Giants Rookie Arvell Reese Shines in Victory Over Eagles

New York Giants rookie linebacker Arvell Reese played a crucial role in transforming a challenging afternoon for the offense into a division victory on Sunday. Reese concluded the game with 12 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble as the Giants triumphed over the Philadelphia Eagles 19-11 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Two of Reese’s sacks distinguished him across the league. According to Next Gen Stats, he became the first NFL player in 2026 to achieve at least two sacks from an inside-linebacker alignment in a single game. This tracking detail indicates where Reese was positioned during those plays. One of his other sacks resulted in a forced fumble and was completed in only 2.29 seconds, the fastest recorded sack in the NFL this season, based on the same analysis.

Head Coach’s Praise

New York head coach John Harbaugh lauded not just Reese’s production but also his development after the game.

He wants to do things the right way, Harbaugh remarked. He’s a great leader in his own quiet way.

Harbaugh also described Reese as humble, tough, hardworking, and coachable. The coach and general manager Joe Schoen felt fortunate that the former Ohio State star was available at the fifth overall draft pick for New York.

Impressive Performance

Reese’s game stats featured 10 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits. The Giants managed to sack Philadelphia quarterback Joe Milton seven times, with Reese responsible for almost half of those. New York’s record improved to 5-2-1, keeping them in the lead of the NFC East.

This win also marked an end to a prolonged drought in Philadelphia. The Giants had suffered 13 consecutive losses at Lincoln Financial Field, including a playoff game, since their last victory there in October 2013. Additionally, Reese became the second Giants rookie to achieve a three-sack game. The only other instance was by then-Giants defensive lineman B.J. Hill against the Chicago Bears on December 2, 2018.