The Shanahan-McVay coaching tree seems to grow new branches every year. NFL franchises have become obsessed with uncovering the next disciple of one of the league's top coaches, transplanting the tried and true offensive scheme onto their own roster.
The New York Giants are moving in a different direction. While the rest of the league seeks out the next Sean McVay or the next Kyle Shanahan, John Harbaugh's team is implementing a scheme that flips modern football on its head.
While some may call Harbaugh's choice of staff archaic, misinformed, or just plain stubborn, we see a different picture. The unique schematic elements that Harbaugh's offensive staff (specifically offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and passing game coordinator Brian Callahan) brings to the table are exactly what second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart needs to thrive in 2026.
John Harbaugh's Giants staff is equipped to bring the best out of Jaxson Dart
The modern NFL looks nothing like it did ten years ago. After a seemingly endless transition to shotgun looks, wide alignments, and quick passes, teams have transitioned to using heavy play-action looks from under-center formations. It's the hallmark of the Shanahan-McVay offense.
In 2020, then-Rams QB Jared Goff led the NFL in play-action attempts with 172. Half a decade later, the top number jumped up to 207, held by Matthew Stafford, another Rams passer. These play-action passes are thought to give the quarterback easy answers, manipulating defenses to give space to receivers.
Shotgun rates are decreasing dramatically with this schematic shift. Last season, the Rams lined up in shotgun formations on just 39.9% of their plays. It was the lowest mark in the league, but teams with similar schemes, like the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, were down around 50%.
The top three offenses in the NFL last season (the Patriots, Rams, and Bills), based on EPA per play, all lined up in shotgun less than 55% of the time.
So if these under-center, play-action looks are the key to making things easier on the quarterback, they should be exactly what Harbaugh's Giants are leaning into, right?
Harbaugh doesn't seem to think so.
The new Giants head coach hired Nagy and Callahan, two of the offensive minds straying farthest from modern trends, to help lead his offense.
Nagy was the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs over the last three seasons. In 2025, the Chiefs lined up in shotgun 80% of the time (third-most in the NFL), and Patrick Mahomes had just 57 play-action pass attempts (26th in the NFL).
Callahan was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans last season, and they lined up in shotgun 72.4% of the time (ninth-most) and ran 87 play-action passes (19th-most). Callahan was formerly the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, who posted the league's second-highest shotgun rate and one of its lowest play-action rates.
While Nagy has been clear in stating that he'll adjust his scheme to fit the Giants' roster, we can expect to see some carryover from his previous system. In all likelihood, New York will stick to shotgun looks while the rest of the league continues to chase under-center, play-action trends.
It may not be popular, but it's exactly what Dart needs. The second-year quarterback came from an extremely simple offensive scheme in college. His Ole Miss Rebels were fast-paced, running more than 70 plays per game, and they relied on spread, shotgun looks to create space for receivers. Dart's accuracy and ability as a scrambler were highlighted, while his struggles with anticipation were diminished.
Dart has already grown as an NFL QB, showing more willingness to work through progressions, but he's still fairly limited. He's at his best when his receivers are put in space and he can see the play developing in front of him.
The G-Men will likely blend this scheme with the more condensed, run-heavy offense that offensive assistant Greg Roman is used to. It's a marriage of two eras of the NFL in a way that most offenses haven't tried. If these three minds can come together, they might be able to set Dart up for the second-year breakout that Giants fans are craving.
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