Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux hopes to chase down sack record during 2024 season
Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has set a big personal goal as he enters his third season in New York.
Thibodeaux revealed at a news conference before Thursday’s organized team activities that he wants to break the season sack record of 22.5, which is currently held by former Giants great Michael Strahan and Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt.
“We’re just going to start this off, if you were wondering, I’m going for the record — so don’t ask,” he said jokingly, via NJ.com. “Every year I’m here, I’m going for Michael Strahan’s record.”
Strahan was the sole holder of the sack record for twenty years, having established the benchmark during his 2001 Defensive Player of the Year campaign. Watt equaled this record in 2021, also during his winning of the same award.
Thibodeaux, who recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2023, has arguably his best opportunity to date to chase history. This offseason, New York acquired two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers to pair with Thibodeaux and another Pro Bowler in Dexter Lawrence.
Although pieces like Burns have been added to make life easier, Thibodeaux will also need to make adjustments in 2024. New York mutually agreed to part ways with former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale following last season and then hired Shane Bowen. In April, Bowen said he wanted the trademark of his new defense to be “violence.” He’ll work on implementing that approach using a dynamic front line with the trio of Burns, Lawrence and Thibodeaux to hunt down opposing quarterbacks.
Thibodeaux, who was the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, thinks that football has undergone significant changes since Strahan’s era. He is optimistic that these changes will give him an advantage as he chases the sack record, and he is ready for the opportunity.
“Being here now, it seems Strahan didn’t have as many chances to rush as I’m going to get,” said Thibodeaux, according to the team transcript. “The game wasn’t as focused on passing as it used to be. I’m in a position that many others would envy. It would only be fair to give the fans what they desire. I respect myself by giving it my all, striving to be the best.”