Brian Daboll may not remain as the New York Giants head coach for much longer, but the effects of his questionable choices could persist well after his exit.
While the Giants were trailing by three possessions for most of the third quarter, Daboll persistently called on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who continued to take hits while trying to connect with ineffective receivers or on planned runs where he didn’t shy away from contact.
It was particularly concerning when Dart sprinted left for a 10-yard run on 3rd-&-10 while trailing 34-17 with 1:56 left, only to be tackled by 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune.
Dart is an aggressive leader willing to risk his body regardless of the score. It’s Daboll and Giants management’s duty to protect Dart at times.
That’s not being done.
“It was 34-24, we had three timeouts left,” Daboll said about not removing Dart in the final minutes. “We went for the onside [kick]. If we stopped them, got the ball back with, say, 50 seconds, we would try to play until the end. That’s our plan.”
Without Daboll’s fault, the Giants have already lost key players like wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo this season. Dart was pushed into action partly because Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen needed to save their jobs after co-owner John Mara declared 2025 their last chance.
Despite Dart’s performance as a savior, Daboll’s leadership remains ineffective. The Giants are 2-7 for the third consecutive year, and letting the franchise quarterback risk injury due to poor coaching will eliminate any remaining optimism about Big Blue.
Daboll’s uncertain job security is well-known. Dart’s response to whether he feels pressure to save Daboll’s job is telling.
“I understand the question, but I can only control what I can control,” Dart stated. “I don’t want to think that way. I want to focus on the present and make the most of our team’s opportunities. We should all adopt this mindset.
“We can win every game on our schedule. We, as players, need to make enough plays to win. That’s my perspective. Coaches call the plays, but any play can work against any defense. The same applies to defense. We need to improve. They’re not on the field, we are.”
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