp. He hopes to integrate wrestling techniques into football to enhance his tackling abilities.
In the NFL, live tackling doesn’t occur until several months after the regular season ends, and players like Thibodeaux must wait until Week 1 for actual game experience. “Especially on the quarterbacks, until you actually get in the game, that’s the only time we actually get to replicate sacking a quarterback,” Thibodeaux noted.
Thibodeaux missed Weeks 6 through 10 last season due to a wrist injury but still managed to record 5.5 sacks in 12 games. In 2023, he achieved a career-high of 11.5 sacks and set a franchise record for most sacks (14.5) by a Giant in his first 25 career games.
His impressive performance led the Giants to exercise their fifth-year option on him. General manager Joe Schoen announced this decision during draft night when Abdul Carter was selected third overall by the team.
“It’s exciting,” Thibodeaux said about teaming up with Carter. “We’re rushing, we’re doing different things, moving him around, excited to see what it’ll be.”
