After the 2026 NFL schedule was released, football fans everywhere rushed to see where their favorite team would open the season. For the New York Giants, it will be an exciting home opener against one of their biggest rivals, the Dallas Cowboys.
On May 18, the Giants held their Town Hall event, where fans and media got a chance to hear from players about the upcoming season. Several soundbites came out of the night, but one comment from Kayvon Thibodeaux immediately stood out to Giants fans.
Kayvon Thibodeaux let his intrusive thoughts win when talking about the Cowboys
"I hate them."Thibs
That was Thibodeaux’s response when talking about the Cowboys, and honestly, it is exactly what Giants fans wanted to hear.
This rivalry runs deep. The history between the G-Men and “America’s Team” is one of the best rivalries in football, and fans in New York expect players to understand exactly what these games mean.
Thibodeaux certainly seems to understand the assignment.
He also has every reason to feel that way. In games he has played against Dallas, excluding the Week 18 win he missed, Thibodeaux is 0-7 against the Cowboys despite recording two sacks and 10 quarterback hits.
The only other team he has consistently pressured at that level has been the Washington Commanders, against whom he has six sacks and 11 quarterback hits. The NFC East clearly brings something extra out of him.
This upcoming season is going to be a fascinating one for both teams. The Cowboys still carry the contender label every year whether it is deserved or not, while the Giants suddenly feel like a team trending upward after a massive offseason overhaul led by John Harbaugh.
For Thibodeaux personally, though, 2026 feels huge. With Arvell Reese arriving and Brian Burns already cemented as one of the leaders of the defense, there is pressure on Thibodeaux to take another step and remind everyone why he was drafted fifth overall in 2022.
The talent is obviously there, but the expectations are different now. His time is starting to run short in that linebacking group, and the bust conversations are getting louder after underwhelming just about everyone over the last two seasons.
If he truly hates Dallas that much, Week 1 is the perfect chance to show it.
Giants fans hate the Cowboys. It's one of the first things you learn entering this fan base, and it's clear the players inside the locker room feel the same way heading into a make-or-break 2026.
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