Cam Skattebo’s viral interview clip explains everything about the Giants RB’s playing style

The New York Giants pulled off a shocking 34-17 win over the reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles in last week’s Thursday Night Football showdown, and much of that was thanks to Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo.

Skattebo, the Giants’ fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, has had a spectacular rookie season so far, and put up 98 rushing yards and three touchdowns in their victory over the Eagles. The performance was so impressive that an old interview with his mother has resurfaced and gone viral again, and it explains a lot about his playing style.

‘Houdini’ in pads: Cam Skattebo’s mom’s story sums up the Giants star perfectly

Becky Skattebo spoke to ESPN back in January, when her son was playing for Arizona State, and she revealed the roots of her son’s fearless, aggressive style of play. She shared that young Cam earned the nickname “Houdini” because he could wriggle out of anything, including child seats.

“Cameron’s always been able to figure out how to get up, over, or through things,” she said. “He would get out of any cart seat you could find. That’s how he ended up with the ‘Houdini’ nickname because if he didn’t want to be somewhere, he was getting out of the situation he was in.”

Even more telling, she also shared that he once practiced “tackling” by running full speed into telephone poles while wearing his brother’s shoulder pads. “Once he got onto the field, it was no surprise the punishment he inflicted on his own body and everybody else,” she said.

That relentless toughness has carried over to the NFL, where Skattebo’s aggressive runs and playful personality have made him an instant fan favorite in New York. After the win, the rookie joked he was “going to sleep with [his] game ball as a pillow,” highlighting the mix of grit and charm that’s quickly defining his early NFL career.

The Giants improved to 2-4 after the win. This week, they’ll travel to Denver, Colorado to take on the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, October 19 at 4:05 p.m. ET.

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