Brian Daboll sits down in his office with Giants.com for a weekly conversation about the latest at 1925 Giants Drive. We catch up with the head coach as he prepares for the second meeting with the Eagles in a span of 18 days.
Q: You're four starts into Jaxson Dart's career, a quarter of a season. From the outside, he has looked unflappable pretty much from that first preseason game in Buffalo. But from a coaching perspective, how has he grown from the day you told him he would be the starter?
Daboll: "He's been pretty consistent since he's been here – practice, preseason games, games. He's a good, young football player."
Q: Is it all about banking memories for a quarterback?
Daboll: "He's played a lot of football in his entire life. I know it's not the NFL, but he's played in the SEC. He's been pretty productive there. He's played a lot of good teams. He has learned our offense. We've tried to develop an offense that suits him. I think that's important for a young player. We've done it before. And that element continues to grow. The communication – you feel comfortable with this, don't feel comfortable with this, things that I didn't feel comfortable with I feel more comfortable with now, situational things. Again, like I said at the start of it, there's going to be mistakes, but he does things the right way for a young quarterback."
Q: How important is getting a routine down?
Daboll: "It's important. It's important for everybody. He's had his routine since he's been here, whether it's his prehab, his rehab after, his meetings, his throws after practice, the things he does during practice. I think that's really important to try to set up a routine and help him develop that routine, and then he has to take ownership. He does a good job with that."
Q: You've been around quarterbacks a long time. What are some of the pitfalls that you've tried to have him sidestep?
Daboll: "I just think for young players in this league nowadays, you've got to keep the main thing the main thing. And he does. He's an extremely hard worker. He just does things the right way, and he learns from his mistakes and he makes plays. He makes plays for us."
See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 8 matchup against the Eagles.
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Dru Phillips (22), G Austin Schlottmann (65)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Theo Johnson (84), TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
OLB Tomon Fox (45)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
K Graham Gano (9)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
G Greg Van Roten (74)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (89)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
K Graham Gano (9)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Dalen Cambre (83)
WR Dalen Cambre (83)
WR Juice Wells (88)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
K Graham Gano (9)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
WR Dalen Cambre (83)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
K Graham Gano (9)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Q: Now you'll see a divisional rival for the second time in three weeks. You did this with the Commanders in 2022 and the Eagles in 2023. Does it make the chess game that much more important and heighten every wrinkle?
Daboll: "They've got the same tape that we've got. The difference is you had a short week the last time you played them, so you do a lot of preparation and watch a lot of tape. During that short week, you're trying to cram everything into a couple days. There's plenty of things that you put on a call sheet that don't get called throughout a game. So, when you play that close, there's a pretty good baseline of things that, OK, we had this in and then you played them and maybe they played it a different way. But you can only do so many things. At the end of the day, it's going to come down to the fundamentals of the game. Then you make adjustments. And it's not halftime adjustments. It's drive adjustments, if you will. If they do this, you do this. How are they going to play you? Are they going to play you in this personnel, this personnel, normal football."
Q: Do you put things in, offensively and defensively, early in a game like this to see how they will respond?
Daboll: "There's definitely plays, I would say, and thought processes of, hey, let's give them this just to see what they're going to do. Then you have a few things off of whatever you're doing."
Q: Cam Skattebo is leading all rookies in scrimmage yards and scrimmage touchdowns. League-wide, the 2025 draft class has the most of both through seven weeks than any other draft class. Why is that?
Daboll: "They've got the right makeup. When you get guys that have the right makeup, that love football, that are smart, I think that's [important]."
Q: Are rookies more prepared coming out or are more ideas flowing between colleges and pros?
Daboll: "I think it goes to the situation that they're in – and them, in reality. When you get guys that have the right demeanor and have the right intelligence, that are mature for young players and that are talented, you use them. I'd say just their mindset and their toughness has really been a good thing for us. When you get guys like that, you use them. If they're not like that, you don't use them."
Q: National Tight Ends Day is coming up. You were once a tight ends coach. Have you dug into your bag with Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson? They both had 40-yard touchdowns last week.
Daboll: "You use the pieces that you think will give you opportunities to be successful. And you're missing your two starting perimeter receivers (Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton) for, I'd say, pretty much Jaxson's entire time. You have to try to figure out ways to move the ball and use the pieces that you have. Those guys have done a really good job."
Q: Brandon Graham has come out of retirement in Philadelphia. What have you seen from him over the years and are you expecting to see him Sunday?
Daboll: "A really good football player. Tough, instinctive, good in the run and the pass, leadership. So, I would assume he would play."
Q: You signed wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III to the practice squad. You had him in Buffalo. What does he bring?
Daboll: "Get him in here, get him on the practice squad. I haven't been around him in a long time but try to add some pieces to that room. He had a pretty productive year last year in Atlanta. Get him here, start teaching him and see where he's at."
Q: Is versatility his big thing?
Daboll: "Yeah, he's smart. Again, I was with him so long ago. He's been around the block. He's been a couple different places. Get him here, teach him our stuff. He's got good retention of some of the stuff from Buffalo and see where it goes."
View photos of the Giants' rookie class throughout the 2025 season.
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs against Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , WR Beaux Collins (81)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
New York Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander (91)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), G Jon Runyan Jr. (76), RB Cam Skattebo (44) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
S Tyler Nubin (27), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
New York Giants guard Marcus Mbow (71)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44),QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Chris Manhertz (85), OL Marcus Mbow (71), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
OLB Brian Burns (0) , OLB Abdul Carter (51), DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6),TE Theo Johnson (84), T Andrew Thomas (78)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reacts after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Kevin Sabitus via AP)
New York Giants' Jaxson Dart, left, and Beaux Collins celebrate after Dart's touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
A fan holds up a sign for New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Giants in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A fan holds up a shirt for New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Giants in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass as Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey, middle, is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter, left, and cornerback Cordale Flott during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, bottom, scores past Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29), cornerback Riley Moss, middle left, and safety Brandon Jones during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) rolls out to pass as Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, bottom, scores against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, right, gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, middle, runs against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reaches for the goal line to score a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (22) and safety Talanoa Hufanga, middle, break up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Beaux Collins (81) during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) signs autograph before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) warms up before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) joins teammates in huddle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass the ball under pressure form Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J.Jones (93) an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
