How Cam Skattebo 'crazy' persona fits with Giants, John Harbaugh

Cam Skattebo made his return from last year's season-ending ankle fracture in a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 15. 

It took four carries for the second-year New York Giants running back to revert to old habits. Skattebo stiff-armed Vikings' defensive end Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins before shrugging through James Pierre at the sideline for a five-yard gain. 

"I've built into this culture of New York and New Jersey people because they are tough," Skattebo told The Sporting News. "They're gritty. They're crazy people. You see it on the marketing side. You see it on the media side. You see it on the social media side, and people say crazy things all the time.

"I've built into this culture of I would say to this side of this world — the U.S. side of the world — because I'm from California," he said. "I've molded right into the personalized person I am and get to be and how they embrace it."

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back joined the State Farm ad campaign roster this season along with Las Vegas rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Skattebo leans into that self-described "crazy" nature in his commercial that isn't short on head-butts. 

Skattebo is a no-filter personality, but it wasn't always that way. He shied away from the camera at a younger age. He played at Rio Linda (Calif.) High School and started at Sacramento State before becoming a college football cult figure at Arizona State. He had 284 total yards and three TDs in a 39-31 loss to the Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on Jan. 1, 2025 – a game where he also vomited on the sidelines. 

While Skattebo insists he's also quiet on the football field. He's part of a young Giants roster under first-year coach John Harbaugh that opens the season on Sunday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys. Skattebo is one of the intriguing pieces on an offense that features second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart and receiver Malik Nabers. Veteran Odell Beckham Jr. even returned. Skattebo understands his role in the offense. 

"I didn't really like being the loud player who wanted to get on people and get loud and scream when people needed to scream," Skattebo said. "Over time, I've let somebody else take that role. Now, I'm kind of just that energetic bug that brings juice to the people who need it." 

How Skattebo returns from that injury — and his relationship with Harbaugh – has already come into focus leading into the 2026 season. 

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Cam Skattebo on injury recovery 

Skattebo rushed for 410 yards and five TDs last season before he suffered an open fracture on his right ankle against Philadelphia in Week 8. In an appearance with Kay Adams on the "Up & Adams Show," Skattebo revealed he considered retirement.  

Instead, Skattebo and Nabers – who suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers – worked together in rehabbing those serious injuries. Skattebo said it became a "friendly competition" throughout the process. 

"I hate to say it, but Malik being hurt kind of helped the two of us, being able to kind of push each other and kind of find that end goal for both of us," Skattebo said. "He got hurt a little bit before I did, and so our timelines kind of matched up almost perfectly. Obviously we're both still kind of working through a little bit of things just trying to get back to who we fully are."

Skattebo's celebrity status did not diminish with the injury. He made an appearance on WWE on Nov. 17, 2025. The State Farm campaign is among the endorsements. Yet he maintained a focus to get back on the field. 

"Building my family around me, having the big supporters I have, just being me and people allowing me to be me when football is not football and I'm at home or I'm in public or I'm streaming or I'm doing a commercial," Skattebo said. "People allowing me to be me when I'm around them has really helped me through the process."

Cam Skattebo talks playing for John Harbaugh 

The odd-couple dynamic with Harbaugh – who had a 180-113 record and won Super Bowl 47 with the Baltimore Ravens – has been a subject of training camp headlines. Harbaugh addressed Skattebo's "infectious energy" after a practice scuffle on Aug. 26. 

Two days later, a clip of Skattebo's exchange with Harbaugh at the end of the Giants' 23-6 preseason victory against the New York Jets. circulated. Skattebo clarified what happened in that moment. 

"There's a clip going around on the internet of me saying something crazy to Coach Harbs — and there was nothing bad said," Skattebo said. "No demeanor was changed. I think it was the conversation was over, we talked and then kind of went back to what we were doing. He was watching the football game. We were actually talking about if it was more messed up to knee the ball at the 1-yard line or to run it into the end zone. 'What was more messed up to do?'

"That was kind of the conversation we were having, but we were trying to get out of there," he said. "The game was over. We were about to head to the middle of the field. It's funny that people take these little tiny three-second clips that they see and try to make it a big deal."

That comes with the territory of playing in the Big Apple. Skattebo's relationship with Harbaugh will be analyzed throughout the season. The Giants ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards with 129.1 rushing yards per game last season. Dart and Skattebo should be a productive tandem. Baltimore ranked second with 156.6 rushing yards per game with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry under Harbaugh. 

"I love Coach Harbs," Skattebo said. "Me and Coach Harbs talk every day. We have a really good connection. I think he enjoys that I'm a tough, gritty football player, and I really enjoy the way he coaches. Not a lot of people in the world nowadays in the football aspect like when coaches are hard on you and push you to your max efforts. That's something that I know is making me a better football player, and I think he sees that I care about that.

"He's a grown man," Skattebo said. "He's been doing this for years on end. He understands the game. He understands the media world. We're on a really good page with each other and really enjoy each other's company. I can't wait to continue to play football for him because I think it's going to be really fun."

Cam Skattebo on Giants, playing on Sept. 11 anniversary 

Skattebo believes the pieces are in place for the Giants to be a factor in the NFC East race. New York has endured three straight losing seasons and hasn't won the division since 2011. Skattebo says, "We're just a bunch of kids playing football." 

"I think the big thing is we have a lot of energy — from internal —  that we can't let turn into negative," Skattebo said. "I think continuing to give positive energy throughout the team every single day. There's so much energy built around this team and around our practices and around our games. If we can narrow that down to only moving in one direction that is forward and positive, it's going to be dangerous for other teams and it's going to be a fun year for us." 

Skattebo also said it's an honor to play in New York on the weekend after the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. It makes for what should be an emotional atmosphere at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. New York beat New Orleans 21-13 on Sept. 30, 2011 in the first home game after those attacks.

"That's a day that we have to really look at why we're here, how we got here and what this city has been through," Skattebo said. "Being able to play football for the city on that weekend when people are maybe mourning because they have lost ones that were lost on that day — maybe I could be the bright spot for that person who maybe isn't having a good day but they love Giants football and can come watch the game. Playing football on that day is going to mean a lot." 

Watch Cam Skattebo State Farm commercial

Here is a look at Skattebo's commercial with State Farm with Kevin Miles, who portrays "Jake from State Farm" and is promoting the Personal Price Plan.

"They've been doing commercials that fit the person that is shooting it," Skattebo said. "I enjoyed that they wanted to embrace my craziness and smash things and do crazy things — and allow Jake to be himself. They did a really good job on set with making me feel comfortable."