Kayvon Thibodeaux
{{short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Kayvon Thibodeaux
| image = Kayvon Thibodeaux.png
| alt =
| caption = Thibodeaux in 2022
| current_team = New York Giants
| number = 5
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|12|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = South Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 258
| high_school = Oaks Christian
(Westlake Village, California)
| college = Oregon (2019–2021)
| draftyear = 2022
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 5
| pastteams =
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2022)
- Morris Trophy (2020)
- Unanimous All-American (2021)
- 2× First-team All-Pac-12 (2020, 2021)
- Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (2019)
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 123
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 21.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 6
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 3
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 11
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 1
}}
Kayvon Thibodeaux ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪ|b|ə|d|oʊ}} {{respell|TIB|ə|doh}};{{Cite web |last=Foley |first=Damian |date=August 29, 2019 |title=Why Thibodeaux Picked the UO |url=https://around.uoregon.edu/kayvon-thibodeaux |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=uoregon.edu}} born December 15, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Los Angeles, he was named USA Today{{'s}} High School Football Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.
Thibodeaux played college football for the Oregon Ducks, where he was named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2019, won the Morris Trophy in 2020, and was voted a unanimous All-American in 2021. He was selected by the Giants fifth overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
Early life
Thibodeaux was born in South Los Angeles, California, on December 15, 2000. He attended and played football at Susan Miller Dorsey High School for two years before transferring to Oaks Christian School in 2017.{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2017 |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux, No. 1 player in 2019, transfers to Oaks Christian (Calif.) |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2017/kayvon-thibodeaux-no-1-player-in-2019-transfers-to-oaks-christian-calif |access-date=August 25, 2021 |website=usatodayhss.com |via=USA Today}} He was named the High School Football Defensive Player of the Year by the USA Today after recording 18 sacks and 54 tackles during his senior season in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux's High School Timeline |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/kayvon-thibodeaux/8qxYDPTlEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm |access-date=May 19, 2019 |website=MaxPreps.com |language=en}}
Thibodeaux recorded 152 total tackles, 54 sacks, and eight forced fumbles during his high school career, and was the second-highest rated overall player in the 2019 recruiting class. He accepted a scholarship to play college football for the Ducks at the University of Oregon over several other offers including USC and Stanford.{{Cite web |last=Hodgkinson |first=Oliver |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon DE NFL Draft Scouting Report |url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/kayvon-thibodeaux-oregon-de-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2022/ |access-date=June 28, 2021 |website=ProFootballNetwork.com}}
College career
Thibodeaux was named the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2019.{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux wins Pac-12 Football Defensive Freshman Player of the Year after a dynamic season |url=https://pac-12.com/videos/oregons-kayvon-thibodeaux-wins-pac-12-football-defensive-freshman-player-year-after-dynamic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318005949/https://pac-12.com/videos/oregons-kayvon-thibodeaux-wins-pac-12-football-defensive-freshman-player-year-after-dynamic |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=March 18, 2020 |website=Pac-12}} As a sophomore, he won the Morris Trophy on defense and was named first-team All-Pac-12 while also winning MVP honors of the 2020 Pac-12 Football Championship Game.{{Cite web |last=Crepea |first=James |date=January 11, 2021 |title=Oregon Ducks DE Kayvon Thibodeaux wins Morris Trophy as Pac-12′s top defensive lineman |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2021/01/oregon-ducks-de-kayvon-thibodeaux-wins-morris-trophy-as-pac-12s-top-defensive-lineman.html |access-date=July 12, 2021 |website=OregonLive.com |via=The Oregonian}}{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Oregon holds off USC late, grabs Pac-12 title with 31-24 win |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401249434 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} Thibodeaux suffered a sprained ankle in the first game of his junior season,{{Cite web |last=Scarborough |first=Alex |date=September 4, 2021 |title=Star defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux leaves Oregon Ducks' season opener after first half |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32146868/star-defensive-end-kayvon-thibodeaux-leaves-oregon-ducks-season-opener-first-half |access-date=September 6, 2021 |website=ESPN}} and sat out the following two games.{{Cite web |last=Neel |first=Zachary |date=September 18, 2021 |title=Oregon Ducks' star Kayvon Thibodeaux will not play vs. Stony Brook |url=https://duckswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/18/oregon-ducks-star-kayvon-thibodeaux-will-not-play-vs-stony-brook/ |access-date=September 19, 2021 |website=Ducks Wire |publisher=USA Today}} He recorded seven sacks in 2021 and was unanimously voted to the 2021 College Football All-America Team.{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2021 |title=AP All-America team: Young and Tide lead with 3 1st teamers |url=https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-ohio-alabama-crimson-tide-football-alabama-cfc6067ea8e0e269617f20fee772c9c9 |access-date=January 6, 2022 |website=Associated Press}} Following the season, Thibodeaux announced that he would forgo his senior year and declared for the 2022 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=December 6, 2021 |title=Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux declares for 2022 NFL Draft |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/oregon-de-kayvon-thibodeaux-declares-for-2022-nfl-draft |access-date=January 6, 2022 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Tackles ! colspan="5"| Interceptions ! colspan="4"| Fumbles | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Sck | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF | ||
| 2019
| 13 || 24 || 11 || 35 || 14 || 9.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020
| 7 || 25 || 17 || 42 || 9 || 3.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 10 || 35 || 14 || 49 || 12 || 7.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 | |||||||||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kayvon-thibodeaux-1.html Career] | 30 | 84 | 42 | 126 | 35.5 | 19.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4
| weight = 254
| dash = 4.58
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.64
| shuttle = 4.38
| cone drill = 7.23
| vertical =
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 11
| bench = 27
| arm span = 33 1/8
| hand span = 9 3/4
| wonderlic =
| note = Sources:{{Cite web |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kayvon-thibodeaux/32005448-4917-2866-684f-218d97d743dd |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=2022 Draft Scout Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1029982&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=April 28, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=2022=
Thibodeaux was selected fifth overall by the New York Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Giants draft Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux with 5th pick |url=https://www.giants.com/news/kayvon-thibodeaux-edge-oregon-ducks-2022-nfl-draft |access-date=April 29, 2022 |website=Giants.com}} Thibodeaux suffered a sprained MCL in week 2 of the preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2022 |title=Injury Updates: Kayvon Thibodeaux (MCL sprain); LB Darrian Beavers (torn ACL) |url=https://www.giants.com/news/kayvon-thibodeaux-knee-injury-cincinnati-bengals-update-preseason |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Giants.com}}
Thibodeaux made his NFL debut against the Dallas Cowboys in week 3, where he had one tackle in the 23–16 loss.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Michael |date=September 29, 2022 |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux looks to build off NFL debut |url=https://www.giants.com/news/kayvon-thibodeauz-saquon-barkley-azeez-ojulari-chicago-bears-week-4-nfl |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=Giants.com}} In week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, Thibodeaux had his first career sack, forcing a game-winning fumble by quarterback Lamar Jackson in the fourth quarter during the 24–20 win.{{Cite web |last=Raanan |first=Jordan |date=October 17, 2022 |title=Giants' Thibodeaux gets first sack on Lamar Jackson vs. Ravens |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34812079/giants-kayvon-thibodeaux-gets-first-sack-lamar-jackson-vs-ravens |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Pat |date=October 16, 2022 |title=Julian Love, Kayvon Thibodeaux force stunning Giants comeback win over Ravens |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ny-julian-love-lamar-jackson-win-20221016-g6dmnbzzxvc53aprhypf4stxby-story.html |access-date=October 19, 2022 |website=New York Daily News}} On December 18, 2022, against the Washington Commanders, Thibodeaux completed a forced fumble and recovery for his first career touchdown. His performance earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for week 15.{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2022 |title=Giants beat Commanders in prime time to end winless streak |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401437906 |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL Week 15 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2022/week_15.htm |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In week 17, Thibodeaux sacked Colts quarterback Nick Foles. Despite Foles writhing on the ground with a rib injury, Thibodeaux could be seen celebrating the sack by pretending to make snow angels. As Foles was being carted off the field, Thibodeaux could be seen mimicking Foles "going to sleep." Despite being neither flagged nor fined, fans, analysts and Colts players widely criticized Thibodeaux's celebration as disrespectful and unsportsmanlike.{{Cite web |last=D'Andrea |first=Christian |date=January 1, 2023 |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux did so many snow angels while an injured Nick Foles writhed in pain |url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/kayvon-thibodeaux-snow-angels-nick-foles-injury-giants-colts |access-date=May 23, 2023 |website=For The Win|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}
He started and appeared in 14 games as a rookie. He finished with four sacks, 49 total tackles, five passes defended, and two forced fumbles.{{Cite web |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThibKa00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was named to the 2022 PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2022.htm |access-date=February 27, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=2023=
In week 8 against the New York Jets, Thibodeaux recorded three sacks, a forced fumble, and nine tackles in the 13–10 loss in overtime.{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Jared |date=October 30, 2023 |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux’s dominant Giants outing in face of critics had perfect ending spoiled |url=https://nypost.com/2023/10/29/sports/kayvon-thibodeaux-had-dominant-giants-outing-in-face-of-critics/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |website=New York Post}}
During a week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers, Thibodeaux recorded a forced fumble on Packers quarterback Jordan Love.{{Cite web |title=Kayvon Thibodeaux strips ball from Jordan Love; Xavier McKinney recovers {{!}} Giants vs. Packers Highlights |url=https://www.giants.com/video/kayvon-thibodeaux-strips-ball-from-jordan-love-xavier-mckinney-recovers-giants-v |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=www.giants.com |language=en-US}}
In his second season, Thibodeaux finished with 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, four pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.{{Cite web |date=January 13, 2024 |title=Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux: Posts 11.5 sacks in second season |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/giants-kayvon-thibodeaux-posts-11-5-sacks-in-second-season/ |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
=2024=
Thibodeaux suffered a wrist injury that required surgery in week 5 of the 2024 season and was placed on injured reserve on October 12, 2024.{{cite web|title=Giants place Kayvon Thibodeaux on injured reserve, sign punter Matt Haack|url=https://www.giants.com/news/kayvon-thibodeaux-injured-reserve-matt-haack-jamie-gillan-devin-singletary-week-6-cincinnati-bengals|author=Citak, Matt|website=Giants.com|date=October 12, 2024}} He was activated on November 23.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-23 |title=Giants Activate Kayvon Thibodeaux from IR; Waive QB Daniel Jones |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/giants/transactions/giants-activate-kayvon-thibodeaux-from-ir-waive-qb-daniel-jones-01jddgzpxm93 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=New York Giants On SI |language=en-US}}
In a week 17 game against the Colts, Thibodeaux recorded a strip sack of quarterback Joe Flacco. The ball was recovered by the Giants, allowing them to run down the clock and win the game, while simultaneously eliminating the Colts from the playoffs.{{Cite web |title=Thibodeaux's strip-sack eliminates Colts from playoff contention |url=https://www.nfl.com/videos/thibodeaux-s-strip-sack-eliminates-colts-from-playoff-contention |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
NFL career statistics
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="4"| Tackles ! colspan="1"| ! colspan="3"| Fumbles ! colspan="4"| Interceptions ! colspan="1"| | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmb | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Lng | PD | TD |
| 2022 | NYG
| 14 || 49 || 33 || 16 || 6 || 4.0 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | NYG
| 17 || 50 || 26 || 24 || 12 || 11.5 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | NYG
| 12 || 28 || 14 || 14 || 8 || 5.5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2|| 0 | |||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThibKa00.htm Career] || 43 || 127 || 73 || 54 || 26 || 21.0 || 6 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 1 |
Personal life
In July 2021, Thibodeaux announced a collaboration with Nike CEO Phil Knight and shoe designer Tinker Hatfield to design non-fungible token (NFT) artwork.{{Cite web |last=Kercheval |first=Ben |date=July 7, 2021 |title=Oregon star Kayvon Thibodeaux partners with Nike co-founder, shoe designer for NFT artwork collaboration |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/oregon-star-kayvon-thibodeaux-partners-with-nike-co-founder-shoe-designer-for-nft-artwork-collaboration/ |access-date=July 7, 2021 |website=CBSSports.com}} He launched his own cryptocurrency, "$JREAM", in September 2021.{{Cite web |last=Bonagura |first=Kyle |date=September 23, 2021 |title=Oregon Ducks star Kayvon Thibodeaux launches his own cryptocurrency |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32263822/oregon-ducks-star-kayvon-thibodeaux-launches-own-cryptocurrency |access-date=September 23, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}} It was named after the Jream Foundation, which Thibodeaux also founded. Thibodeaux graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism-advertising.{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2021 |title=CONGRATS, GRADUATES! |url=https://goducks.com/news/2021/6/18/general-congrats-graduates.aspx |access-date=May 19, 2022 |website=Oregon Ducks Athletics}}
Thibodeaux is an avid chess player, saying he used chess principles to hone his skills as a football player.{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2021 |title=How the game of chess has influenced Kayvon Thibodeaux {{!}} College GameDay |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyyJDcn9W8o |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=YouTube.com |publisher=ESPN College Football |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 20, 2021 |title=How the game of Chess has helped mold Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/oregon-ducks/how-game-chess-has-helped-mold-oregons-kayvon-thibodeaux |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720225105/https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/oregon-ducks/how-game-chess-has-helped-mold-oregons-kayvon-thibodeaux |archive-date=July 20, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=RSN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=DiRocco |first=Michael |date=March 4, 2022 |title=Thibodeaux checklist: Copy greats to capture QB |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33421951/top-nfl-draft-prospect-kayvon-thibodeaux-steals-moves-uses-chess-strategies-hone-skill |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He began playing chess at a young age, watching his uncles play the board game. Playing online chess became a passion for him.{{Cite web |last=Emma |first=Chris |date=March 4, 2022 |title=How Kayvon Thibodeaux's love of chess made him a top NFL prospect: 'I'm thinking moves ahead' |url=https://www.audacy.com/national/sports/kavyon-thibodeaux-explains-how-chess-prepared-him-for-nfl |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=Audacy.com |language=en}} He was selected as a player for Chess.com's BlitzChamp tournament, a rapid tournament for NFL players. Thibodeaux is also a minority owner of the New York Warriors USA Masters T10 cricket team.{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2022 |title=Announcing BlitzChamps With NFL Stars Fitzgerald, Thibodeaux, Parsons, And More! |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/chesscom-announces-blitzchamps |access-date=July 5, 2022 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}
Thibodeaux was present for the 2023 Grammys.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVAjJnpfRT/?igsh=NXNtbDRueHRoNGwy |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=www.instagram.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|kayvonT8}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=33960|espn=4426326|nfl=kayvon-thibodeaux}}
- [https://www.giants.com/team/players-roster/kayvon-thibodeaux/ New York Giants bio]
- [https://goducks.com/sports/football/roster/kayvon-thibodeaux/10601 Oregon Ducks bio]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thibodeaux, Kayvon}}
Category:People from Crenshaw, Los Angeles
Category:New York Giants players
Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football outside linebackers
Category:Oregon Ducks football players
Category:All-American college football players