Brian Daboll, New York Giants head coach.
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The New York Giants have a few reasons to be optimistic going into the 2025-26 season, and it's the first time in a while they can say that.
Sure, there are a lot of predictions out there that the New York Giants are going to tank to the Washington Commanders in their first game of the season, but those are just predictions, and the possibility for this team to excel goes beyond one game. It’s obvious that Jayden Daniels of the Commanders is a special talent, and the Giants’ defense is going to have a difficult time containing him. But, the New York Giants also have some good things going for them in the 2025-26 season.
It’s been a long drought for New York Giants followers, and the team’s 2024-25 record was 3-14, so pretty much as bad as it gets. But, that’s in the past, and it’s time to look forward. Head coach Brian Daboll is heading up a very different team this season, and hopefully that will translate into success.
So, no matter the outcome of Sunday’s game against the Commanders, the New York Giants have reason to hope in 2025. Let’s get into a few reasons why they could really shine this season.
The New York Giants Are Looking Solid
One of the brightest pieces of the New York Giants pie right now is the team’s quarterback roster. They have veteran and championship-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, veteran Jameis Winston and rookie Jaxson Dart. All three of these players are solid, so unlike many teams in the NFL, if their starting quarterback goes down, they could still have a fantastic season.
It all starts at the top, and quarterback Wilson, who is expected to start, is getting big props from his teammates.
“He’s the same guy every day,” tight end Chris Manhertz, who also played with Wilson with the Broncos, said of Wilson in a conference. “Things happen, but he’s the same guy every day and that’s what we need in our leader. That’s what we need as a quarterback, as the pulse of this organization.”
“He’s a guy who’s done it for a long time,” Daboll added of Wilson. “He’s got a lot of experiences. He’s been in a number of systems, he’s played a lot of football, he’s seen a lot of things. He’s made a lot of adjustments.”
The Giants Have a Solid One in Jaxson Dart
It’s not just Wilson who’s looking great. Dart has been an exceptional talent during the preseason. NFL analysts are keeping their eyes peeled at the current rookie quarterback class, and in a piece published on August 24 for FanSided, Wynston Wilcox says that Dart’s stock has gone way up because of his preseason performance.
“Everybody questioned the New York Giants for trading back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart, but after the preseason, it seems like a brilliant move,” Wilcox states in the story. “He’s probably the only other rookie quarterback that could have outplayed Ward in the preseason. Dart finished 32-for-47 with 352 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.”
He adds that even though Dart “may not start a single game this year, Giants fans have to be optimistic about their future. Russell Wilson is a rental, who’s only job is to buy Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen at least one more year. Dart is what’s going to save this team from mediocrity.”
Another reason for optimism is the team’s preseason record. This was only the seventh time in franchise history that the New York Giants finished 3-0 and undefeated in the preseason.