EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It was a Friday afternoon. The New York Giants have been winless after two weeks and coach Brian Daboll was in the course of his regular Friday information convention earlier than his workforce performed its house opener in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs.
A reporter was asking Daboll a query when rookie operating again Cam Skattebo, soccer’s model of the Tasmanian Satan, walked behind the media pack. Skattebo stopped, smiled and gave a sarcastic sidearmed wave to Daboll behind the row of cameras.
Daboll closed his eyes, smirked and shook his head. He had misplaced his practice of thought.
“Sorry, Skattebo,” Daboll mentioned as if this sort of humorous interplay was a typical prevalence. “Are you able to repeat [that question], please.”
There is not any one fairly like Cam Skattebo 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Lu3CHjYx0T
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 19, 2025
At that time, all anybody on the Quest Diagnostic Coaching Heart might hear was Skattebo’s trademark name.
“Wooooooooooooooo!” the rookie shrieked as he ran onto the sphere.
That is Cam Skattebo, the energetic and distinctive Giants fourth-round decide who by no means appears to speak with an inside voice and used to run into phone poles as a younger baby. He sprints onto the sphere with the keenness of a 10-year-old given carte blanche in a sweet retailer.
This was his routine as he got here onto the sphere at coaching camp. It has prolonged into the common season.
“It is a day by day factor,” Daboll mentioned as this all unfolded a number of weeks again.
Skattebo nonetheless wasn’t accomplished.
“Wooooooooooooooo!” he yelled once more moments later.
“Let’s f—ing go!” he added.
That is the type of energy Skattebo brings to the workforce, each within the constructing and on the sphere.
Skattebo and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart have added a brand new aspect to the Giants, who enter Thursday evening’s matchup with the rival Philadelphia Eagles (8:15 p.m. EST, Fox) off a tough loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. After Skattebo and his new quarterback had sturdy video games in Dart’s first begin, an upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers, this previous week was a actuality examine. Dart had three turnovers, and Skattebo’s fumble within the purple zone was returned for a landing within the 26-14 loss to the Saints.
However these are the gamers the Giants are relying on to guide them ahead offensively. Dart was a first-round pick of Ole Miss. Skattebo was a Heisman Trophy finalist who has proved doubters flawed in all places from highschool in Northern California to Sacramento State to Arizona State earlier than falling to the fourth spherical. Their youthful exuberance provides the workforce a special really feel.
“[Skattebo’s] like that just about on a regular basis,” Daboll mentioned after the information convention interruption.
It is who Skattebo is as a participant and teammate. It is evident from the tales advised by his teammates and oldsters:
Becky Skattebo, mother:
“Cam has all the time been ready to determine the way to stand up, over and thru issues. He would get out of each automobile seat you will discover. That is how he ended up with the ‘Houdini’ nickname as a result of in case you did not wish to be someplace, he was getting out of the scenario he was in. … He would put his brother’s shoulder pads on and he would run into phone poles. As soon as he acquired onto the sphere, it was no shock the punishment he inflicted on his own body and everybody else.”
Leo Skattebo, dad
“So that you guys solely see the soccer a part of it. He is not like that in his private life. He’s very quiet, [has a] very quiet demeanor in his private life with us. However then something that comes with competitiveness like video video games or basketball or soccer, that is when the depth comes out. It is like a swap that he activates as a result of if he isn’t enjoying one thing or doing one thing, he is probably the most laid-back child there’s. I’ve by no means requested him, nevertheless it’s simply sort of bizarre. He goes between the traces and he activates some form of competitiveness after which his power simply modifications.
“When he was little, he wasn’t a lot of an outgoing persona with the workforce as a result of he was all the time one of the best participant. So he did not want to fireplace the children up. The youngsters simply sort of gravitated towards him they usually simply sort of fed off of him after which relied on him. I believe the outgoingness began possibly at ASU as a result of I do not assume he was loopy at [Sacramento] State both. I believe ASU when he acquired with [coach Kenny] Dillingham and that atmosphere sort of opened up his persona extra, I believe throughout the locker room after which follow.”
“He was simply all the time robust. So when he was youthful, he would get in bother rather a lot by referees and stuff as a result of he would hit too laborious. You get flags as a result of, oh, he should have accomplished one thing flawed as a result of the opposite child’s laying on his again. His persona has all the time been the kind of individual that he’ll inflict all of his power on anyone. And it has been like that from day one. He is by no means shied away from that in any respect.”
QB Jaxson Dart, shut pal and fellow rookie:
“Skatt’s anyone who it would not matter the place he’s or who he’s round. He simply acts himself. I believe that’s one thing early on individuals strive to determine when you do not actually know a man. However when you determine that it is real, you determine what sort of pal he’s, what sort of teammate he’s. He’ll do something it takes to win. That’s one thing that guys actually rally round. He is a spark.
“The primary [time we met] we mentioned three phrases to one another and simply head-butted one another. That was sort of like the beginning of our relationship. Once we first acquired right here to the [Giants] facility and met one another for the primary time. We have been in a position to spend extra time on the aircraft to the [NFLPA] rookie premiere they usually put us proper subsequent to every. Clearly we’re nonetheless attending to know one another. I fell asleep on the aircraft and I get up to this dude wet-willying me and making an attempt to place meals on my face whereas I am sleeping. That’s sort of an correct illustration. It is 100% [who he is].”
QB Jameis Winston:
“When he acquired drafted, he despatched me an image of him consuming a ‘W’ [Winston’s signature bit] and mentioned, ‘Let’s go!!!’ The very day he acquired drafted. I used to be like, ‘Man, I like you.’ He is superb. And I all the time admired him at Arizona State. Simply seeing this, he ate at Arizona State. I knew he was wild.”
WR/KR Gunner Olszewski:
“He blurts out something. You do not know, typically it is proper, typically it is flawed. However it’s all the time loud. That is just about [in] any assembly we’ve got. He’ll say one thing. He is studying, although. He is superior. He is as real as they arrive. He is genuinely an fool. [Reserved] isn’t in his wheelhouse. He would not know the place he is at. Most rookies after they first get into the league are like, ‘Oh my god, it is the NFL.’ For him it is simply one other day enjoying soccer.”
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.:
“Everybody tells me, bro, get your rook. I am like, ‘Bro, what you need me to do? Inform him to be quiet?’ He is all the time yelling. He is very loud. We’ll be in conferences and Skatt asks a query — simply yells it out. He is likely to be flawed, however he’ll yell it out and everybody seems to be at me. I am like, ‘Bro, what y’all need me to do?’ It is nothing loopy. Similar to, he is all the time yelling. Whether or not it is yelling out stuff within the assembly room or simply screaming when he goes out to follow or one thing. He is simply very loud. I believe in case you paid him to be quiet for a day, he could not do it. That is what I believe.”
RB Dante Miller:
“I’ve by no means seen [some]one chew seeds louder. He eats loud. He does every thing loud. It is quiet [in the meeting room] and he is munching on seeds and I am like, this isn’t regular.
“What’s a loopy cartoon character? That is a really, superb comparability. Just like the Tasmanian Satan. I like that. However he chews his seeds very loud.”
TE Daniel Bellinger:
“Zero filter. First time at a particular groups assembly he asks, what’s our job? Our job is to play with pace, get off the ball. And this animal simply goes ‘Physicality!’ And it simply made no sense. [He] simply yells issues out. No filter in any respect. Whether or not it is proper or flawed, he’ll simply yell it out. That is Skatt for you. I imply I’ve had some characters. I really feel like [Sterling Shepard] was sort of wild. A few of these guys, Ihmir [Smith-Marsette] is a little bit bit wild. However this man’s one in all a sort. No filter.
“The primary time I met him we’re within the sauna after which we go into the ice tub and we’re sitting there within the ice tub and this man, proper once we get in, simply begins yelling. He is like, ‘Ahhhhhhhh! I am like, ‘Are you OK?’ This man’s a little bit completely different. And I’ve by no means met another teammate fairly like him.”
WR Jalin Hyatt:
“We’re taking a look at [his big block in the opener] and we’re undoubtedly making an attempt to show him to maintain his head up, so he would not get fined or something. However it’s laborious to do with him. He is a operating again, you realize what I imply? He sees anybody, he needs to run by means of them. So it is laborious to inform a operating again to maintain their head up. We’re making an attempt. It’d take a while.”
LB Bobby Okereke, defensive captain
“I find it irresistible. As a younger participant, that’s the way you construct an incredible roster. You might have veteran management and presence and younger power. He undoubtedly brings it. He is breaking down the huddle. He is hooting and hollering and getting guys energized. And from a physicality standpoint, he brings it.”
