Giants' running game something new coach can build on

The first touchdown of the Jaxson Dart Era? A 15-yard run up the middle by Dart with running back Cam Skattebo as his lead blocker. It set a tone for the Giants to become a more run-heavy offense after Dart’s debut as the starter in Week 4.

The last touchdown of Dart’s rookie season? A 6-yard run by Devin Singletary in the Week 18 win over the Cowboys.

They were fitting bookends to the Giants having one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks and Dart’s arrival playing a key role in it.

It wasn’t enough to avoid a 4-13 season and the worst two-year stretch in franchise history. The Giants lost nine straight games and flirted with getting the No. 1 pick in the draft before ending the season on a two-game winning streak.

Yet one of the silver linings was putting together a strong running game two years after letting Saquon Barkley walk in free agency. It also helps that the offensive line perhaps was as good as it’s been in recent seasons.

It’s something the next Giants coach has to take advantage of. As the Giants continue their interview process, their next coach needs to build on how the running game was able to thrive in a bad season.

Dart’s mobility came with numerous talking points.

Why can’t he avoid unnecessary hits?

Why doesn’t he slide more?

Can he sustain that playing style after four concussion evaluations in the regular season?

All were valid points, and so is this fact: Dart’s legs and Skattebo’s arrival made the Giants’ offense better.

The Giants finished fourth in the NFL with 22 rushing touchdowns and were fifth in rushing yards per game (129.1) and total yards (2,195). Their 511 attempts were second in the league.

The 22 touchdowns ranked third in franchise history behind 24 rushing scores in 1985 and 27 in 1930. Dart’s nine rushing touchdowns led the way, Skattebo added five before his season-ending ankle injury and Singletary also had five.

The 2,195 total rushing yards were fifth since the start of 2000 and third in the last 16 seasons, behind 2022 and 2010. The 2,519 yards in 2022 came in previous coach Brian Daboll’s first season.

Dart’s 487 rushing yards were second behind Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s 740, which were short of his 839 yards as a rookie but still led the Giants for the second straight season.

“The offensive line has been doing a phenomenal job,” Tracy said on Dec. 16. “Every team has their own tricks that they try to come out with each game, and our O-line, they do a good job of just blocking who needs to be blocked, having a hat on a hat and then making the lanes for the running backs.”

The Giants’ success in the running game came with some of the best offensive line play they’ve had in some time. Left tackle Andrew Thomas was healthy after two injury-plagued seasons; his 13 games were his most since his All-Pro season in 2022.

With Thomas healthy, the Giants’ starting offensive line played 10 games together. That group played only six games in 2024 before Thomas suffered a season-ending foot injury.

“They took that upon themselves to make it a strong point of our team and of our offense,” interim coach Mike Kakfa said of the offensive line. “Whenever you have an offensive line that can play like that, you’re going to have a lot of production on offense. I’m really proud of those guys for stepping up for us.”

The front office now has to decide if it will keep that continuity or change it up. Right guard Greg Van Roten and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor are free agents.

Regardless of whether they stay or leave for another team, the Giants finally have a strong running core. The running of Dart, Tracy, Skattebo and Singletary helped the Giants’ offense improve from 30th in 2024 to 13th.

It’s another strength to sell to the new coach, along with Dart’s potential and the pass rushing depth.