This is all about New York’s rookie QB, and the coach and GM, and little to do with Russell Wilson.
— It was the question hovering over the New York Giants ever since the 2025 NFL draft in late April.
When were they going to turn to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart?
There were plans and hopes and dreams of Russell Wilson magically finding the fountain of youth while serving as the bridge quarterback to the No. 25 pick out of Ole Miss. It didn’t matter. The answer ultimately was Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Dart will be the Giants’ starter against the Chargers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). The decision came down Tuesday after coach Brian Daboll left the door open to a change on Monday.
At that point, it was over. There was no turning back. Dart starts and Wilson will be the backup.
This was always going to be the way it played out. Wilson would start until the Giants couldn’t justify him being the starter anymore. At that point, Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, in need of results, would have no choice but to turn to Dart.
The Giants (0-3) are one of six winless teams. Their head coach and GM are under pressure, having amassed a 9-28 record since the start of the 2023 season, and in 2025 their offense has produced fewer than 300 yards of offense in two of the three games.
« I’m aware of how many games we’ve won and obviously the results are not even close to what we want them to be », Giants owner John Mara said this past January. « They’re going to have to get better if we’re going to move on to year [five]. »
It’s impossible to ignore those words with another lost season potentially on the horizon. And so far, the results haven’t been better, prompting the move to Dart. It’s perhaps the final card for Daboll and Schoen to play.
In an ideal world, the Giants would have liked to win enough games so that Dart could essentially have a redshirt season. Schoen shook his head seemingly in agreement at this idea after the draft.
