Wink Martindale has spent seven years as a defensive coordinator in the NFL, including the past two with the Giants, and about a dozen more as a linebackers coach in the league.
Martindale believes what he is seeing with edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux’s rapid ascension in his second season as a pro has been unique.
“I’ve said the guy has no ceiling, you remember me saying that before? The reason why he doesn’t have a ceiling is because he doesn’t allow himself to have a ceiling,” Martindale said before Giants practice Thursday in East Rutherford. “He’s leading the defense, he’s a vocal leader out there.
“It’s crazy because the guy’s only 22 years old, but he’s becoming that football savant in the NFL where he sees things before they happen. He knows what’s coming. That’s a testament to him and [outside linebackers coach] Drew Wilkin, and how hard they study the game. It’s been fun to watch.”
Thibodeaux, the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 draft, registered four sacks in 14 games as a rookie last season, but that number has zoomed to 11.5 with four games remaining, including this Sunday’s visit to New Orleans.
“I love Wink. Wink always has great things to say about me,” Thibodeaux said in the locker room after practice. “Man, things are just working. We’re playing great team ball and I’m doing my job.”
Thibodeaux’s sack total leaves him two behind NFC leader Danielle Hunter of the Vikings and one behind Cowboys defensive standout Micah Parsons, likely putting him in contention for a Pro Bowl berth.
Thibodeaux also forced a fumble for a second straight game and third of the season in Monday night’s win over the Packers, when he stripped Jordan Love, leading to safety Xavier McKinney’s recovery.
The Giants’ surging defense has forced multiple turnovers in each of the past three games, also including wins over the Commanders and the Patriots.
“[Thibodeaux] is in here working every day. He and Drew are in there watching tape, everything from A to Z, because that’s what he does,” Martindale said. “I can’t say enough about his work ethic, and he has that knack. To me, he’s a finisher at the football, whether it’s a sack, a strip-sack or the play he made Monday night. We had Love held up and he dug the ball out.”
Thibodeaux noted that the work he put in during the offseason to improve his conditioning and to maintain his strength deep into the season has been “paying off” during the Giants’ three-game winning streak — with undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito at quarterback — to keep them alive in the NFC playoff picture despite a 5-8 overall mark.
“This is what I thought I was gonna be,” Thibodeaux said. “I knew we were gonna be in a fight late in the season, We’re here, and we gotta keep climbing.”
And that carrot seems to be the only motivation Thibodeaux presently needs.
He wrote Wednesday on X that he hasn’t used negative things written about him last season for that purpose.
“Everybody has great seasons. Last year other guys had great seasons, this year I’m having a great season,” Thibodeaux said. “But I’ve been playing good football, and that’s the only story it is.
“I’m not playing good ball because people wrote negative things about me or because I’m trying to prove everybody wrong. This is what I do for a living and I’m happy and pro. to do it. I think that’s why I’m playing well. I take pride in what I do and I put the work in.”