Giants’ Brian Daboll Reveals Tommy DeVito’s Surprising Role Amid QB Shakeup

The New York Giants, this offseason, spent big on overhauling the quarterback position, both building the infrastructure to make progress in 2025 and to mentor a rookie quarterback, eventually becoming No. 25 overall pick Jaxson Dart.

Russell Wilson is expected to open the season as the Giants’ starter, Jameis Winston was originally signed as a competent veteran backup and potential bridge starter, but, there might be another secret weapon in the Giants’ quarterback room who is already playing a significant role in helping get Dart up to speed.

According to Brian Daboll, Tommy DeVito has emerged as a surprising yet vital third mentor to Dart, amid the former Ole Miss standout’s first NFL offseason program.

“He has done excellent,” Daboll told reporters, of Dart’s spring. “He’s picking up the information. It’s really good to have (quarterback) Russ (Russell Wilson) and (quarterback) Jameis (Winston) and even (quarterback) Tommy (DeVito) because Tommy’s been in the system for a few years here.

“And [Devito]’s kind of the head statesman in terms of that and all the adjustments that take place or the calls. He’s fit right in with those guys. He’s smart. He’s aggressive with the football, which I like. And then the true test will be once we start and there’s live hitting and preseason games and things like that. But he’s progressed since he’s been here to where he is now. He’s made good improvement.”

From strictly a numbers standpoint, barring the Giants capitalizing on what could be a bourgeoning trade market for Winston, it’s difficult to envision DeVito making the roster as a fourth quarterback coming out of training camp.

However, if DeVito has become a player-coach, of sorts, helping Dart get up to speed in Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka’s system, there is value to the 26-year-old’s influence beyond his 1,358 career passing yards with eight career touchdowns and three interceptions.

Overall, when it comes to Dart’s development, Daboll says that he’s borrowed a page from legendary former Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s playbook.

“I’d say philosophy in general is to throw a lot at all these guys,” Daboll explained, of how he views developing a young quarterback. “And then you pull it back and see what kind of sticks and then you break it down a little bit and then you throw it all at them again. And then by the third time they hear it, they’re usually a lot more comfortable with the information.

“Again, there’s a lot of information for the quarterbacks in any system. But I think throwing it at them, bringing it back, breaking it down in smaller parts and then throwing it back at them or kind of whole part, whole philosophy. I learned that from Coach Saban.”

Russell Wilson Strives to Lead Giants’ Quarterback Room

Dan Mullan | GettyNew York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson is embracing his role as a mentor for Jaxson Dart.

For as beneficial as DeVito’s experience in Daboll and Kafka’s system is, few players are better positioned to help mentor Dart than Wilson is.

This spring, as mandatory minicamp gets underway in East Rutherford, Wilson says that stepping up as a leader has been among his top offseason priorities since agreeing to terms on a one-year deal worth worth $10.5 million with the Giants.

“I think most importantly is just to be able to lead guys,” Wilson told reporters. I think to be able to get guys their confidence at the highest level every day. I think that’s the job of the quarterback, is to facilitate the ball at the right guy at the right time, but also to facilitate that motivation daily for each guy and find their why daily, find their greatness daily, find that greatness in the huddle, that play, and find those special moments throughout practice to communicate with a guy, communicate with a group through film room, whatever it may be or on the field.

“I think that that’s been an important part to the process for me. Just making sure that, okay, I’m grateful that God brought me here and I’m grateful to be here. Every day it’s that opportunity to do that. I think also too, just the ability to score touchdowns for us and make plays. I think that’s what we strap on the cleats to do is to make those plays.”

In a lot of ways, between Daboll’s experience coaching MVP Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, during his formative NFL years, combined with Wilson’s two Super Bowl appearances and one championship, the Giants have the pieces in place for Dart to have significant resources and established voices to lean on as a rookie.

With such a rich blend of system familiarity, proven leadership, and championship experience surrounding him, whether Dart plays or not in 2025, it would seem that he is in a strong situation to begin his career.

New York Giants Still Finalizing Training camp Schedule

Dan Mullan | GettyAccording to head coach Brian Daboll, the New York Giants have yet to finalize when training camp will begin this summer.

The New York Giants plan on holding joint practices with the New York Jets this summer, but that’s about all we know about when the team will reconvene next month for training camp.

Daboll told reporters on the first day of mandatory minicamp that the Giants are still finalzing plans, and dates for training camp, in coordination and consultation with the team’s strength and conditioning coaches, trainers, and all levels of the organization to optimize the best time and schedule to kick off final preparations for the 2025 campaign.

Stay tuned.