The NFL dropped a hefty $200,000 fine on the New York Giants for violating concussion protocol during their Week 6 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, the league announced Friday. The penalties didn’t stop there—Giants head coach Brian Daboll was slapped with a $100,000 fine, and running back Cam Skattebo was docked $15,000 for conduct detrimental to the league, stemming from their actions in the same game.
The fines followed a joint investigation by the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) into the Giants’ handling of concussion protocol for quarterback Jaxson Dart during the Thursday night matchup. While the review confirmed that the Giants’ medical staff and unaffiliated medical providers adhered to the collective bargaining agreement’s requirements in evaluating Dart, the league and NFLPA determined that Daboll and Skattebo’s actions breached protocol.
The incident occurred late in the third quarter when Dart, a first-round rookie, took a hard sack from Eagles linebacker Patrick Johnson. After grabbing his head while down on the turf, Dart was attended to by the Giants’ medical staff. He jogged off the field under his own power and entered the sideline blue medical tent for evaluation. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson briefly stepped in for two plays—a handoff and an incompletion—before the Giants punted. Dart was cleared to return and finished the game on the next drive.
The violation stemmed from Daboll and Skattebo entering the medical tent and speaking with Dart before his concussion evaluation was complete. According to the NFL-NFLPA joint statement, their presence created “the perception that they were interfering with Dart’s exam.” While the league and union agreed that their actions did not impact the exam or Dart’s care, they deemed the conduct a clear violation of the concussion protocol, which restricts tent access to essential medical personnel only, including the team physician, club athletic trainer, and sideline Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant.
The Giants have since taken steps to prevent future violations, cooperating fully with the review, conducting additional training for staff and players, and implementing measures to ensure only authorized individuals enter the medical tent during concussion evaluations. Daboll, reflecting on the incident post-game, said he apologized to the team physician, explaining, “I just stuck my head in to see how our quarterback was doing. In no way would I want a player to come back out there that wasn’t ready to play. I have great respect for that process.”
Giants owner John Mara called Daboll’s actions “inappropriate” in a statement issued after the review began. The fines add pressure to an already struggling Giants team (2-5) as they gear up for a rematch against the Eagles (5-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field. With the NFL’s concussion protocol under scrutiny, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the league’s commitment to player safety and the consequences of even perceived interference.