Brian Daboll lost his job, in part, because he could not keep Jaxson Dart healthy.
The New York Giants, of course, let go of their head coach Monday after Dart sustained a concussion and did not return in their 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Dart rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns on six carries against the Bears but was evaluated for a concussion for the fourth time in his brief seven-start NFL career.
Despite sustaining the concussion after losing a fumble with 5:13 left in the third quarter, and even though the rookie QB “didn’t seem right” according to Daboll, Dart played two snaps on New York’s subsequent drive before going to the blue medical tent.
He was ultimately ruled out of the game in the fourth quarter.
The Giants (2-8) will host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, in the first game under interim coach Mike Kafka.
Jaxson Dart Sustained A Concussion
Dart has endeared himself with Giants fans by playing with reckless abandon, especially while running the ball. He is second on the Giants in rushing yards (317) and leads them in rushing touchdowns (7) — according to ESPN, he has taken an average of 13 hits per game since becoming the starting QB in Week 4.
Dart’s status against the Packers is very much up in the air, since the rookie will have to overcome his concussion and clear the protocol in time to practice. Russell Wilson would start in his absence.
“Every player responds differently to a concussion, and every concussion is different,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on “Good Morning Football” on Monday. “Obviously there is a chance he is not [on the field against the Packers], which obviously means they could be without their star rookie.”
Dart had taken hit after hit, potentially to build up equity with the Giants’ veterans and fan base. But after young superstars Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo sustained season-ending injuries, the Giants’ season — aside from being lost from a playoffs perspective — now seems like a catastrophe with Dart out indefinitely.
Brian Daboll Could Not Protect Jaxson Dart
Even though Dart’s catastrophic injury seemed inevitable, Daboll continued to put the rookie into harm’s way, in hopes of saving his job. Daboll, who went 5-22 in his final 27 games as coach and 14-38-1 since New York’s 7-2 start in 2022, was an offensive whiz who helped make Josh Allen what he is now as offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills.
Yet, durability has been one of Allen’s hallmarks, and the reigning NFL MVP has been less susceptible to hits under current offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Dart’s toughness is enviable, but it is a head coach’s job to protect star-caliber talent — especially to keep him on the field but also to protect him from making reckless decisions. Daboll was fined $100,000 earlier in the year for meddling while Dart was in the blue tent against the Philadelphia Eagles.
So aside from blowing three fourth-quarter leads — and two in the final minute of regulation — Daboll’s most fireable sin was continuing to dial up designed run play and not instilling it into Dart to slide, while also uttering feckless responses when asked about the hits his QB took.
“It’s unfortunate he got hurt,” Daboll said after the loss Sunday.
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