The New York Giants suffered a “gut punch”, to quote John Harbaugh, when starting quarterback Jaxson Dart was lost for the 2026 season to a knee injury.
It’s a big deal for Harbaugh. Not only is Dart his starting quarterback and a galvanizing captain, Dart’s presence — his upside, passion for football, and charisma — was one of the biggest reasons Harbaugh agreed to be to be the Giants’ new head coach.
But in many ways, Dart was the parting gift from Harbaugh’s predecessor.
That’s because while Dart
may be The Guy for Harbaugh and the Giants, he was drafted by the man against whom his team will be playing this week. Former Giants head coach Brian Daboll is now the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator, but he was the one pounding the table for Dart in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Daboll is, obviously, upset that Dart is lost for the year. Dart was “his guy” during the draft process and he was probably the most excited person in the Giants’ organization to move up and draft Dart at 25th overall.
“It’s always tough. I have a very good relationship with him,” Daboll said on Thursday. “Obviously he’s devastated with what happened. Prayers to him, his family, great people.”
Since the 2025 draft, we’ve learned that Daboll was the driving force behind the Giants drafting Jaxson Dart, and Daboll was probably Dart’s biggest fan.
“You guys are convicted in him. You believe in him. We did the process,” general manager Joe Schoen said as the Giantsconsummated the trade up for Dart. “He checked all the boxes. Let’s f—— roll the dice, roll the dice.”
“Good goin’ buddy!” Schoen exclaimed, grabbing Daboll’s hand in a big handshake.
Brian Daboll loves aggressive quarterbacks and big personalities, and Dart has both. We saw his affection for Dart in real time over the summer, and again as Dart took his first snaps against the Los Angeles Chargers. Nobody expected the Giants to win that game, let alone with a rookie quarterback in his first start. Yet Daboll’s faith in Dart was vindicated with the Giants’ first win of the season.
Roughly year later, Daboll was new team was preparing to face the quarterback for whom he lobbied. At least up until Monday night, when an injury changed the entire complexion of this game.
“We’re in a competitive industry, but we’re in a human industry too,” Daboll said. “And you build a lot of good relationships wherever you’re at with players, with coaches, staff members. And it was a tough one to see.”
Other than perhaps Lane Kiffin, there was nobody outside the Giants organization (and his own family) for whom the news was harder.
“I got a lot of respect for him, a lot of love for him,” Daboll finished. “And I know he’ll come back stronger than ever.”
Giants fans may be done with Daboll, and he’s now working to add insult to injury for Dart and his teammates, but on this they agree on Dart himself.
