Kayvon Thibodeaux is about to get his first true taste of the Giants-Jets rivalry, though he already played a significant part in the way both teams built their surging defenses.
Thibodeaux visited both teams’ facilities for meetings before the 2022 draft, when the Giants and Jets each held two of the top 10 picks in the first round.
The Jets ultimately passed over Thibodeaux to select cornerback Sauce Gardner — later named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year — at No. 4, and the Giants pounced on their coveted edge rusher at No. 5.
So, how close was Thibodeaux to being on the other side of Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium?
“When you think back to that time, in hindsight, I don’t think I was that close just because of the time that the Giants spent [with me],” he said. “But I was definitely in the race. It really was nail-biting to the end.”
Thibodeaux spent Tuesday morning with his mother, Shawnta Loice, and friends packing soup into boxes at Community FoodBank of New Jersey as part of Campbell’s “Chunky Sacks Hunger” campaign, which will donate more than 2 million meals to people in need during the NFL season.
Campbell’s donates 1,000 of its products for every sack by the Giants, who had a season-high six in last week’s win against the Commanders and are led for the season by the mouths-feeding Thibodeaux (5.5).
“I’m trying! I have to keep going,” quipped Thibodeaux, whose production has spiked over the last five games after a slow start. “You can’t really dictate how the season goes, so you just have to be prepared when your time comes and seize the moment.”
Sunday is a big moment because local bragging rights are on the line for fans, players and even team ownership — and because both teams need a win to stay in the playoff hunt.
“We’re not trying to get too high or too low,” Thibodeaux said, “but it will be really competitive and we just have to go play. It’s definitely important — it’s Jets-Giants — and the history is long, but I think it will be fun.”
If the Giants win, it likely will be on the back of a third straight defensive gem.
If they lose, general manager Joe Schoen could choose to break up the defense by selling a veteran like Adoree’ Jackson, Leonard Williams or Xavier McKinney before the Oct. 31 trade deadline.
“I think we have the right pieces — we just have to put them together,” Thibodeaux said. “I think things are working in the right direction, so I’ll leave it up to the coaching staff and whoever else to make those decisions. But I’m excited by what we have.”
To make up for what the Giants lack — depth at edge rusher — Thibodeaux is carrying an extraordinary workload.
He has played 88.3 percent of the defensive snaps, including 68 of 69 last week.
“It’s training, and I give it all to the offseason,” Thibodeaux said. “Last year, as a rookie, I didn’t know I was going to play as many snaps. As a sophomore now, I knew what type of time we were on, so I’m ready for it. It’s a lot easier, a lot smoother [in Year 2] reading between the lines of the game. There’s a lot of advantages to being a veteran, and I’m not there yet.”
It was even Thibodeaux’s second time at the FoodBank after participating in Campbell’s campaign last season.
“It’s the holiday season, and hunger is a big thing in our country,” Thibodeaux said. “Being able to serve the communities that we can is amazing. It takes a village. What better way to spend my off day than giving back with my mom?”
There were times growing up in Los Angeles where Thibodeaux’s youth football coach and mentor would cut a pizza into 16 slices instead of eight to trick the boys into thinking they were eating more than he could afford. He hasn’t forgotten that memory.
“It was an insecurity, but it wasn’t detrimental in my situation specifically,” Thibodeaux said. “How to make the best of your situation helped me growing up in the decisions I make and plays a part in why I want to give back.”
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