The New York Giants enter Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season in a 0-3 hole following a ‘Sunday Night Football’ loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
They’re making a change this week at quarterback. Rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart will start Week 4 at home against the Los Angeles Chargers with Russell Wilson slotted in as the backup. Giants coach Brian Daboll said it was his decision to make the change for Week 4.
“It’s my decision,’ Daboll said. ‘We’re going with Jaxson. We’re gonna get him ready to play this week and the remainder of the season.’
Daboll said he spoke privately with both Dart and Wilson about the change and the latter was ‘nothing but a pro, which I would expect’ in handling the change at starter.
Dart took first-team snaps in practice today in preparation for his first start.
‘I don’t think any rookie QB is ever just ready to play,’ Daboll said. ‘You put him in there because you think that he’s done enough to show you that he can go out there and compete, and he’s done that every step of the way. That’s why I made the decision.”
Historically, it’s tough for NFL teams to rebound from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs. It’s been done six times since 1979, most recently with the 2018 AFC South champion Houston Texans.
An 0-4 start is almost a certain end to any playoff hopes. Only one team to start 0-4 since 1979 made the playoffs: the 1992 Los Angeles Chargers.
A lot is riding on the Giants’ game this week against Los Angeles. A loss would likely end their playoff hopes and continue their postseason drought to three years under Daboll.
‘It’s a long season,’ Daboll said. ‘We’ve had three games. Haven’t put it together all collectively. Made the decision to play Jaxson.’