Daboll Ends All Debate: 'Russ is Our Starter,' Unveiling the Giants' 'Mahomes Plan' for Top Rookie Jaxson Dart

Giants End QB Speculation Before It Even Begins

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Any whispers of a quarterback controversy in the Meadowlands were emphatically silenced Wednesday as New York Giants training camp officially kicked off. Head Coach Brian Daboll wasted no time in settling the depth chart, officially crowning veteran Russell Wilson as the team's undisputed leader under center.

In his first press conference of the 2025 camp, Daboll left no room for interpretation. While acknowledging the competitive nature of camp, he drew a firm line in the sand regarding the team's most important position.

"The guys will be out here competing," Daboll stated to the assembled media, "but Russ is our starter." The declaration effectively anoints Wilson, a former Super Bowl champion looking to revitalize his career, as the man tasked with leading the Giants' offense this season.

A Proven Blueprint for the Future

So, what does this mean for first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart? Instead of being thrown into the fire, the rookie quarterback is slated for a role that the Giants' brass sees as a crucial investment in his future: an apprenticeship.

Daboll detailed the organization's strategy, revealing a belief in the long-term benefits of learning from the sidelines. "I think there are some real benefits from sitting and learning, especially with the experienced players and coaches here," he explained. This isn't just a hopeful theory; it's a model the Giants' staff has seen work firsthand.

The coach pointed directly to the precedent set by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017. Giants' offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was on the Chiefs' staff when a young Patrick Mahomes spent his rookie season watching and learning from veteran Alex Smith. That period of development is now legendary, serving as the foundation for one of the most explosive careers in modern NFL history.

By adopting this "Mahomes plan," the Giants are signaling a dual strategy. They are placing their immediate hopes on Wilson's veteran savvy and experience to win now, while simultaneously grooming Dart with a proven, patient approach. As teams across the league begin the grind of training camp, the Giants have made their direction crystal clear: it's Russell Wilson's team in 2025, with a meticulously planned succession strategy waiting in the wings.