Why Michael Strahan is Bullish on Giants Pass Rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux

Strahan believes Thibodeaux is going to be the next great Giants pass rusher.

Last year, New York Giants Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan made it a point to take rookie outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux under his wing after the former Oregon star was selected fifth overall in the draft.

Thus far, Strahan has liked what he's seen from Thibodeaux, even going so far as to compliment the young man for being so much more advanced at playing the game than he was as a rookie.

“He came in as a better player than me," Strahan told the New York Post during Monday's Big Daddy Celebrity Golf Classic. “He came in with a better understanding of the game of football than I did. Obviously, because he had a lot more sacks in his rookie year (4.0) than I had in mine (1.0)."

Thibodeaux's rookie numbers were, at least according to some, disappointing given his draft pedigree and considering that Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson posted 9.5 sacks.

But also tucked away in Thibodeaux's production were 13 quarterback hits in 14 games played, whereas Hutchinson posted 15 quarterback hits in 17 games. And both players also earned All-Rookie team honors, and one Defensive Player of the Week nod, Thibodeaux in Week 15 and Hutchinson in Week 11.

And as far as Strahan is concerned, Thibodeaux hasn't even scratched the surface yet.

“This is a guy I know is gonna be a great player for the Giants," Strahan said. “I know he has the worth ethic--he has the desire. And as much as you say, ‘He’s outgoing, he talks, he does this,’ the guy really works at it, and that’s what I respect about him. It’s not like he’s just saying it and going off raw talent and ability. He’s saying it because he believes it. Because he puts in the work to make it happen."

Thibodeaux told reporters this spring that he was happy with his rookie campaign, adding that there was still a lot more room for him to grow as a player.

"Getting sacks, finishing--there were a lot of times when I had a good pass rush that I didn't finish," he said when asked what he wanted to improve. "You realize the guy on the other side of the line is paid a lot of money. They're not going to let him get touched. Continuing to sharpen the end of my rush, that third phase, and make sure I start to finish."

Those are all goals that Strahan perfected over his 15-year Hall-of-Fame career, which began following his selection out of Texas Southern in the second round of the 1993 draft and ended in 2007 following the team's third Super Bowl championship in its history.

Strahan voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014, recorded 141.5 career sacks, sixth on the NFL’s all-time list. He also set a single-season NFL record with 22.5 sacks in 2001, a mark he now shares with Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt, who tied it in 2021.

Strahan also recorded six double-digit sack seasons over his career, including two seasons (2001 and 2003) in which he led the league in sacks with 22.5 and 18.5, respectively.

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