Cam Skattebo Walks Away Unscathed After Botched Backflip

When Cam Skattego launched into a backflip at Saturday’s Fanatics Fest in Midtown, the crowd collectively held its breath. The 24‑year‑old New York Giants running back didn’t stick the landing, slipped a bit, and then sprang back to his feet with a grin and an eager clap. A quick, guttural shout followed – his way of saying, “I’m okay.”

It was hard not to panic. Skattebo is still less than nine months removed from a nightmare injury that saw him fracture his tibia and dislocate his ankle in an October showdown against Philadelphia. The injury was so severe that surgeons had to operate immediately, leaving many fans worrying whether he’d ever regain his pre‑injury form.

“I will not hurt myself before the season,” Skattebo told listeners on SiriusXM’s “The Fantasy Footballers” during a second Fanatics Fest appearance Sunday. He tried to paint a picture of what happened: "Those floors are bouncy, kind of like a WWE ring. I was mid‑air and thought, ‘Holy cow, I’m way too high.’ The surface gave a little, so I rolled back and landed safely. Nothing came out of it. I’m perfectly fine."

His confidence isn’t just bravado. In his rookie year, Skattebo racked up 617 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns in just eight games, helping jump‑start a Giants offense that finally seemed to click when fellow rookie Jaxson Dart took over at quarterback. That early burst earned him a spot as a fan favorite, and his recovery has been watched closely ever since.

The backflip incident isn’t his first post‑injury spectacle. In November, barely a month after his surgery, Skattebo took part in a staged brawl on WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” at Madison Square Garden, sporting a protective boot and getting shoved a few times for the cameras. Then, in May, he celebrated a home‑run at teammate Brian Burns’ celebrity softball game with yet another attempted flip.

Fans love his “maniac” side, but not everyone is kind. Skattebo addressed the critics head‑on, shrugging off the “brain‑dead” label some have tossed his way. "I’m just going to keep being me," he said. "If they want to say I’m ‘brain dead,’ that I don’t have no brain, then who cares?"

Looking ahead, the running back plans to stay healthy, stay focused, and keep entertaining – whether he’s dodging defenders on the field or attempting gymnastics tricks at a fan gathering. The giants’ backfield still counts on him alongside Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary, and for now, Skattebo assures everyone that nothing’s broken – except maybe his pride after the flip.