Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux Sends Strong 6-Word Message After Minicamp

It’s been an odd offseason for New York Giants first-round edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, from free agency through mandatory minicamp.

Thibodeaux has dealt with constant trade speculation, a pivotal fifth-year option decision — which the Giants eventually agreed to pick up — and the drafting of his likely replacement with Penn State star Abdul Carter entering the fold. Keep in mind, the Carter selection occurred just one year after NYG general manager Joe Schoen traded for and extended another outside linebacker in Brian Burns.

Needless to say, it wouldn’t have been a huge shock if Thibodeaux requested a trade or took to social media to complain about a potential decrease in playing time, but he’s done the exact opposite at every turn. And his post-minicamp message to fans was no different.

“A few dogs for the TL,” Thibodeaux wrote on X, with “TL” likely serving as an abbreviation for timeline. A brief message on its own, but with the accompanying video that the Giants defender shared, a strong and powerful one, too.

The edited one-minute video begins with Thibodeaux telling reporters, “I have to be honest, I always knew where my future was. I’m in control of my own future, and I’ve never not been in control of my own future.”

A hype video ensues, in which Thibodeaux, Burns and star DT Dexter Lawrence wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. But the end of the clip might be the most important part, as the video abruptly shifts from sack highlights to the NYG draft room and the Carter pick.

And then, just like that, Thibodeaux’s post became a Penn State hype video starring his new teammate.

It ends with Thibodeaux stating that he’s “excited to have another guy to add to the gauntlet.”

Kayvon Thibodeaux Calls Abdul Carter a ‘Beast’ at Giants Minicamp, Preaches ‘Growth Mindset’

Carter’s immediate dominance was the talk of Giants minicamp, along with weekly progress reports on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Thibodeaux did not shy away from that when he spoke on June 17.

“Man, he’s a beast,” Thibodeaux said when asked about the new first-round pass rusher. “He’s been doing his thing. He’s fast, explosive, smart, excited [to have him].”

“[Having Carter] gives us another guy up front to rush,” the fourth-year pro continued. “He’s been taking his roles really strongly, and he’s been doing his thing [on] the inside [and] on the outside.”

That’s when the “add to the gauntlet” quote from the end of Thibodeaux’s hype video occurred.

Finally, Thibodeaux noted that “when new guys come in, they always have certain talents and things that they can help us with, and we know certain things that we can help [them] with, so it’s been a constant growth mindset between all of us.”

Giants’ Best Chance at Making a Surprise Playoff Run in 2025 Relies on Their Pass Rush Being Elite

You have to appreciate Thibodeaux’s mentality, as he’s taken the Carter addition in stride, at least publicly. That’s one less distraction for a Giants franchise that needs this pass-rushing unit to be ferocious and dominant in 2025.

And it could be — if the foursome of Lawrence, Burns, Thibodeaux and Carter can all stay healthy and work hand in hand.

“The more I can do for the team, the better off I’ll be,” Thibodeaux concluded, when asked about his fifth-year option and future contract negotiations.

From a personal standpoint, he also talked about “finishing” more plays this year, getting better as a run defender, and the fact that he’s still “going for” the NFL sack record every single season.