Thibodeaux recorded 152 total tackles, 54 sacks, and eight forced fumbles during his high school career, and was the second-highest rated overall player in the 2019 recruiting class. He accepted a scholarship to play college football for the Ducks at the University of Oregon over several other offers including USC and Stanford.[4]
Thibodeaux was selected fifth overall by the New York Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft.[14] Thibodeaux suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2 of the preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals.[15]
Thibodeaux made his NFL debut against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, where he had one tackle in the 23–16 loss.[16] In Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, Thibodeaux had his first career sack, forcing a game-winning fumble by quarterback Lamar Jackson in the fourth quarter during the 24–20 win.[17][18] On December 18, 2022, against the Washington Commanders, Thibodeaux completed a forced fumble and recovery for his first career touchdown. His performance earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 15.[19][20]
In Week 17, Thibodeaux sacked Colts quarterback Nick Foles. Despite Foles writhing on the ground with a rib injury, Thibodeaux could be seen celebrating the sack by pretending to make snow angels. As Foles was being carted off the field, Thibodeaux could be seen mimicking Foles "going to sleep." Despite being neither flagged nor fined, fans, analysts and Colts players widely criticized Thibodeaux's celebration as disrespectful and unsportsmanlike.[21]
He started and appeared in 14 games as a rookie. He finished with four sacks, 49 total tackles, five passes defended, and two forced fumbles.[22] He was named to the 2022 PFWA All-Rookie Team.[23]
2023
In Week 8 against the New York Jets, Thibodeaux recorded three sacks, a forced fumble, and nine tackles in the 13–10 loss in overtime.[24]
During a Week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers, Thibodeaux recorded a forced fumble on Packers quarterback Jordan Love.[25]
In his second season, Thibodeaux finished with 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, four pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.[26]
2024
Thibodeaux suffered a wrist injury that required surgery in Week 5 of the 2024 season and was placed on injured reserve on October 12, 2024.[27] He was activated on November 23.[28]
In a Week 17 game against the Colts, Thibodeaux recorded a strip sack of quarterback Joe Flacco. The ball was recovered by the Giants, allowing them to run down the clock and win the game, while simultaneously eliminating the Colts from the playoffs.[29]
In July 2021, Thibodeaux announced a collaboration with Nike CEO Phil Knight and shoe designer Tinker Hatfield to design non-fungible token (NFT) artwork.[30] He launched his own cryptocurrency, "$JREAM", in September 2021.[31] It was named after the Jream Foundation, which Thibodeaux also founded.[31] Thibodeaux graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism-advertising.[32]
Thibodeaux is an avid chess player, saying he used chess principles to hone his skills as a football player.[33][34][35] He began playing chess at a young age, watching his uncles play the board game. Playing online chess became a passion for him.[36] He was selected as a player for Chess.com's BlitzChamp tournament, a rapid tournament for NFL players. Thibodeaux is also a minority owner of the New York Warriors USA Masters T10 cricket team.[37]
