The New York Giants completely overhauled their quarterback room this offseason after officially cutting ties with Daniel Jones, who was drafted by the organization in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Heading into training camp, three quarterbacks were competing for the starting job: veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, along with first-round rookie Jaxson Dart. Giants head coach Brian Daboll has now officially named his starter.
Brian Daboll Names Giants Starting Quarterback
Many expected the Giants’ quarterback battle between Winston, Wilson, and Dart to continue deep into training camp, but in a surprising move, Daboll has already named New York’s starter for the 2025-2026 season.
Ahead of the Giants’ first training camp practice, Daboll let the media know that Russell Wilson will be QB1 for New York to start the season.
Russell Wilson will be the New York Giants’ starting QB to begin the season, head coach Brian Daboll announced. pic.twitter.com/TQdybfpRVO
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 23, 2025
This isn’t necessarily the biggest surprise in the world, as Wilson is the most proven quarterback on the Giants’ roster. However, announcing the Week 1 starter without letting the other signal-callers show what they can do in training camp seems short-sighted.
Wilson was once regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the league when he was in his prime with the Seattle Seahawks, but his level of play has steadily dropped since the team traded him to the Denver Broncos in 2022.
Wilson spent the 2024-2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he delivered a mediocre performance, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 11 starts.
Russell Wilson is cooking with the Steelers! pic.twitter.com/RM34tuVFp7
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 21, 2024
Pittsburgh opted not to re-sign the veteran quarterback, and he hit free agency. The Giants signed him to a one-year $10.5 million contract, and he now becomes the team’s starter.
Not giving Dart or even Winston, who started seven games for the Cleveland Browns during the 2024-2025 season, a real chance to compete for the starting job in training camp does not seem like the smartest move.
None of the quarterbacks on the Giants’ roster are considered elite, so it would make sense for Brian Daboll to let them battle it out in camp to determine which one gives the team the best chance to win this season.
While Wilson has been named the Week 1 starter, it’s important to note that if the veteran doesn’t perform well, New York and Daboll likely won’t hesitate to replace him with Dart, whom they took with the No. 25 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While it’s hard to understand Daboll’s reasoning, this move allows Wilson to take the majority of first-team reps during camp. That should help him be as prepared as possible and comfortable in Daboll’s offense when the Giants face the Commanders in their season opener.
