From Injury-Ravaged to Playoff-Ready? Don’t Count Out the Giants Just Yet
The outlook for the New York Giants heading into the 2025 NFL season has been far from optimistic. Many believe the franchise is still several years away from seriously contending again. But the real question is—why?
The NFL is designed around parity. The salary cap, the draft, and the scheduling system all aim to keep teams on a level playing field. Every year, we see teams make massive turnarounds—from worst to first—with no surprise. Giants fans should know this better than anyone, having witnessed the team jump from a dismal 4-13 in 2021 to a playoff-bound 9-7-1 in 2022 under first-year head coach Brian Daboll.
So what happened in 2023?
Following their surprising playoff berth, expectations were sky-high. But disaster struck early—starting in Week 1. Not only did they get demolished 40-0 by the Dallas Cowboys, but they also lost star left tackle Andrew Thomas to an injury that sidelined him for the next seven weeks. That game set the tone for a season plagued by injuries.
The offensive line, a vital part of any offense, was decimated. At one point, not a single Week 1 starter was still playing. The Giants were scrambling for bodies, signing linemen off the street just to fill the roster. This instability up front severely hampered the offense.
Quarterback Daniel Jones also missed time due to neck and knee injuries. His backup, Tyrod Taylor, went on injured reserve with a rib injury, forcing undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito into action. The Giants cycled through three different starting quarterbacks throughout the year, making it almost impossible to maintain any rhythm or continuity.
Key offensive weapons like Saquon Barkley and Darren Waller also missed time, further limiting their playmaking ability. And yet, despite all of that, the Giants still managed to win six games and lost four others by eight points or fewer.
It begs the question: had the team stayed healthy, how different would the season have looked? Maybe, just maybe, that disastrous 2023 campaign was less about regression and more about unfortunate timing and a brutal injury toll. If anything, it also spotlighted front-office decisions—letting key contributors walk away, only to see them flourish elsewhere.
With better health and smarter roster management, the Giants could be a lot closer to competing than many think.
