Reese Shines as Taylor Looks On
Lawrence Taylor had the opportunity to witness the excitement first-hand on Sunday.
The legendary defensive player for the Giants was present at MetLife Stadium, where rookie linebacker Arvell Reese delivered another impressive performance.
“Oh man, that means a lot, bro,” Reese said after the Giants secured a 36-24 win against the Cardinals, improving their record to 3-1. “Having someone like him in the building, setting the standard for how this position is meant to be played back in the day—it really means a lot to me to have a game like that.”
Decent? Well, yeah, Reese holds himself to very high standards.
Even though he was again a force to be reckoned with on the field—recording his first career interception along with nine solo tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit, and three passes defended—the first-round pick felt it wasn’t quite time to celebrate.
“There were plenty of plays I left out there,” he remarked.
During halftime, Taylor and the iconic 1986 Giants were honored, while Reese had already made his mark with an interception and pressuring Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett into another pick.
“He is playing great,” Taylor commented on Reese. “I think he’s a good player.”
The two had a brief encounter during minicamp, and Reese is eager to build a rapport with the Hall of Famer.
“Next time I see him, I want to have a good conversation with him,” Reese expressed. “He’s a legend.”
The fifth overall pick from Ohio State, Reese has really found his stride lately. He was outstanding in the previous week’s win over the Titans, racking up 13 tackles, and continued to dominate in this latest match.
“He’s been playing out of his mind,” teammate Abdul Carter said. “Even in the first half, he kept making play after play. I told him, ‘Keep going, keep going, and finish strong.’”
In recent weeks, the game seems to be slowing down for Reese, allowing him to rely more on his instincts rather than overthinking. The positive outcomes are only driving him to improve further.
“A game-changer, a dominant player,” he said regarding his personal goals. “But honestly, I don’t think I’m anywhere near my ceiling. A dominant, game-changer—that’s what I’m after.”
