When the New York Giants signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in free agency, most assumed the move had a clear purpose. The writing was on the wall: Wilson was brought in to help head coach Brian Daboll save his job, as the Giants aim to win as many games as possible in 2025.
Many around the league believe Daboll, now entering his fourth season as Giants head coach, is on the hot seat and could be one of the league’s coaching casualties after the season. Some betting odds even have Daboll listed as one of the first coaches likely to be fired in 2025, although the Giants have fired just one coach midseason over the past 50 years. Even so, Daboll’s seat could be getting warm after back-to-back losing seasons.
The Russell Wilson-Brian Daboll pairing is make-or-break for both
Alex Ballantine from Bleacher Report broke down each team’s biggest question mark heading into the season, and his for the Giants was whether the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback can save Daboll’s job or not:
“Russell Wilson and Brian Daboll haven't had a ton of time to get to know one another, but they have to feel like kindred spirits going into the 2025 season. Daboll is probably on his last strike as Giants coach. It wouldn't be surprising to see them move on in the offseason if he can't get some momentum going in the Big Apple. Wilson is probably on his last chance as an NFL starting quarterback. His tour as a veteran stop-gap has included stops in Denver and Pittsburgh. Both were quick to pass on doing the experience again. The head coach-QB combo is going to have to find chemistry early and that starts in training camp. There are things to get excited about in the future. Jaxson Dart could be the quarterback of the future and Abdul Carter is a potential superstar. But success in the short term is likely going to depend on how quickly Wilson and Daboll can come together and put the offense on a winning path.”
Ballentine makes a good point in noting that not only is Daboll on the hot seat, but Wilson, to an extent, is probably feeling the pressure as well, considering this could be his last chance to prove he can still be a starting quarterback in the NFL, depending on how his stint with the G-Men goes.
With New York taking Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft back in April, the clear picture for the future is to have Dart be the franchise quarterback for the team. The only question is when that move takes place. If Wilson has any say, it won’t be until 2026. If Wilson struggles, or if the Giants struggle to the point where they’re no longer in playoff contention, then Dart could see the field much sooner than most might expect.
But with that said, Dart was very much a Daboll pick, and it would seem a bit unfair for the Giants to select Dart, only for them to fire Daboll before he really gets the chance to coach and develop the rookie quarterback into the future. By that premise, Daboll should be back in 2026 regardless of what happens in 2025. Right? Well, nothing is ever guaranteed in the NFL, especially a coach’s job, and especially one if they don’t win enough in New York.
While Dart’s time will eventually come, Wilson is the current Giants starting quarterback and the guy Daboll is leaning on to help guide the team out of the NFC East basement. Wilson and Daboll probably see similar things in one another, as they’re both relying on each other to stay employed and relevant in the league. A bounce-back season for the Giants in 2025 would certainly help Daboll keep his job—and it would probably earn Wilson another starting gig in 2026, even if it’s not with the Giants.
Chances are, Wilson and Daboll are probably each other’s biggest fans right now, because both share a lot of similarities and have a lot in common heading into a season where their future could be in question afterward.