ARVELL-REESE-ROOKIE-OF-THE-WEEK
Arvell Reese called his performance on Sunday "decent" by his standards.
That's a scary proposition for future opponents.
The linebacker was announced today as the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week after he led the Giants with nine solo tackles, three passes defensed, one tackle for loss and his first career interception.
Reese helped the Giants to a 36-24 victory over the Cardinals as they improved to 3-1 on the season and remained unbeaten at MetLife Stadium.
"One thing you look for is called 'no-hesitation tackling,'" coach John Harbaugh recalled this week about scouting Reese in the draft. "In other words, guys who get there quick and don't give the ball carrier much chance to make him miss, they aren't really too hesitant. But you've got to be good to do that because if you're going that way and the ball carrier is coming the other way, you can miss when you do that too. So, he's got that unique kind of just talent to get there quickly and still hit his target. And you see it. He's doing it now. He's doing a great job."
@Titans | @steelers | @MiamiDolphins | @Giants | @pepsi
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2026
Reese's competition in the fan-decided award for Week 4 was Steelers safety Robert Spears-Jennings, Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate, his former Ohio State teammate. After the regular season, four players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors.
Reese leads the entire league, not just rookies, with 26 solo defensive tackles through four weeks.
The No. 5 overall pick became the fifth Giants rookie with at least three passes defensed and an interception in a game, and the only one since 1994 with nine tackles, three passes defensed and an interception in a single performance.
He did it on Sunday with Lawrence Taylor in attendance as the Giants celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1986 championship season.
"Oh man, that means a lot," Reese said after the game. "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."
LAWRENCE-TAYLOR-STARTER
batch30_1920x1080
26_SGT_Header