Broadway flop: Letting Saquon Barkley walk and other decisions that doomed the Brian Daboll-Joe Schoen regime

After years of unfulfilled promise, the New York Giants are moving on from head coach Brian Daboll. On Monday, the team confirmed it fired the coach after a 2-8 start this season. 

In his first season in 2022, Daboll guided the Giants to the playoffs, winning Coach of the Year. But he failed to build off that strong start, finishing 20-40-1 in four seasons with the team. 

Figure on the Giants eventually firing fourth-year general manager Joe Schoen. The pair's poor decision-making is one reason New York has gone 11-33 over its past 44 games. With that in mind, here are the five worst things to happen during the Schoen-Daboll regime.

1. Letting star RB Saquon Barkley sign with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency in 2024

In March 2024, Schoen and company let Barkley sign a three-year, $37.75M deal with New York's NFC East rival, despite owner John Mara wanting to keep the star RB.

"I'll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I'll tell you that," Mara told Schoen on HBO's "Hard Knocks" in 2024 (h/t Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson). "As I've told you, just being around enough players, he's the most popular player we have by far."

Mara may have lost even more sleep after watching 2018 No. 2 pick Barkley carry Philadelphia to its second Super Bowl title during the 2024 season. Last season, he became the ninth RB to rush for 2,000 yards or more in a season, with 2,005 in 16 regular-season games. This season, he has 519 rushing yards in eight games. 

New York, meanwhile, is still searching for a replacement for Barkley. Second-year RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. led the team in rushing yards (839 in 17 games) in 2024. Rookie RB Cam Skattebo — who rushed for 410 yards in eight games — looked like he may be the guy before suffering a season-ending right ankle injury in a Week 8 loss to the Eagles. 

2. Failing to develop QB Daniel Jones

Daboll, who served as Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator from 2018-21, helped turn QB Josh Allen into a star. The Giants hoped he could do the same with Jones, pick No. 6 of the 2019 NFL Draft. 

The coach failed to do that. Under Daboll, the former Duke star never threw more than 15 touchdown passes in a season. After he went 2-8 as a starter in 2024, the Giants released Jones, who subsequently signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

This season, Jones has thrived under Indianapolis Colts HC Shane Steichen, an offensive wizard. He's 8-2 as a starter and leads the league in passing yards (2,659). That suggests Daboll didn't maximize the QB's skills.

3. Not playing rookie QB Jaxson Dart earlier this season

QB Russell Wilson, who signed a one-year, $10.5M deal with New York in free agency, entered the season as the starter. He went 0-3 before Dart (pick No. 25) replaced him in Week 4. 

The offense became more productive with the Ole Miss product at the helm. Since Dart assumed the starting role, New York has averaged 23.6 points per game, up from 17.3 PPG with Wilson starting (via StatMuse).    

Daboll may not have wanted to rush Dart, 22, but playing him at the beginning of the season may have prevented the team from falling into an early hole. 

4. Not doing more to protect Jaxson Dart

When running, Dart often lowers his head instead of sliding. Consequently, he takes more hits, which can lead to more injuries. 

Dart suffered a concussion in a 24-20 Week 10 loss to the Chicago Bears after taking a massive hit in the third quarter. On Sunday, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported the QB has been evaluated for a concussion four times this season (including the preseason). Despite that, Daboll didn't indicate the first-rounder must change his play style.  

"I'd just say it's unfortunate that he got hurt," the coach said postgame when discussing whether the QB has been taking too many hits. 

5. Blowing multiple fourth-quarter leads in 2025

A well-coached team doesn't blow leads late in games. The Giants, however, have done that multiple times this season. 

In a Week 7 loss against the Denver Broncos, the Giants entered the fourth quarter with a 19-0 lead but were then outscored 33-13 in a historic meltdown. Even worse for New York is that it still led 26-8 with six minutes left in the game. 

The Giants collapsed again in Week 10 against Chicago. New York led 20-10 early in the fourth quarter but squandered it after Bears QB Caleb Williams threw a TD and rushed for another during a 14-point rally.