Giants Rookie Reese Delivers Standout Game as Lawrence Taylor Watches From Sideline

Giants rookie linebacker Arvell Reese turned in another dominant performance Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, this time with Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor watching from the stands as New York beat the Cardinals 36-24 to improve to 3-1.

Reese, the fifth overall pick out of Ohio State, recorded the first interception of his career, along with nine solo tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and three passes defensed.

Taylor, widely regarded as the greatest defensive player in franchise history, was at the game as part of a halftime ceremony honoring the 1986 Giants team. By that point, Reese had already picked off a pass and pressured Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett into another interception.

“He is playing great,” Taylor said of Reese. “I think he’s a good player.”

Reese said having Taylor in the building added weight to the performance.

“Oh man, that means a lot, bro,” Reese said. “With a guy like that in the building, him setting the standard for how that position is supposed to be played back in the day. It definitely means a lot to play a decent game like that.”

The two met briefly during minicamp, and Reese said he hopes to build on that connection.

“Next time I see him, I have to have a good conversation with him,” Reese said. “He’s a legend.”

Despite the strong numbers, Reese wasn’t ready to call it a complete outing. “A bunch of plays I left out there,” he said.

The performance follows a 13-tackle effort against the Titans the previous week, part of a stretch in which teammates say Reese has elevated his game. “He’s been playing out of his mind,” fellow Giants defender Abdul Carter said. “Even in the first half, he’s making play after play after play. I told him, ‘Keep going, keep going, and finish strong.'”

Reese said the game has started to slow down for him in recent weeks, allowing him to play on instinct rather than overthinking situations on the field. He said that shift has only sharpened his ambitions.

“A game-changer, dominant player,” Reese said of his goals. “But I don’t think I’m anywhere near my ceiling obviously. Dominant, game-changer, that’s what I’m chasing.”