‘We Have A New Team’

Kayvon Thibodeaux says fans should be optimistic about the 2025 New York Giants: “We have a new team. Every year in the NFL is different.” (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kayvon Thibodeaux is looking forward to his fourth season with the New York Giants.

The young edge rusher is one of the top players on the team. However, he hasn’t experienced much winning since his rookie season when the Giants took everyone by surprise and not only advanced to the playoffs, but won a postseason game on the road during the 2022 season.

Since the end of that season, the Giants have won just a total of nine games and finished tied with the NFL’s worst record at 3-14. However, they have a revamped roster with veteran Russell Wilson leading the way at quarterback and the future franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart backing him up and waiting in the wings.

There is optimism that the Giants will be better this season as they enter their fourth year under head coach Brian Daboll, who won Coach of the Year honors during his inaugural season in New York in 2022.

“We have a new team,” says Thibodeaux in a one-on-one interview on why fans should have confidence in the 2025 Giants. “Every year in the NFL is different. Super excited for all the talent we have across the board, and I think we’ve been working really hard off season to accomplish our goals. Certainly the first game, we’ll take it game by game, but we definitely are shooting to win.”

The Giants have a few interesting franchise pieces, including Malik Nabers. The second-year wide receiver every bit lived up to his billing during his rookie season, with the LSU alum clinching a Pro Bowl bid after breaking the franchise record with 109 catches to go along with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards per game (80.3) led all rookie wide receivers.

“He catches everything you throw to him,” says Thibodeaux of Nabers. “I think that’s the key to being a great wide receiver. He runs great routes, he gets open and he gets the ball. He’s a beast and he’s going to do his thing this year.”

Nabers will be one of the key factors in whether or not the Giants are better than expected this season. While New York finally has a stable veteran presence at quarterback in Wilson, they still have one of the lowest projected over/under win total odds at 5.5

The hope is that Wilson can lead this young core to success. The 36-year-old Wilson is coming off of a Pro Bowl season in his lone year — his 10th Pro Bowl bid — with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading Pittsburgh to the playoffs, while throwing 16 touchdowns against five interceptions.

Thibodeaux says Wilson’s best trait is his “consistency.”

“I would say his consistency,” says Wilson. “He’s very consistent in how he approaches the game, and I think you see that in this play. He knows how to control the game. He’s a great quarterback.

The Giants will have their hands full when they play the Washington Commanders in Washington in Week 1. The Commanders are coming off of an NFC Championship Game appearance and are considered one of the top teams in the NFL led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

“Simply, win,” says Thibodeaux of the objective versus the Commanders. “This is the first game of the season, so we just want to come out and play hard — show out for the fans.”

Kayvon Thibodeaux Teaming Up With Hellmann’s For New Fashion Collection

Leading into this weekend’s game, Thibodeaux– who is known for his style and sense of fashion — will show off his House of Hellmann’s attire. The Giants star is partnering with Hellmann’s — known for their mayonnaise spread — to debut the attire leading into New York’s game against the Commanders.

“Hellmann’s presented me with the opportunity to be involved with their dress tastefully campaign,” says Thibodeux. “It features a custom outfit, pants, jacket, hat from Zero Waste Daniel. Me and him curated it over the past month or so and it’s been dope. We were looking at having a monochromatic scheme with the Hellman’s logo and signature ribbon. I’ll be wearing it for the first opening game for the red carpet against the Commanders. It’ll be for the tunnel walk.”

The Giants star details the look of Hellmann’s palette with more of a “cream kind of mayo color.” Thibodeaux says this is the first time he’s partnering with Hellmann’s with “more looks in the works.” He calls it a “great opportunity to align with a household brand.”

Thibodeaux says he was inspired in his value of fashion by football icon and Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders.

“I kind of always took from Deion — you look good, you feel good,” says Thibodeaux. “You feel good, you play good, you get paid really good. Deion has always kind of been an inspiration to me when it comes to feeling good on the field and what you’re putting on. Ever since I was young, I always kind of took pride in getting dressed and going out there and playing hard.”

He says the “energy and enthusiasm” that Sanders dressed with during his playing career is what Thibodeaux tries to emulate.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say I molded my style (after Sanders), because it was definitely a different era of style,” says Thibodeaux. “I would say just the energy and the enthusiasm he had around getting dressed is kind of what I emulate. For my style, it’s kind of all over the place. I’m kind of an emotional dresser. Not only do I dress how I feel, but I like to feel like I’m in different places in the world, and kind of mimic those outfits, or those vibes.”