New Giants tight end Isaiah Likely catches up with Post columnist Steve Serby for some training camp Q&A:
Q: Explain your X/Twitter handle @DaGorilla4.
A: (Laugh) Going in high school, everybody was wanting to be the King of the Jungle, aka a lion. At the time, I just felt like since everybody wanted to be a lion, I’ve never seen a lion go toe-to-toe with a gorilla. So that’s why I used to call myself ‘The Gorilla.’
Q: And the “4” is because that’s when you started playing football?
A: Yeah.
Q: On the field, do you take on the personality of a gorilla?
A: I do. I feel like when I’m out there, I try to be as upfront, sturdy and feisty as a gorilla can be.
Q: How else would you describe your on-field mentality?
A: Calm. As fiery and lit I be in the game, whether it’s amping up the sideline, the crowd, players, just being also to the point where if something bad goes around, how fast can we shut down the negativity to be able to put positivity back? Having that calm demeanor takes stress off the offense, the quarterback, the OC [offensive coordinator], head coach, to be able to just get things back on track.
Q: If you were going to build the perfect tight end, what trait or traits would you take from Isaiah Likely?
A: Really my competitive nature. Obviously, there’s a lot of great tight ends, everybody has things they do well, things they do at an elite level. But I feel like when I’m in between those white lines, can’t nobody stop me from being me, for real.
Q: Does Darren Waller remind you of you at all?
A: I talk to Darren a lot. I don’t really necessarily say he reminds me of me. I feel like I do things kind of unique compared to a lot of people. Obviously, I try to take bits and pieces from a lot of players, a lot of TEs around the league, but definitely watch a lot of Darren film.
Q: What things do you do that are unique?
A: I feel like a ball in my hand, I feel like can’t nobody tackle me, and that’s just the mindset I have every time I catch the ball, whether it’s a flat route or it’s a seam ball or a go ball, I always in my mind feel like the first man can never tackle me. And always, when you see green grass, go get six.
Q: What makes Jaxson Dart swaggy?
A: You guys see it, he has charisma on the field. When he scores touchdowns, when he throws a big play, he’ll let it be known that he’s comfortable in his own skin, he’s comfortable having that chip on his shoulder being the franchise quarterback here, really just showing them that he’s here to stay, and that he wants to win.
Q: What are your expectations for him learning this new offense and how long will that take?
A: I feel like he does a great job day in and day out. Nobody’s ever gonna be perfect, great players have bad days, but they just know how to bounce back quicker. So that’s usually what I tell him even if we have a bad day in training camp, sometimes I have bad days, too, it’s just how can we watch the film to get better, how we get on the same page? ’Cause at the end of the day, you’re here for a reason, you’re elite at what you do, and they trust you and everybody on this offense and in the building trusts you to be you every day. So really just going out there and reminding yourself every play, good or bad, that you’re Jaxson Dart, the starting quarterback.
Q: What kind of ball does he throw?
A: A catchable ball, every time.
Q: What would you tell Giants fans about how bright his future is here as their franchise quarterback?
A: Jax lives and breathes ball. I clown him for as much as he does on social media. It’s always ball when he calls my phone, whether it’s 5 in the morning or 12 a.m. at night.
Q: What did you say about social media?
A: Like little social media stuff he’ll do, like Fanatics, stuff like that. I joke around and call him like a quote-quote supermodel ’cause he has fun, he’s everywhere, but he’s definitely the quarterback you want in between those white lines.
Q: Whatever comes to mind: Malik Nabers.
A: Elite. Dawg. Leek. Growing to know him, seeing what he’s doing out here post-injury, I can only imagine what he was doing on a daily basis before. And I just know that when he gets back out there 100 percent, it’s gonna be lights out.
Q: Malachi Fields?
A: I don’t want to say shocking, but as close to a vet as a rookie can be. He takes care of his body, he’s quiet but outspoken, and then between the white lines he knows his job. He might have a little hiccup here or there, but for the most part, for a rookie he does really good, especially knowing his job, knowing zones, knowing blocking assignments, and seeing just the way our defense runs stuff, which is really challenging to be over there and still make plays for himself.
Q: Arvell Reese.
A: I call him Robo. That’s a robot right there. Running 4.3, he can run with the best of ’em, he can tackle and hit with the strongest of ’em. He’s gonna be really good for years to come.
Q: Pat Ricard blocking for Cam Skattebo behind Sisi Mauigoa.
A: (Laugh) That’s definitely gonna be a sight to see. Everybody’s obviously trying to picture it, but seeing it in practice, definitely have fun stopping it. Enjoy that.
Q: Skattebo.
A: I’ll say energetic. Obviously, you guys see Skatt from an off-the-field standpoint, but I feel like when Skatt puts his shoulder pads and helmets on, he’s definitely all about ball, he’s definitely a crazy man, but he definitely loves football.
Q: How does the talent level on this team stack up with your Ravens teams?
A: I feel like we’re young and talented, obviously. A lot of I guess, like, vets that are very young on this team. Brian Burns is 28, 29, Mane’s [Tremaine Edmunds] probably 28, 29 as well. A.T. [Andrew Thomas] is 29, somewhere around there. Quite a young older vet crowd. Obviously they’ve played a lot of games. And in Baltimore, the vets were really vets. They were about 32, 33. I played with as old as Calais Campbell [36 in 2022]. So just taking that aspect and understand that everybody here is really hungry for wins. Obviously, in the past, the Giants haven’t been a very playoff-friendly team, hearing the stories about it. So trying to bring a winning culture here, trying to see everybody’s fire in their eyes to really get better day in and day out.
Q: You see fire in their eyes?
A: Absolutely, day in and day out.
Q: You heard the stories about what in the past?
A: How the seasons prior have been. Obviously, I haven’t been here for the last four years, so hearing the seasons prior, hearing basically like how their day to days was, whether it was practice, meetings, etc., and then how it’s so much more different now that [coach John] Harbaugh’s here.
Q: What are some Harbaugh sayings in the meeting room.
A: Really just having a 1-0 mentality day in and day out. Always keeping the major details really just … simple. At the end of the day, winning football’s winning football, and how do you get to that point? And it’s stacking hard days day in and day out, and really just being yourself day in and day out.
Q: Does he use humor in the meeting rooms?
A: For the most part. Obviously, he’ll be a little serious, but he’ll throw in a smile here and there.
Q: Any jokes?
A: Yeah, he jokes. I can’t really name a joke off the top of my head, but he definitely has some.
Q: Is he funny?
A: Yeah. It’s like — I don’t want to say grandpa humor — but it’s like an older crowd humor, but he definitely gets a chuckle out of me every now and then (smile).
Q: OC Matt Nagy.
A: Well-spoken. Knows a lot about the offense, knows a lot about offense in general. Really just trying to put best players in their best positions to be able to show their talents, and be able to play everybody in the positions to be able to put a lot of points on the board.
Q: What drives you?
A: I’ll say family, and then myself. I feel like the biggest motivator you should ever have in your corner is you ’cause nobody’s gonna love and critique you as hard as you are yourself. Really just knowing every time I look in that mirror there’s always something to get better at and always remember as much as you critique yourself to show yourself as much love.
Q: Why do you wear No. 9?
A: My favorite number was four, I learned that four was retired coming here, so when I got here, I wanted to pick a number that was kind of sentimental to me, and then I realized in 2022, I was the ninth tight end taken. So I was like, “That’s a good reason to get this number.”
Q: Did that motivate you?
A: I’ll say in the moment. Looking back on the draft, obviously I was a little upset [fourth round, 139th overall], but I never tried to question what God has in store for me or the plan that He has going in front of me, so I just put my head down and told myself, like, “Just make them regret it or make them remember why they’ll always remember your name at the end of the day.”
Q: You had a visit before the draft with the Jets.
A: I came in with one of my best friends, Lewis Cine, another player, Jermaine Johnson. Saw their whole facility, talked to the OC, DC, owners, GMs. I liked it, but I’m here now (laugh).
Q: Did you think they were interested enough to draft you?
A: At the time I did, but I’ve learned quick and in a hurry in this league that you never know.
Q: Didn’t Ray Lewis once compliment you on your stiff-arm?
A: (Laugh) Yeah. My guy Ray. I talked to him quite a bit when I was over there in Baltimore. Always told me I was a great competitor, I never shied away from the moment, and that he loved watching me play.
Q: Why do you wear gray sweats in practice without pads?
A: I love wearing sweatpants in general. I usually roll up my sweatpants when it gets a little hot, and I like the Capri vibe. It’s something I’ve been doing since rookie year.
Q: Cody Paul?
A: If you’re a little kid, you definitely watched his highlights growing up. You’ll have to search on YouTube.
Q: I noticed it on your social media.
A: Craziest highlight you’ve ever seen as a Little League player. You would have thought he was the next … Barry Sanders, Devin Hester, everybody all wrapped in one.
Q: How did you come across it?
A: It was like a Tavon Austin highlight. It was one of those you’ve seen it, you just didn’t know it was Cody.
Q: Why did that capture your imagination?
A: Growing up, being a skill position, obviously holding the ball a lot, when you watch it, you’ll just see, like, the moves he’s putting on — whether it’s kick return, punt return in Little League, doing reverses, catching the ball — it was just like one of those, like, “I wonder if this is what the league looks like.” It was one of those moments. I watched Cody since, I want to say, freshman year of high school.
Q: Could you have been an NBA player?
A: (Laugh) Not at 6-4 ¹/₂ . I don’t think I would be able to run around with Steph Curry all day.
Q: You played three positions in high school.
A: I did. I’m probably — not probably — I am the best basketball player on this team. But it’s definitely levels when it comes to basketball (laugh).
Q: Hoops has helped you as a football player.
A: High-pointing a basketball is the same thing as high-pointing a football. Trying to go for a rebound, trying to go for a dunk, just being able to jump and land as safe as possible, and obviously playing on a football field when you high-point a ball just being able to stay on your feet and be able to have run after catch.
Q: Describe your wife Melanie.
A: The GOAT. We eloped. Love of my life. Would do it all over again just to see her smile again.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Jesus Christ, my grandmama [Madea], my daddy.
Q: Tell me about Madea.
A: That’s my GOAT. She was like my first superhero. She raised my momma, which is my next superhero. But she was the fire in everything I did. She was probably always the hardest on me when it came to sports, whether it was good or bad. She was always my No. 1 supporter, and she had my back like no other. She didn’t care. I could have gotten sent home for missing homework or something, and she’d always give me an excuse in front of anybody, but no, when I got home I always got in trouble, but she had my back through thick and thin.
Q: When did she pass?
A: In February [2025].
Q: Favorite movies?
A: “Friday,” “SpongeBob” — that hits home when he sings Goofy Goobers — “John Q.” with Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Chicken fingers and french fries.
Q: You are confident that the best is yet to come.
A: Absolutely. I feel like I’ve barely even scratched the surface on what I can do in the league, and then obviously having the injury [foot fracture] I had last year, just being able to have both feet back up under myself, no pun intended, just being able to go out there and remind everybody what I do at an elite level.
Q: What do you think of playing on the big and bright New York stage?
A: I love playing in front of any crowd, home or away. I feel like when I’m in between them white lines, I put on a show regardless. So it’s just me being me and having fun when I’m out there.
Q: Are you Likely or unlikely to be a fan favorite?
A: I’ll say Likely. I try to be myself every day, every play, every moment. I just try to be where my feet are, and try to put a smile on everybody’s face I come across.
Q: Goals?
A: Just to go out there and win. I feel like when you’re out there winning, obviously if I’m out there doing what I’m supposed to do at a high level, all the accolades that I want for myself will happen, but at the end of the day, the point is, we’re trying to win a Super Bowl.
