he New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday, less than 24 hours after a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears that saw rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart exit with a concussion amid questions about the team’s medical protocols. The move ends Daboll’s tumultuous three-plus seasons in charge, with sources close to the organization pointing to the weekend incident as the tipping point in a season already marred by injuries and underperformance.
Dart, the Giants’ first-round pick out of Ole Miss in this year’s draft, had been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal 3-7 campaign. But in the third quarter Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the 23-year-old signal-caller took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds while scrambling on a third-down play. Dart staggered to his feet but was pulled aside by trainers, who initiated the NFL’s concussion protocol.
What followed drew immediate scrutiny. Daboll, known for his aggressive play-calling and player loyalty, was seen on the sideline urging medical staff to expedite the evaluation. According to reports, Dart returned for one snap — a handoff to running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. — before being ruled out definitively for a concussion. Postgame, Daboll defended the decision, saying Dart “didn’t seem right” but that the team followed protocol to the best of its ability.
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“I’m concerned for the kid,” Daboll said in his Monday morning media availability, before the axe fell. “Jaxson’s toughness is unmatched, but we prioritize health above all.” Yet the optics were damning: Sideline video showed Daboll animatedly gesturing toward the field, and anonymous league sources suggested the NFL Players Association could investigate for potential violations of the league’s strict concussion guidelines.
This wasn’t Dart’s first brush with head trauma under Daboll’s watch. The quarterback had sat out two games earlier this season after a mild concussion sustained in Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys, with critics at the time accusing the coaching staff of downplaying symptoms to keep their young star on the field. Dart returned prematurely in Week 7, only to tweak an ankle, fueling whispers of a pattern.
“Daboll loves Jaxson like a son,” one former Giants assistant told The Athletic. “But that affection blinded him to the risks.”
The Bears game encapsulated the Giants’ broader woes. Leading 17-14 at halftime, New York unraveled in the second half without Dart, turning to veteran backup Russell Wilson, who threw two interceptions in relief. A late Bears touchdown sealed the defeat, dropping the Giants to 3-7 and all but eliminating playoff hopes. Fan frustration boiled over on social media, with hashtags like #FireDaboll trending nationwide by halftime.
For Dart, the road ahead is uncertain. Diagnosed with a Grade 2 concussion — the most severe short of a structural injury — he’s likely sidelined for at least two weeks, per NFL guidelines. The incident has reignited league-wide debates on quarterback protection, especially for mobile rookies like Dart, whose dual-threat style has drawn comparisons to a young Lamar Jackson.
Daboll, 50, leaves with a 22-29 record since taking over in 2022. His tenure began with promise — a playoff berth in his first year — but soured amid quarterback instability, offensive line woes and the pressure to develop high draft picks like Dart. As one NFC executive put it, “Playing with fire on concussions isn’t coaching; it’s gambling with lives.”
The Giants now face pivotal decisions: How to safeguard Dart’s long-term health, who takes over the sideline and whether this purge signals a full roster reset. In a league where head injuries can end careers overnight, Monday’s news serves as a stark reminder that wins come second to well-being.
