Strahan’s record targeted by Giants star who says ‘I’m going for it’

NEW York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has told Michael Strahan he’s coming for his all-time sack record.

The Giants icon and now-Fox NFL Sunday star became the single-season sack leader with 22.5 during the 2001 season.

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Since then, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt has come the closest to topping Strahan, 52.

Watt now shares the record with the NFL Hall-of-Famer after recording 22.5 sacks himself in 2023.

But Thibodeaux, 23, has said his goal is to take down down the mark.

“We’re just going to start this off, if you were wondering, I’m going for the record – so don’t ask,” the former No. 5 overall pick told NJ.com last week.

“Every year I’m here, I’m going for Michael Strahan’s record.”

It’s not clear whether Thibodeaux was being serious when he made the remark.

But the Giants young star explained why he thinks the goal could be within his reach.

“Now being here, it’s like he [Strahan] didn’t have as many rush opportunities as I’m going to have,” the pass rusher said.

“The game wasn’t as much passes as it was before.

“I have an opportunity that people would wish they could be in.

“It’s only right if I give the people what they want.

“I honor myself by putting everything on the line, trying to be the best.”

Thibodeaux has registered 15.5 sacks in his two-year NFL career.

The California native had 4.0 sacks in his rookie year before adding 11.5 in 2023.

Michael Strahan’s NFL career

Michael Strahan is one of the most recognizable faces on television.

But he came into his media career off the back of a hugely successful stint in the NFL.

Strahan spent 14 years all with the New York Giants from 1993 to 2007.

He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and helped them win the Super Bowl in 2007 – ending the New England Patriots’ hopes of a perfect season.

Strahan was also a two-time NFL sacks leader and also won Defensive Player of the Year.

The ex-Giants star set the single-season sack record with 22.5 in 2001 – a feat which was matched by J.J. Watt exactly 20 years later.

He is one of the best defensive stars to have ever played the game – finishing with 141.5 career sacks and 854 tackles.

Strahan will soon be joined on Fox Sports by another NFL legend.

Tom Brady will become the network’s top color analyst in 2024 as part of his 10-year, $375 million deal.

The retired quarterback recently discussed how he will handle the high expectations of him as a sportscasting rookie.

“There are definitely parts of me that are hyper-competitive – certainly they were as a player and as an athlete,” Brady said.

“I loved that competition, I relished that competition daily.

“I didn’t give a s**t if it was practice, if it was a game, if it was ping-pong, if we were playing trashketball in the locker room. I wanted to win.

“There’s other parts where I feel like I have matured a little bit and I don’t necessarily have to be absolutely competitive at everything.

“It’s a little more selective. … Certainly, as a broadcaster, I don’t think for me it’s about competition.

“I think for me, it’s about, ‘Did I put everything I could into it? Did I give the fans everything that they tuned in for?’

“That’s really how I’ll end up gauging myself.”