Cam Skattebo wasted no time making his presence felt in his return to the NFL field, and he did it with the same move that has followed him from Arizona State to the New York Giants: the backflip.
On “Sunday Night Football,” Skattebo scored his first touchdown since returning from a severe right ankle dislocation in 2025, barreling into the end zone in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. Then came the celebration. The second-year running back flipped after crossing the goal line, setting off a wave of reaction after the game even though the Giants walked away with the win.
Skattebo said the move was never in doubt.
“I was telling a bunch of people before the game, the first touchdown of the year will be a backflip.” Skattebo told NBC postgame.
The backflip has been part of Skattebo’s touchdown routine before. It first showed up in September 2025, after he scored against the Kansas City Chiefs. But when training camp opened this summer, he downplayed the idea of bringing it back right away.
“When game time comes around, we'll see when game time comes around," Skattebo said. "Right now, we're focused on training camp. We'll keep the backflips off the field for now."
Less than two months later, though, it was back.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh has not spoken publicly about the Sunday night celebration, but he has addressed Skattebo’s flair before. Over the summer, after Skattebo attended Fanatics Fan Fest in New York and tried a backflip he didn’t land cleanly, Harbaugh joked in July, “Dude, at least stick it.
You know what I mean?” He later said the two had come to an understanding once camp began.
“I did mention maybe no back flips out here (at camp)," Harbaugh said. "We agreed."
The flip didn’t keep Skattebo from producing on the field. He finished with 81 yards on 18 carries and a rushing touchdown, helping the Giants beat the Cowboys. Still, the celebration may be on hold for a while.
“I'll probably stay away from it the rest of the year.” Skattebo would go on to add in his NBC postgame appearance.
He left the door open just a crack for something different later on.
“I might do it (a backflip) here and there throughout the year, but you won't see it every time,” Skattebo said. “Make up something else now, gotta give the kids something else to do.”
Skattebo is scheduled to be back on the field Sept. 21, when the Giants face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.
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Kansas Coach Sees A Real Arizona State Threat In London
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