New York Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll Fined For Sideline Antics

Well, it turns out poking your head into a medical tent during a concussion check isn’t just frowned upon—it’ll cost you a small fortune. The NFL dropped the hammer on the New York Giants this week, slapping the organization with a $200,000 fine while Head  Coach Brian Daboll got dinged for $100,000. Rookie Running Back Cam Skattebo also caught a $15,000 penalty for his walk-in cameo during Quarterback Jaxson Dart’s evaluation.

This whole mess stems from the Giants’ Week 6 matchup against the Eagles, when Dart took a nasty sack from Eagles Linebacker Patrick Johnson late in the third quarter. After being helped off the field, Dart was whisked into the blue medical tent for a concussion evaluation. That’s when things got dicey.

What Went Wrong With the Evaluation?

The #Giants were assessed a $200,000 fine, while the NFL fined HC Brian Daboll $100,000 and RB Cam Skattebo $15,000 for conduct detrimental to the league by checking in the medical tent on Jaxson Dart when he was undergoing a concussion test. pic.twitter.com/xqI1qceYlH

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 24, 2025

According to the NFL and NFLPA’s joint investigation, both Daboll and Skattebo entered the tent while Dart was still being evaluated. Per league protocol, that area is strictly reserved for essential medical personnel only. No coaches. No teammates. Nobody else.

The investigation found that both men spoke to Dart during the evaluation, asking how he was feeling. While everyone involved agreed that neither Daboll nor Skattebo actually interfered with the medical exam itself, their presence “created the perception” of interference. That’s enough to violate the protocol.

Video footage showed a visibly frustrated Daboll yelling at medical staff before entering the tent. Skattebo was then caught on camera ducking into the tent himself before being promptly kicked out. Not exactly a good look when player safety is supposedly your top priority.

Daboll’s Apology Falls Flat

To his credit, Daboll owned up to the mistake immediately after the game. Sort of.

“I apologized directly to our team physician. I just wanted his ass out there if he was okay,” Daboll said. “But I wanted the process, like we were getting ready to go for it on a potential fourth down, I would have burned a timeout if he could have come out there. I was asking how long was it going to take.” He continued: “I love our doctors. I apologized. I was in the wrong.”

Look, I get it. Coaches want their starting quarterback on the field, especially in a tight division game. But there’s a reason these protocols exist. Players’ long-term health matters more than one fourth-down attempt, no matter how badly Daboll wanted to go for it.

The Silver Lining For New York

Here’s the good news for the Giants: they dodged a draft pick penalty. The league had that option on the table, but because the team “took immediate remedial steps” to prevent future violations, they avoided losing picks.

Those steps included full cooperation with the investigation, additional training for staff and players on proper medical tent usage, and new measures to physically restrict access to the tent during evaluations. Giants CEO John Mara, who sits on the NFL’s Health and Safety Committee, made it clear the organization would prioritize cooperation throughout the review process.

The investigation also confirmed that Dart’s actual medical evaluation was conducted properly. The quarterback was correctly cleared to return to the game and played the following week without issues. So while the process got messy, the outcome was right.

What This Means For the Giants Moving Forward

The fines send a clear message: stay out of the medical tent. Period. It doesn’t matter if you’re the head coach, a rookie running back, or the team mascot. When a player is being evaluated for a concussion, medical professionals need space to do their jobs without outside pressure or influence.

For Daboll, this is an expensive lesson learned. The $100,000 fine is one of the heftier penalties handed down to a head coach for this type of violation. It is a reminder that even well-intentioned actions can cross the line when it comes to player safety protocols.

The Giants have work to do on the field—they’re currently struggling through a disappointing season. But off the field, they at least get credit for taking accountability and implementing changes to make sure this doesn’t happen again. Sometimes that’s all you can ask for after screwing up. Now, let’s see if Daboll can resist the urge to play doctor next time one of his players gets hurt.