Former NFL linebacker and analyst Emmanuel Acho sharply criticized New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo this week, labeling him an immature little kid whose on- and off-field approach needs to change.
Speaking on Speakeasy, Acho linked Skattebo’s style of play to recent off-field decisions, including a botched backflip at Fanatics Fest and prior comments about CTE.
“He got to change up his style on and off the field,” Acho said. “To me, Cam Skattebo, how he plays on the field is a reflection of his level of immaturity off the field. It is immature in both ways. Remember he said, like, CTE was fake. It wasn’t real. Then he’s going up on a recovering leg, you’re doing a backflip, I think in jeans, for no reason. It just doesn’t make sense. Just do the part of the surfing celebration after you’ve already stuck the landing. So, to me, Skattebo is just a kid.
“In the NFL, you give kids millions upon millions upon millions of dollars. And yes, he’s a kid. But the pressure that’s on Cam Skattebo is not that of a kid. You and Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers, you hold the keys to the Giants’ future in your hands. I can’t afford for you to behave like a kid because I need to pay you like an adult, I need to respect you like an adult, I need to cheer you on like an adult. I can’t now baby you like a little kid.”
Skattebo’s CTE remarks, made months earlier on a podcast, were later described by the running back as a “tasteless joke.” He issued a public apology, stating it was never his intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries. Treating those comments as a sincere belief misrepresents the context.
The backflip occurred while Skattebo continues recovering from a severe 2025 leg injury that included an open tibia fracture, dislocated ankle, and ruptured deltoid ligament. He has insisted he remains “perfectly fine” and will not risk injury before the season, attributing the fall to a soft, bouncy landing surface.
Giants coach John Harbaugh responded lightly, saying his reaction was simply, “Dude, at least stick it.”
Acho, who spent time on the Giants’ practice squad in 2013, has a history of provocative takes. He previously praised Skattebo highly during the running back’s college career at Arizona State, calling him potentially the best player in college football.
Acho’s latest comments reflect a shift in tone as Skattebo prepares for a critical second season alongside Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Emmanuel Acho rips New York Giants’ Cam Skattebo: ‘Immature little kid’
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Benton, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
