The NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) initiated a joint review into the New York Giants' handling of the concussion protocol involving rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart during Thursday night's victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dart, who was making the third start of his career, was forced to exit the game late in the third quarter after taking a hard hit to the head on a scramble that resulted in a sack. Dart was quickly evaluated in the blue medical tent and cleared to return to the game. There was also a confrontation between Brian Daboll and the team doctor on the sidelines that was shown during the broadcast, and with the swiftness of his re-entry, a mandatory inquiry was triggered.
Let's dive into the NFL's decision and what happened Thursday night.
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Did Jaxson Dart suffer a concussion?
No, Jaxson Dart was cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Dart was forced to enter the protocol late in the third quarter of the Thursday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles after taking a hard hit while being sacked. He was immediately taken to the blue medical tent for evaluation by team physicians and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant.
After missing only a couple of offensive plays, Dart was cleared of a concussion and returned to the game.
However, the speed of his return — and the visible frustration of head coach Brian Daboll and other personnel approaching the medical tent — led the NFL and the NFLPA to immediately launch a joint review into whether the Giants followed the mandated protocol procedures correctly.
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NFL-Giants concussion protocol investigation
The NFL, in conjunction with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), initiated a joint review into the application of the Concussion Protocol involving Dart.
The formal review was launched due to visible actions on the sideline that raised concerns about potential interference with the medical evaluation process, which is mandated to be independent of coaching staff.
Brian Daboll was caught on camera approaching the sideline medical tent while Dart was being evaluated and was observed appearing impatient and yelling questions at medical personnel about the duration of the review. Daboll later acknowledged the error and apologized, stating he was "in the wrong" for the intrusion.
Rookie running back Cam Skattebo was also seen briefly entering the medical tent to check on his quarterback, violating the protocol that specifies only the player, the team physician, and the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) are allowed inside during a concussion evaluation.
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NFL concussion rules
If a player shows symptoms of a concussion, the protocol will be initiated by the person who spotted them. The player is taken to the sideline and examined for a concussion. They will be evaluated for any so-called "no-go" symptoms — loss of consciousness, gross motor instability, confusion, amnesia, fencing response, impact seizure — history of concussions, any other symptoms or a focused neurological exam.
The full rundown on the rules can be found here.
MORE: How does the NFL concussion protocol work?
Brian Daboll-team doctor confrontation
On Thursday, Daboll's confrontation with the team doctor was caught on the "Thursday Night Football" broadcast.
Most jaw-dropping moment of the night
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) October 10, 2025
Jaxson Dart got hurt, the Giants doctors were doing their jobs, evaluating him
And Brian Daboll started SCREAMING at them to get Dart back out there because Russell Wilson is that bad
pic.twitter.com/LaDDfNLgrb
Daboll was furious at doctors, and he even went to the medical tent to check on his rookie signal-caller.
Brian Daboll literally just did this entering the blue tent like a Civil War general checking in on a wounded Lieutenant pic.twitter.com/Ux5v1LlvWW https://t.co/W1IMRRoH8P
— Gus (@WashedUpTweeter) October 10, 2025
Daboll revealed what he said to Dart on Friday.
"I peeked in for a couple seconds to see how a player that's important to us and important to me was doing. It was a two-second question, 'how ya doing bud?'"
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 10, 2025
Brian Daboll on his blue tent visit to Jaxson Dart: pic.twitter.com/nY5WI6tZY2
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Brian Daboll apology
On Friday morning, Daboll spoke to the media after the Giants win. When asked about the confrontation, he said he apologized directly to the parties involved.
Brian Daboll talks about going into the medical tent when Jaxson Dart was being evaluated with a concussion:
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 10, 2025
"I apologized directly to our team physician. I just wanted his ass out there if he was okay... I'm like 'is he gonna be good or not I'm gonna call a timeout on 4th down… pic.twitter.com/qP2V8w3etQ
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New York Giants statement
On Friday afternoon, the Giants released a statement on the investigation.
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 10, 2025
Giants President and CEO John Mara said that the organization will cooperate fully, though stood with his head coach, saying Daboll was not trying to interfere.
Jaxson Dart concussion history
The latest incident during the Eagles game is significant because it marks at least the third time since Dart joined the Giants that he has been forced to miss time during a game for a concussion evaluation, including a separate event in the preseason.
Dart was cleared in all evaluations. Dart himself expressed frustration with the protocol interruptions, saying the process "felt so long."
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