Kayvon Thibodeaux worried about greatness, not trade speculation

As New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh began his post-practice media session on Tuesday, an unfamiliar voice shouted a question.

“How do you feel about that defensive front?” the questioner wanted to know.

Harbaugh sensed that there were hijinks afoot, looked around, and spotted Kayvon Thibodeaux hiding behind media members gathered to listen to the coach.

“How do I feel about the defensive front? The Thibodeaux guy has got me a little concerned back there,” Harbaugh deadpanned. “He looks shorter to me. Oh, there he is right there.”

Hearing Thibodeaux ask questions is apparently something Harbaugh, in his first year with the Giants, has gotten used to.

“Just so you know, this is par for the course for this guy right here,” Harbaugh said. “He is the number one question asker in all the meetings. Did you guys know that? Top question asker.”

When Harbaugh was done speaking, it was Thibodeaux’s turn to stand at the podium and answer questions. Thibodeaux has sometimes been a difficult interview over the years. Tuesday, though, he was thoughtful and expansive.

Thibodeaux, 25, certainly did not seem stressed by the constant trade speculation that swirls around him, his impending free agency after the 2026 season, the time share he could find himself in with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, or anything else.

Except playing well and helping the Giants win games.

‘I live for greatness’.

“When you are self-aware, man, you can be honest,” Thibodeaux said. “I’m not crazy; I know why fans feel the way they feel. We’ve been losing. I didn’t have 10 sacks, 15 sacks. I had it one year, but it’s consistency, it’s greatness. I live for greatness. For me, I’ve never worried about what people think because I want to be great, too. If it ain’t great, trust me, I know.

“As far as everything around me, I’m on a mission, and I’m aware enough to know what I’ve got to continue to get better at, and I’m humble enough to say, hey, help me. Help me find what things I can do to get better or how I can do it. It’s been great for me. I’m happy I’m in a position where if I go play great, God is good. If I don’t go play great, God is still good. I’ve been able to accomplish my dream by being here, and now it’s time to go take everything I deserve.”

Both Harbaugh and Brian Burns expressed admiration for the way Thibodeaux has handled his situation.

Harbaugh called Thibodeaux “a premier player in the National Football League” and praised how he has handled all of the speculation about whether his future is or is not with the Giants.

“I think he’s handling it so well, with so much maturity,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know if you see every player handle it the way he has.

“Everybody’s gotta admit he’s handled this thing really the right way. He knows he needs to go out and have a great season, and it starts with what Harry Carson was talking about. You do it for the team. You do it to win as many games as you can, and you let everything else fall in place the way it’s supposed to, and that’s what he’s planning on doing. Nobody knows what the future holds. But the future holds games that he’s going to be playing a lot of plays in, and he’s going to play really well.”

Burns called Thibodeaux “inspirational.”

“I’m so proud of Thibs. And I don’t want to sound all sentimental or whatever, but just the man he is and he’s becoming, like the way he handles his business, is something that’s really inspirational,” Burns said. “He’s doing everything right. He’s leaving no stones unturned, and that’s something that I really commend him on because he is put in tough situations at times, and he’s handled it like a pro.

“I definitely wish the best and expect the best out of him this year. He’s been playing his best ball for the past two years, and I expect him to have a great year, honestly.”

Burns said Thibodeaux’s “physicality is top-notch,” but that it’s not the thing that impresses him most.

“Honestly, in each practice and the practices before, even last year, he’s been the hardest worker on the defense. And I can say that, humbly speaking,” Burns said. “But I can say that like he’s really — he’s outworked a lot of guys, day in and day out, including myself. And that’s kind of what inspires me because he’s pushing me as well, because it’s a friendly battle in our room all the time.

“Just him being able to work that hard, going through, like what you said, the trade speculations and all that stuff that’s going on, it’s just something that a man would do. I’ve got the utmost respect for that.”

Thibodeaux is glad his efforts are being noticed.

“The work is the work. I think I’ve been putting in work and people are seeing it. I appreciate it. It’s hard to compliment people in this league,” Thibodeaux said. “This is a ‘what have you done for me lately’ league. For me, I just try to keep getting better every day, and I’m happy that they can see that.

Harbaugh ‘a maniac’

Thibodeaux is enjoying playing for Harbaugh.

“I think he’s a maniac; he’s obsessed. I love it,” Thibodeaux said. “He’s so great at explaining things that, of course, he looks at a guy like me like, how could you ask so many questions? But we always talk about someone who questions, it’s not like they’re challenging, we just want to make sure we have the best understanding of how to execute at the highest level. I think, man, this is the best I’ve felt coming into a new year.”

They come from different eras and worlds, but Thibodeaux sees a kindred spirit when he looks at Harbaugh.

“He’s kind of like me. I call a maniac a guy when you ask him a question, and he goes to answer it, and then he gets that twitch,” Thibodeaux said. “That twitch is when they just go rogue, and they just keep talking and talking and talking. And that’s me. I kind of got that a little bit.

“His first day, I noticed that in him. I was like, ‘You remind me of me a little bit.’ It’s similar. For me, I can tell he loves the sport, and he’s going to give us our best opportunity to win it.”

Questions need answers, and Thibodeaux loves the fact that when he asks a question Harbaugh has a detailed answer.

“Whether it’s my head coach, whether it’s my mom, whether it’s the teacher, I want to know, and I’m going to believe you, but I’m also just curious. If you can explain it to me, that means you really know your (stuff),” Thibodeaux said.

“Coach – I just love him so much because every question I’ve had, he’s been able to explain it, and there’s a system, and there’s a process, and there’s a method. That’s the difference between people who are about the game and are about their expertise – because we’re all here for expertise. If I’m asking you a question about your expertise, that should be easy.”

Learning to lead

Things change quickly in the NFL, and Thibodeaux is a great example. It is hard to believe since he is still on his rookie contract, but with Dexter Lawrence in Cincinnati and Micah McFadden relegated to a backup role, Thibodeaux is the longest-tenured player on the defense.

Thibodeaux is embracing the leadership role that comes with his tenure and his first-round draft status.

“Being in New York, there’s a lot of cameras, and there’s a lot of opportunities to talk. There’s a lot of opportunities to say; there’s a lot of opportunities to project. For me, I’ve realized that over time, words don’t last. They don’t. It’s what you do. It’s the tape you put out. It’s the legacy you leave,” Thibodeaux said.

“I think for me, when it comes to leadership, I’ve always taken the approach as a vocal leader because I’m smart, and I’ve always loved the game. I’ve always worked hard. But now, when you’re in a position and you are battling for a position or you’re battling for your livelihood, for lack of a better term, you’ve got to realize like, all right, how can I be a pillar for my team but still stay true to my work and my grind and not over spread myself too thin without getting the work done that I need to get done.

“For me it’s been a great balance. Having guys like Burns and all the vets that are in here being able to share game and give me some wisdom, it’s been great. I love sharing my story. I think I’m a guy regardless of anything, if (linebacker) Abdul (Carter), if Arvell, if Tremaine, if all of those guys play great because I was able to give them something to play great, or if I play great because they were able to give me something, we’re all going to feel good at the end of the day. I think that’s the key in playing team sports.”