Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Episode: Why Giants Fired Brian Daboll and What’s Next for Jaxson Dart?
Date: November 11, 2025
Hosts: Dianna Russini (The Athletic’s Senior NFL Insider), James Palmer (insider), Chase Daniel (ex-quarterback)

Episode Overview

This packed episode delivers real-time analysis and insider details about Brian Daboll’s firing as head coach of the New York Giants, what lies ahead for rookie QB Jaxson Dart, and implications for the franchise. The trio also debates which NFL teams are true Super Bowl contenders, who’s on the bubble, and MVP frontrunners after a wild Week 10, drawing on Chase Daniel’s viral social media post.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Super Bowl Contenders: “Convinced, Concerned, Can’t Decide”

Based on Chase Daniel's social media rankings

A. Convinced: New England Patriots (04:46–12:53)

• Patriots’ Statement Win:

  • 8–2, first in AFC East after beating the Bucs in Tampa (28–23).
  • Drake May's QB rise, described as “should be at the top of every MVP list” (09:40).
  • Defense setting the edge versus the run; Josh McDaniels’ playcalling compared to Tom Brady era.
  • Mike Vrabel’s leadership and team buy-in:
    • “It’s a buy-in. Maybe with Vrabel, easier with a lot of the young guys... Everybody seems to fully buy in.” – James Palmer (08:42)
  • Schedule outlook: Potential to start 11–2 heading into late season (09:34).

• Defining ‘Leader of Men’:

  • “What they're doing in New England is the definition of leader of men. [...] It's decisive, it's tough, it's relentless...The underestimated part of what they do so well is game management.” – Dianna Russini (10:55–12:01)

B. Concern: Buffalo Bills (12:53–19:33)

• Recent Struggles:

  • Loss to Dolphins drops them to 6–3 (blowout score: 30–13).
  • Concerns over Josh Allen’s turnovers, lack of run game, and shallow group of playmakers.
  • “If the Buffalo Bills can’t run the football, they have no one outside who can get open. That is the biggest issue.” – Chase Daniel (13:53)
  • Teams like Miami are providing a blueprint: stack the box, play man, force Josh into impatience.
  • Evidence that Buffalo’s front office failed to land a difference-maker WR at deadline despite major effort.

• Sense of Unease:

  • “I don’t know if I’ve ever felt worse about a 6–3 team than I do the Buffalo Bills right now.” – Chase Daniel (18:24)

C. Chiefs and Ravens: What Prevents their Dominance? (20:08–22:32)

• Chiefs:
  • Issue winning close games; less reliable in one-score matchups this year.
  • Mahomes at MVP level but needs support from defense and run game.
• Ravens:
  • Lamar Jackson’s health is everything.
    “If Lamar Jackson’s in the game, they’re gonna win, because that’s the facts, right?” – Dianna Russini (22:11)

D. NFC: Teams on the Bubble (23:17–28:21)

• Lions, Packers, Eagles:
  • Lions: Now creative with Dan Campbell calling plays, getting the ball to stars early.
  • Packers: Offense trying to do too much, needs simplification.
  • Eagles: “Eagles fans hate me…do I add the Eagles?” – Chase Daniel (24:48)
• Seahawks, Rams:
  • “The Rams and the Seahawks to me are the most real—holy sh*t, they’re good teams…Like, I don’t have any concerns.” – Dianna Russini (27:15)
  • McVay’s genius perhaps under-credited because of L.A. market:
    “If he was head coach of the Cowboys or Bears, he’d be talked about every single week.” – Chase Daniel (29:07)

2. Breaking News: Brian Daboll Fired as Giants Head Coach (34:46–44:24)

A. Why Did This Happen?

• Giants’ improvement in 2022 set expectations too high for a rebuilding roster.
• Dart’s concussion during the Bears game triggered a sharp downturn.
• Reports of loss of confidence from ownership despite no obvious locker room loss:
  • “I never got the sense that he lost the locker room through all of this, but in the end…I think collectively being a winner has been the hard part.” – Dianna Russini (34:46)
• Giants nearly fired Daboll last year, only kept after “convincing ownership after a Friday meeting.” (36:56)

B. What’s Next for Jaxson Dart?

• Challenging road: set to play for third head coach in 12 months (Daboll > Kafka, interim > TBD).
• “He is the franchise quarterback for the New York Giants…It doesn’t help that you had four double-digit blown leads.” – Chase Daniel (37:39)
• Concern: Can Kafka stabilize Dart’s growth midseason?

C. Should Coaching Staff Have Protected Dart?

• “At the end of the day, though, the player has to protect himself...We always used to say, hey, know when the journey’s over.” – Chase Daniel (40:35)
• Concerns over running QBs taking too many hits persist.

D. Ownership and Future Direction

• Giants will keep GM Joe Schoen; Mike Kafka now interim HC; defensive staff intact.
• “No other staff changes are right. So they’re going to stick with Joe Shane as the general manager…So they’re going to try to I think ride the ship here in place.” – Dianna Russini (43:00)

E. Best Candidate For the Giants Job?

• Giants job much more attractive than Titans.
• “You have to do everything you can to get this hire right for Jackson [Dart]...When the carousel’s full and ready to go…I would probably put this job really high at the top…” – Chase Daniel (46:39)
• Offensive-minded, proven head coach preferred.

3. MVP Race: Who’s the Frontrunner? (51:10–58:57)

Top Contenders (as of Week 10)

• Dianna Russini:

  1. Sam Darnold (“I think he’s playing at an MVP level.” – 52:10)
  2. Matthew Stafford
  3. Drake May/Jonathan Taylor

• Chase Daniel:

  1. Drake May (“Far and away…just everything he’s been able to do…” – 54:40)
  2. Matthew Stafford
  3. Jonathan Taylor

• James Palmer:

  1. Matthew Stafford (“He has Puka Nacua. He has Davante Adams ... My back hurts.” – 56:10)
  2. Drake May
  3. Jonathan Taylor

Running Backs’ MVP Case

• Acknowledgment it’s a QB award, but JT’s impact huge (“Most valuable player. The Eagles win a lot of games without them. You put Jonathan Taylor not on the Colts, they don’t have four wins.” – Chase Daniel, 54:05).

Fun Side Debates

• Stafford’s no-look passes (“This has been happening with Stafford forever.” – James Palmer, 57:09)
• Whether he’s ever played better: “Hell yeah. Yes. Awesome.” – Chase Daniel (58:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vrabel & the Patriots:
  “The way they attack defenses, the way they game plan…it looks a lot like number 12 was back there back in the Patriot days.” – Chase Daniel (06:52)

• On the Bills:
  “When Buffalo cannot run the football, they have no one outside that can get open. That is the biggest issue.” – Chase Daniel (13:53)

• On the Ravens:
  “If Lamar Jackson's in the game, they're gonna win because that's the facts, right?” – Dianna Russini (22:11)

• On Daboll’s Firing:
  “I think it's fair to say Brian Daboll is a good coach on offense…But collectively, being a winner has been the hard part.” – Dianna Russini (34:46)

• On Giants’ QB Future:
  “Everything…is Jackson Dart…Do anything and everything you can to get this hire right for Jackson.” – Chase Daniel (46:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Patriots Analysis: 04:46–12:53
• Bills Woes: 12:53–19:33
• Chiefs/Ravens Concerns: 20:08–22:32
• NFC Bubble Teams: 23:17–28:21
• Giants Fire Daboll / Future for Jaxson Dart: 34:46–47:44
• MVP Candidates: 51:10–58:57

Recap & Flow

The episode balances big-picture league analysis—contenders, dark horses, and MVP debates—with significant breaking news on the Giants, blending in real insider perspective and humor (from Rob Lowe hats to coach obsession with Sharpies). The consensus is that the Giants’ next coaching hire is all about supporting Jaxson Dart, New England is surging, and the MVP race is surprisingly open, with a few dark horse picks in the mix.

This summary is designed as an engaging road map and reference for fans wanting the insider intel and sharpest debates from inside the NFL.