Giants fans call for benching Russell Wilson after red-zone meltdown vs Chiefs
Rookie Jaxson Dart eyed as potential starter as New York weighs QB options following 22-9 defeat
New York Giants fans are demanding a quarterback change after Russell Wilson's fourth-quarter meltdown in a 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
The key moment came late in the fourth quarter at the Chiefs' 4-yard line, as the Giants tried to mount a comeback. Wilson threw the ball out of the end zone three times, including on first down when it was ruled intentional grounding. One play was a short gain on a designed quarterback run, and the Giants ended the drive without scoring a touchdown as the clock wound down. The sequence, starting at 1st and goal from the Chiefs' 4, became the focal point for critics who say New York needed a more reliable option under center to salvage the season.
Social media posts from Giants fans reflected mounting frustration with Wilson, with many calling for a bench and a chance to evaluate a replacement. Several messages floated rookie Jaxson Dart as a potential option moving forward. One post on X suggested Wilson has “about a 0% chance of starting next week,” while another contended that benching Wilson could unlock a more competitive offense. A third commenter argued that the team could play like a “real NFL team” if a change were made, and a fourth urged that Dart, despite the risks, should start going forward. The tenor of the online reaction underscores a broader longing among Giants supporters for stability at quarterback after the post-Eli Manning era.
Wilson, who turns 37 in November, arrived in New York with a reputation for playmaking but has shown inconsistent results in his first season with the Giants. He delivered one strong start in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, but his performances in Week 3 against the Chiefs and in a later matchup with the Washington Commanders drew sharp criticism from fans and pundits alike. The red-zone struggles against Kansas City intensified conversations about whether the team should pivot to a younger passer who could grow with the offense or at least provide a different dynamic when the game tightens.
New York’s coach, Brian Daboll, now faces a decision that could shape the early trajectory of his tenure with the Giants. Daboll has been associated with the Giants' decision to re-enter the first round in this year’s draft to select Dart, signaling a longer-term plan that may favor a rookie signal-caller if the season continues to slip away. Wilson’s current contract status and age add another layer to the deliberations, as the team weighs short-term results against long-term development.
Wilson’s Week 2 performance against Dallas is often cited as the lone bright spot in an otherwise challenging start to the season. His other two starts—against playoff contenders in Kansas City and the Commanders—have left Giants fans eager for a change. With Week 4 looming, New York faces the Los Angeles Chargers, a test that could determine whether Daboll sticks with Wilson for another week or pursues an immediate quarterback shift.
Daboll is scheduled to address the media before the Week 4 game, which could offer further clarity on the Giants’ quarterback plans. The Chargers matchup will be watched closely not only for the result but for what it signals about the franchise’s willingness to experiment at the most scrutinized position on the roster.
The debate over Wilson’s role sits within a broader context of a franchise looking to reestablish long-term stability at quarterback after the Eli Manning era. If Dart assumes a larger role, it would mark a significant shift in a season that had already begun with questions about whether the Giants could recapture the consistency expected from a high-profile, rebuilt roster.