Tag: Brian Daboll

Giants fire Brian Daboll

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Brian Daboll was fired as head coach of the New York Giants on Monday.

Daboll and the Giants lost their 11th consecutive road game on Sunday at Chicago and dropped to 2-8 this season.

Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will be elevated to interim head coach as the Giants refocus for a Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay is 5-2-1 entering the “Monday Night Football” matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants were 20-40-1 since Daboll was hired in 2022, making the playoffs in his first season with a record of 9-7-1, which earned Daboll AP Coach of the Year honors. New York won a wild-card playoff game at Minnesota for its first postseason win since Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

But the team never finished better than third in the NFC East, suffering a 10-game losing streak in 2024 before the franchise decided to bring Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen back for the 2025 season.

The Giants appeared to find a spark after turning to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and benching Russell Wilson. But the inability to finish close games was all too regular.

New York was up by 10 on the road for the fourth time this season before losing to the Bears on Sunday.

The decision that might have sealed Daboll’s fate came on 4th-and-goal at the Bears’ 1-yard-line with just over 10 minutes to play. Wilson, who entered the game while Dart was checked for a concussion for the fourth time this season, tucked the ball and ran toward the end zone on third down but was stopped short.

Rather than go for six points and potentially put the game out of reach at 24-10 with a touchdown, Daboll sent on the field goal team, settling for a 19-yard field goal and a 20-10 lead.

The Bears scored two touchdowns and added to Daboll’s poor fourth-quarter results. The Giants have allowed 115 points in the fourth quarter this season and the past three opponents — Chicago, the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles — all scored 14.

In a gutting loss at Denver on Oct. 19, the Broncos scored all 33 of their points in the final 15 minutes to stun the Giants 33-32.

Schoen’s job could be under extreme scrutiny the rest of the season as ownership determines whether he should be responsible for hiring the team’s sixth head coach, including interim coaches, since firing Tom Coughlin in 2015.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) is carted off the field with a leg injury during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Giants’ Daboll: Cam Skattebo’s ‘got a road ahead of him’ after surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said that running back Cam Skattebo underwent successful surgery for a dislocated right ankle but that a recovery timetable remains undetermined.

“He’s got a road ahead of him,” Daboll said during his media availability Monday.

Skattebo was admitted to a Philadelphia-area hospital Sunday following his gruesome injury.

“I’m not going to get into the particulars, but (surgery) all went well,” Daboll said. “He’s recovering, and obviously he’ll be missed, but on the road to recovery.”

The Giants trailed 14-7 with 8:07 left before halftime when Skattebo went to the ground after an incomplete pass. His leg got caught under him when he was tackled by Eagles linebacker Zack Baun. An air cast was placed on the leg before Skattebo was removed from the field.

Skattebo posted on X Monday afternoon, expressing gratitude to those who have reached out and who helped him.

“Thank you everyone for the support,” Skattebo posted. “Surgery went well. I just want to thank the city of Philly for taking the best care of me. Every moment I spent in the hospital with family and friends I felt loved and supported in every way. Thank you to the doctors, surgeons, and staff that did their best work on me. This is just the beginning of my journey and I can’t wait to show you guys all about it!!! GOD has a plan for me, stick the course and it will all work itself out. BRB (be right back).”

Before he left the field, New York players surrounded the cart to express their support and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart exchanged a light head butt with Skattebo. Daboll was asked about the tight bond Dart and Skattebo share.

“These guys spend a lot of time together, meeting time, outside the building,” Daboll said. “And that’s always a tough element to this game is when guys go down and get hurt. You hate to see it. Unfortunately, it’s part of the business.”

The coach said he communicated to Skattebo via text on Monday in an exchange the running back initiated at “4:08 this morning.”

“I mean, (his mood is) as good as can be through text,” Daboll said. “But you feel for your players when they go down like that.”

Skattebo, who scored three rushing touchdowns in a 34-17 win against Philadelphia in Week 6, caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Dart with 2:56 left in the first quarter to tie Sunday’s game at 7-7.

Skattebo, 23, finished with three carries for 12 yards and the one reception in the 38-20 loss to the Eagles.

A fourth-round pick from Arizona State, Skattebo has rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 207 yards and two scores in eight games.

Daboll said the team is still deciding how to split carries at running back moving forward with Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary and even practice squad back Dante Miller in the mix. Tracy leads that group with 159 rushing yards on 45 carries with one touchdown.

–Field Level Media

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell (30) during a Thursday Night Football game between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Oct. 9, 2025.

Giants, Brian Daboll fined for interrupting Jaxson Dart concussion exam

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The New York Giants were fined $200,000 for violating the concussion protocol after rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart exited their Oct. 9 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL and NFLPA announced Friday.

The league’s joint investigation with the players’ association found coach Brian Daboll and running back Cam Skattebo breached the protocol during New York’s Week 6 home win. Daboll and Skattebo entered the sideline medical tent to speak to Dart while doctors evaluated him, “creating the perception they were interfering” with the exam.

“While the parties agreed that Coach Daboll’s and Mr. Skattebo’s actions had no actual impact on the exam or the care that Mr. Dart received, their conduct was inconsistent with and demonstrated a disregard for the concussion protocol’s requirements,” the joint statement read.

On top of the team’s penalty, Daboll was fined $100,000 and Skattebo was fined $15,000 for conduct detrimental to the league.

Dart left the Oct. 9 game — a 34-17 New York victory — toward the end of the third quarter after absorbing a sack and clutching his head. Backup Russell Wilson came in for two plays, and his lone incomplete pass attempt left the Giants facing fourth-and-9 at the Eagles’ 42-yard line.

The TV broadcast showed Daboll peering into the tent and yelling at the Giants’ team physician, Dr. Scott Rodeo, on the sideline.

Following the game, Daboll said he’d apologized to Rodeo and explained he was seeking clarity on Dart’s status before deciding whether to call timeout and go for it on fourth down.

The Giants opted to punt, and Dart was cleared to return for the next offensive series.

“I went (into the tent) — didn’t actually go in, just stuck my head in, to see how our quarterback was doing. Just asked him, ‘How you doing?’” Daboll told reporters. “In no way would I want a player to come back out there that wasn’t ready to play. I think I have great respect for that process.”

The league and NFLPA’s review concluded Giants medical staff and independent medical providers followed the concussion protocol while assessing Dart.

The protocol dictates “only medical personnel deemed essential to the care of the athlete” may enter the medical tent while a player is being examined, Friday’s joint statement noted.

Dart, the No. 25 overall draft pick out of Ole Miss, replaced Wilson as New York’s starting quarterback in the fourth week of the season.

He’s steered the Giants, who are 2-5 overall, to two wins and two losses in his starts while completing 60.2% of passes for 791 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

The Giants visit the Eagles on Sunday to conclude their two-game season series.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) drops back to pass as guard Jermaine Eluemunor (72) defends against Denver Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman (92) in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Giants’ Brian Daboll not considering staff changes after historic collapse

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The New York Giants set team and league records — the bad kind — in their historic collapse on Sunday, a 33-32 loss to the Broncos in Denver.

The 33 fourth-quarter points surrendered were the most given up in a single quarter in Giants history. For Denver, they were the most scored in NFL history by any team that had been shut out for three quarters.

When Giants coach Brian Daboll was asked about the collapse on Monday, he stressed that the team wasn’t making any quick changes, particularly as it relates to staff changes.

“No, I’m not considering that,” Daboll said. “But we’ve all got to do a better job. It starts with me. There were plenty of opportunities to finish that game the way we wanted to, and we didn’t get the job done.”

The Giants led 19-0 going into the fourth quarter, then responded to the Broncos’ first score with a touchdown. That gave them a 26-8 lead, which they held until there was just 5:01 remaining.

From there, they were outscored 25-6.

“That was a tough one, make no mistake about it, but you’ve got to get back on your horse and get ready to play a very talented team that we just played two weeks ago. Look at the things that we didn’t do quite as well and we’ll get onto Philadelphia with the right mindset,” Daboll said.

The Giants’ head man also refused to point fingers at any particular culprit.

“I would just say this, it’s not about one play, one player, the offensive side, the defensive side, the kicking game,” Daboll said. “There’s plenty of plays and opportunities that we had and we didn’t end up making those plays. Get the results and there’s a lot to learn from it. We played some good football for a while, but at the end of the day, we didn’t finish the game.”

Still, if Giants fans want one play back in particular, it might be the Jaxson Dart interception late that helped spur on the comeback.

Facing a third-and-5 from their own 35 nursing a 26-16 lead with 4:56 left, the Giants called pass, and Dart stumbled while tossing a pass that was intercepted by Justin Strnad, leading directly to another Denver TD. It was the rookie signal-caller’s only turnover of the game, and he accounted for four touchdowns.

“They had some pressure, kind of got tripped up, but I have a lot of confidence in (Dart) and that’s why we called it,” Daboll said, defending the play call. “I thought (assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike) Kafka had a good play call dialed up.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) leaves the injury tent during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

NFL, NFLPA launch review of Jaxson Dart concussion protocol

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL has initiated a review of the concussion protocol applied in the evaluation of New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart during Thursday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The league announced Friday that the review will be conducted jointly with the NFL Players Association.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll ventured toward the blue injury tent while Dart was being evaluated for a concussion during the Giants’ 34-17 victory over the Eagles. Dart was injured late in the third quarter after he fell into Philadelphia Azeez Ojulari while being sacked by fellow linebacker Patrick Johnson.

“I apologized directly to our team physician. I just wanted (Dart) out there if he was OK,” Daboll told reporters after the game. “But I wanted the process, like we were getting ready to go for it on a potential fourth down, I would have burned a timeout if he could have come out there. I was asking how long was it going to take.

“Again, you want your guy out there. Not at risk of anything else.”

Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo also poked his head into the blue injury tent.

“I was making sure that Jaxson wasn’t hurting anybody in the injury tent,” Skattebo joked.

“He’s a dog. He wants to be back on the field. I knew going over there, I needed to calm down a little bit because I knew he was going to be on fire. I was trying to go over there before the drive was over, trying to tell him, ‘relax, relax we’re good’, but I had to wait and then when I was in there he was a little fired up, but we know we have to go through protocol and do all that stuff to make sure we can get back on the field. I went in there and kind of, ‘We’re good, man, we’ve got you,’ and that’s it.”

For his part, Dart said he just wanted to get back on the field.

“It felt so long,” Dart said. “Yeah, had a few guys popped in. I was just trying to get back there on the field. I understand they have protocol and whatnot. I was just trying to get out there fast.”

Dart, who was sidelined for two plays, completed 17 of 25 passes for 195 yards and ran for 58 yards on 13 attempts.

The Giants (2-4) visit the Denver Broncos on Oct. 19.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) passes the ball against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Giants coach: QB Jaxson Dart (hamstring) ‘OK’ to play vs. Eagles

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New York Giants coach Brian Daboll said on Tuesday that quarterback Jaxson Dart will “be OK’ to play in Thursday night’s home game against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Dart was listed as a limited participant because of a hamstring issue on the Giants’ injury report on Monday, when the team did not practice so participation is an estimation.

The rookie has played in four games, starting the last two with the Giants beating the visiting Los Angeles Chargers 21-18 before losing last Sunday 26-14 at New Orleans. The sore left hamstring was revealed after the Sept. 28 win in his first start, and he played the entire game against the Saints.

Dart has completed 39 of 60 passes (65 percent) for 313 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has rushed 19 times for 109 yards and one TD.

The Giants selected Dart in the first round (25th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss.

Daboll also said ahead of Tuesday’s practice that wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (back) would not participate.

The pair were listed on Monday’s report as non-participants along with linebackers Swayze Bozeman (ankle) and Demetrius Flanningan-Fowles (hamstring). Dart was listed as limited along with running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder), cornerback Dru Phillips (hip) and safeties Dane Belton (shoulder), Jevon Holland (calf) and Tyler Nubin (groin).

The Giants (1-4) host the Eagles (4-1) in East Rutherford, N.J. Philadelphia left guard Landon Dickerson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, could miss the next couple of games with an ankle injury sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) warms up before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Giants coach on starting QB Jaxson Dart: ‘It’s my decision’

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Rookie Jaxson Dart will be the New York Giants’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, coach Brian Daboll confirmed on Wednesday.

Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will serve as Dart’s backup when the winless Giants (0-3) host the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers (3-0) on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.

Dart, 22, was selected with the 25th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss.

“It’s my decision,” Daboll told reporters. “We’re going with Jaxson. We’re going to get him ready to play this week and the remainder of the season. He’s going to do everything he can. Russ will be the backup.

“The conversations that I had with these young men will be private. The details will be private. All I can tell you is that we’re going with Jaxson and getting ready to play. I’m not going to add too much to it. Those are private conversations; it’s my decision, and we’re going with Jaxson.”

Daboll said Wilson took the demotion in stride.

“Russ was nothing but a pro,” Daboll said of the 36-year-old Wilson, who is expected to remain in that role for the remainder of the season. Jameis Winston is No. 3 on the team’s depth chart.

Daboll dismissed the notion that the team’s winless record is the reason why the team is ushering the rookie under center.

“It’s a long season, we’ve had three games,” Daboll said. “Haven’t put it together all collectively, made the decision to play Jaxson.”

Dart was 32-of-47 passing for 372 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in the preseason and rushed for a TD against the New York Jets.

He will take over a team that went 1 of 10 on third down in a 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday and came away with one touchdown in three possessions in the red zone. They have two red-zone TDs on 10 possessions inside the opponents’ 20 this season.

The Giants are 27th in the NFL in scoring (17.3 points per game) and 31st in the red zone as well as third-down conversion percentage (27.5).

–Field Level Media

East Rutherford, NJ -- June 5, 2025 -- Quarterback, Russell Wilson and Coach Brian Daboll as the New York Giants players participate in their 2025 OTAÕs at the Quest Diagnostic Giants Training Center in East Rutherford.

Giants QB Russell Wilson touts Brian Daboll’s ‘beautiful mind’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

He has yet to throw a pass in a game setting for the New York Giants, but new quarterback Russell Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler, is already singing the praises of head coach Brian Daboll’s offensive knowledge and understanding.

He expressed his thoughts on Daboll and other topics while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.

“Daboll’s got a beautiful mind, how he sees the game, he’s coached tremendous football players, he’s won Super Bowls, he’s been around winning — national championships, all that stuff,” Wilson said. “… I think that the best part is in terms of the knowledge and what we get to share back and forth is pretty cool.

“… Just over the years, all my experience, his experience, how we see the game the same way.”

Wilson also sang the praises of assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who will continue calling plays for the Giants in 2025.

“Obviously Kaf’s played the game, played the position, he sees it like the quarterback does and he’s got a great viewpoint of the game,” said Wilson. “We get to spend a lot of time together in the quarterback room and I think Kaf is a really brilliant mind, too.

“I think the ability to share ideas, the collaboration, is what’s really special here.”

Kafka, with the Giants’ coaching staff since 2022, also highlighted the importance of communication with his new pivot.

“Yeah, just opening up (those) lines of communication, having dialogue on plays that he likes, things that I like, things that are within the offense already, maybe there’s some crossover, maybe there’s some new thoughts,” said the former journeyman QB. “It’s just about opening those lines of communication.”

After two down years with the Denver Broncos in 2022 and 2023, Wilson started 11 regular-season games for the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, posting a 6-5 record while passing for 2,482 yards (225.6 per game), 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He added another two scores on the ground.

Now the 2013 Super Bowl champion is adapting to another new team in New York and transitioning well.

“It’s going great,” said Wilson. “I think guys are working their butts off, man. We’re battling every day, going against a really good defense every day, too, so it’s even better.

“You always want practice to be harder than the games, that mentality of that. … I think we’re getting better every day.”

Wilson has also expressed his eagerness to play alongside talented second-year receiver Malik Nabers.

“I mean, that was (the) first thing I told you guys when I watched him on film. … It was just his explosiveness,” said Wilson of the 2024 sixth overall pick out of LSU. “Once he catches the football, there’s only so many people in the world that can do it like he can and I think he’s one of the best in the world to do it.

“He’s going into a second year of it all and it’s all fresh and all new, but he’s definitely experienced in terms of how he sees the game, his mentality attacking the football in the air. … It’s going to be a special thing. I’m excited to play with him, obviously.”

At age 36, Wilson added that he’s already enjoying playing for his fourth NFL team.

“I love this locker room, the guys, just the fellowship that we have together all the way from the lunchroom to the film room after practice,” Wilson said. “…It’s been great, man. I am truly grateful to be a New York Giant.”

–Field Level Media

Jul 24, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll talks with wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Giants discussed personnel plans — not surgery — with WR Malik Nabers

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Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers was kept in the loop about the team’s offseason moves and execution, from New York’s pursuit of quarterback Russell Wilson and other veterans to additions in the draft.

Head coach Brian Daboll described the conversation as more informational than consultation — even if Nabers believed he was being asked for approval.

Whichever the case, it was all part of building a relationship with the standout second-year receiver.

“I’d say we have a good relationship,” Daboll said Thursday, recalling conversations that went back to Nabers’ first training camp in 2024. “He’s got good vision on the field — smart player. I’m close with him. I think those relationships with all your players are important and particularly ones that play like Malik, but (Darius) Slayton, I’ve talked to a bunch, Wan’Dale (Robinson), Theo Johnson, GVR (Greg Van Roten), (Brian) Burns, Dexter (Lawrence) — I mean a lot of guys.”

Nabers, who rooted for the Seahawks as a kid and said he’s been a Wilson fan since Seattle won Super Bowl XLVIII, appreciated being in the loop on the Giants’ vision. He said he shared a view from the locker room with the coach.

“I think Dabs did a great job of asking me questions about making moves, and me and him were in contact about moves to be made,” Nabers said. “That was a great job of him reaching out to the players about things that we were missing that we want. I think they did an amazing job of putting a lot of great leaders in this building.”

Nabers and Daboll also likely have discussed the receiver’s ongoing toe ailment.

Nabers said he might eventually need to consider surgery on his injured toe, which became a complex management issue last season. He made multiple acrobatic plays in Wednesday’s practice and Daboll said the entire team — meaning anyone not on a restricted list — would be on the field Thursday.

Daboll would not share his thoughts on Nabers’ revelation about the operating table and said the eye test tells him Nabers is going to be an impact player for the Giants again this season.

“I’m not going to get into injuries and conversations of that. He’s working through it and like I said, I think you all saw, he looks pretty good out there,” Daboll said.

The injury dates to his college career at LSU, Nabers said, but surgery has only been mentioned more recently.

“That’s not up in the air but decisions will be made when the time is made,” Nabers said. “There’s been talk about it. It just never really came to a complete thought in mind for me to do it, but I’ve been managing it well, been running around feeling pretty good. Everything has been going good with the rehab, so my toe is feeling better. I’m just happy to be out there with my guys now.”

Daboll said the Giants remain flexible with Nabers’ practice plan. It will be important for him to gain reps and establish timing and trust with the team’s three new quarterbacks: Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart. He seemed to be clicking with Wilson and Dart on Wednesday. If his practice schedule is altered, Daboll sounds willing to make it work.

“We’ll see as it goes. We’ll go through practice, see how it feels,” Daboll said. “If we have to pull back, we’ll pull back some. It looked pretty good yesterday.”

Nabers, who turns 22 on Monday, set an NFL rookie record with 109 catches last season, which also was a franchise mark with the Giants.

Nabers totaled 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games (13 starts) en route to being named to the Pro Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Malik Nabers Youth Football Camp in Youngsville, LA. Friday, June 6, 2025.

Giants expect WR Malik Nabers (toe) for training camp

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New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that he isn’t concerned about star wide receiver Malik Nabers’ availability for training camp.

Daboll said the team is aware of Nabers’ ailing toe, an injury that he has dealt with dating back to his college days at LSU. But, the coach said Nabers is “doing good” despite the second-year player sitting out both organized team activities and minicamp due to the injury.

“Every person’s at a different part in — we’ll call it rehab, if you will — rehab,” Daboll said. “We just did what we thought was best for Malik to try to get him as healthy as we can.”

Nabers, 21, set an NFL rookie-record with 109 catches last season, which also was a franchise mark with the Giants.

He totaled 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games (13 games) en route to being named to the Pro Bowl.

The Giants selected Nabers with the sixth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media