The New York Giants entered the 2025 NFL season with cautious optimism, a franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, a revamped offensive mindset, and hopes of turning around years of losing.
But as the calendar turns toward January, the narrative has shifted dramatically: Dart‘s performance has noticeably dipped since the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll in November, and his regression has become a focal point of frustration for fans and analysts alike.
When Daboll was dismissed following a 2-8 start that included several blown leads and mounting losses, the move was widely framed as a necessary reset for a floundering franchise.
Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was promoted to interim head coach in hopes that familiarity with Dart and continuity on offense would stabilize the team.
But through the Giants‘ recent nine-game slide, capped by a 16-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Dart has struggled to replicate the dual-threat explosiveness he showed earlier in the season.
In Sunday’s defeat, he completed just 7 of 13 passes for 33 yards, was sacked five times, and threw an interception, with the Vikings‘ aggressive scheme giving him fits all afternoon.
Dart‘s struggles have extended beyond one game. Analytical breakdowns of his production reveal that since Daboll‘s exit, his passing and rushing numbers have dipped, his designed runs have sharply decreased, and the offense has leaned more heavily on traditional run sets and conservative game plans.
In explaining the adjustments, Kafka has pushed back on the notion that Dart is regressing, framing the trend as a product of weekly game plans and situational football rather than a permanent slide.
He has repeatedly emphasized that the team remains committed to Dart as the starter and that each design is tailored to what the coaches believe will help the Giants win.
Many within and outside the organization have pointed to a mix of factors underlying this slump: coaching turnover, scheme shifts, lingering effects from a concussion suffered earlier in the season, and personnel limitations, including injuries along the offensive line and in the receiving corps.
What changed in the Giants‘ offense, and the consequences
The Giants‘ 2025 season quickly deteriorated after a promising start under Daboll.
Dart took over as starter in Week 4 and energized the offense, with early success including a win against the defending Los Angeles Chargers and an upset over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
However, a concussion in Week 10 in Chicago sparked a chain reaction: the team suffered a string of blowout losses, saw depth issues emerge, and ultimately decided to part ways with Daboll.
Kafka‘s elevation was intended to preserve offensive continuity, but instead the unit has taken on a different character, one that has reduced Dart‘s rushing role and emphasized protection over aggression.
