An Energized New York Giants Team Has Finally Found its Culture

Matthew SheremetaOctober 17, 20255 Mins read495

Oct 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

New York City — a city that is at its best when the lights are the brightest. A city where success isn’t gained by luck, but earned by grit and grind. A city with entertainment stretching from corner to corner. And a city with an energy like no other.

The city’s unpredictability either lifts you up or humbles you in a heartbeat. Yet, through every high and low, a magic keeps you coming back.

Replace “New York City” with “The New York Giants” and the word “city” with “team,” and you would have just described this 2025 Giants team to a tee.

Despite the fact that it has been nearly a decade since Giants fans had a reason to proudly show up to their home stadium on any given Sunday, anybody can feel the raw emotion and energy of their fanbase, whether they are in attendance or watching from home.

That same energy is being expelled from the players on the field. The energy and hunger this football team has been playing with embodies New York City perfectly, and it has allowed them to start to truly find their culture as a team.

The Leading Act

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has been the sparkplug this team and fanbase desperately needed. He exudes a swag and arrogance that just screams “New York Quarterback”. But aside from the vibes, he has been leading this team to wins against some strong opponents.

Dart has proven to be as efficient a passer as he is a runner, which was a big question mark heading into the season. Dart went 17-for-25 for 195 yards while also rushing 13 times for 58 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He looks impressively comfortable scrambling out of the pocket and making big-time throws under pressure and on the run. He was patient and intentional in his decision-making and saw the field really well.

Jaxson Dart's best plays of the night including some drops by receivers. Absolute MONEY on third down. And the ability to improvise and keep eyes downfield even under pressure was just awesome pic.twitter.com/NihioxnEne

— Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) October 10, 2025

This decision-making allowed the Giants to excel on third down and in the red zone in that upset win. They converted on 68.75% of third downs, the highest in the league that week. The Giants were also a perfect three-for-three in red zone scoring, an area they really struggled in while Russell Wilson was under center.

Dart Leading By Example

Dart’s physicality and toughness allow for great numbers, even if it costs him a trip to the medical tent, which seems to almost be guaranteed every week at this point.

Those extra yards and first downs are crucial to the team’s success, and so far, it is working, as the Giants are one of the best teams on third down since Dart took over.

The #Giants have been awesome on 3rd down with Jaxson Dart at QB.

– 4th in EPA per play (0.394)
– 2nd in success rate (57.8%)
– 4th in dropback success rate (55.9%)
– 6th in rush success rate (63.6%)
– Top 10 in both EPA per Dropback (0.508- 6th) and EPA per rush (0.041- 10th) pic.twitter.com/eGyBWoBXCk

— The Giants Report (@GiantsReport1) October 14, 2025

And his leadership can absolutely not go unnoticed. Even while in the medical tent getting evaluated for a concussion, he was screaming words of encouragement to his teammates and watching through the mesh portion towards the top. His teammate Cam Skattebo even entered the tent to check on him.

The shared relationship and mutual care Dart has built with his teammates has even inspired them to play with an even higher intensity and will to win.

Mike Kafka on the impact of Jaxson Dart's vibe on the organization:

"When you have that kind of spark, you have that kind of energy that you bring… it raises everyone's level." pic.twitter.com/JVgauMC5Fg

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 16, 2025

The Supporting Cast

Cam Skattebo has just about proved everybody who said his style of play wouldn’t translate to the NFL wrong. This 23-year-old young man is running over league veterans and linemen much bigger in size, and even making them think twice before attempting to bring him down.

He ran for 98 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns against Philly, and fought for every last yard.

Cam Skattebo has been named the FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week for Week 6.

Skattebo scored 3 rushing touchdowns vs the Eagles last Thursday. pic.twitter.com/5qqy7Zu0aS

— Big Blue Film Room (@BigBlueFilmRoom) October 16, 2025

Another player who has contributed a great deal to the culture shift in New York is Jameis Winston, who has not even stepped foot on the field yet as a Giant, and there is a chance he may not ever. But his leadership, energy, and presence in the locker room will leave a much greater impact on this franchise than his play ever could.

Guys like Winston are so hard to find in today’s NFL. The former starter has accepted his role completely and will do all he can to help his team win, even if that is just being a voice on the sideline or in the locker room. He is a motivator and a natural leader. Plus, he is just such a likable guy.

"We came today to go to war" -Jameis Winston pic.twitter.com/JZiuS6GGRE

— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) October 10, 2025

Defensive Dominance

On the other side of the ball, Brian Burns has given this defense life and a new identity. He is currently an early frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, and for all of the right reasons. He is third in sacks with seven, has generated 16 pressures, has 11 QB hits, and has combined for 30 tackles.

The sensational play from Burns has inspired others on the defense to work even harder to share some of the spotlight with him. One of these players is Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is playing his best football to date and has made a tremendous leap from last season to this season.

The Director

There was going to be a “Saved by Da-boll” joke in here, but it couldn’t be any more opposite. It is the players and the energy they approach the game with that has seemingly saved him and his tenure in New York.

Heading into the game against Philadelphia, he was undoubtedly sitting in a piping hot seat. That seat warmer was shut off with the upset win, at least for the time being.

Brian Daboll will be the first to admit he is an emotional coach. In fact, it’s something he had to apologize for after an interaction with someone on the medical staff. Daboll was trying to get Dart back on the field after his brief injury scare; the team doctor was just trying to do his job.

He is also a coach who truly cares for his players. His emotion and leadership style fit exceptionally well into the system and culture in New York, even with the baggage he may carry.

Sure, he struggles pivoting away from the game script. Sure, he tends to lose his temper a lot. Sure, he makes plenty of coaching mistakes, like calling a timeout so Philly can run one or two more plays before halftime. But his coaching style has been working these past few games, and his players are certainly pulling for him.

The Audience

Like a good show on Broadway, no performance is complete without an audience.

These fans are cutthroat to the core. They will praise a player for one good pass, but boo them if the next one is bad. One win and it’s “Superbowl contenders!” Then one loss and it’s “sell the franchise!”

But for the moment, the energy coming out of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford just feels different.

The fans seem desperate to win, and the team can feel that. They want to rewrite the story this season and change the narrative that this team is destined to fail — whether it be because of inexperience, lack of talent, or strength of schedule.

Regardless, the mentality in the locker room is that they are winners, and the mutual relationship and outcry for success has completely changed the energy of this football team and its fanbase, and the culture is starting to change as well.

Jaxson Dart has brought this fanbase to life and, in the process, rebranded this team. The energy being poured out from MetLife this past week was a breath of fresh air, both for the players and the fans. The life of the Giants’ crowd will be an integral part to the energy the team plays with on the turf.

When I was at Dart’s first start there was an energy there I haven’t seen in a long time. The crowd was even more electric vs the Eagles. Jaxson Dart is must see. It’s exciting that MetLife is the place to be from the tailgates to the game. @LicensePlateGuy

— Neil (@neilbelieves) October 12, 2025

Only time will tell if the Giants can continue grinding out wins by playing inspired and passionate football, and as for the fanbase, whether this pouring out of passion for their football team can be sustained through the highest highs and the lowest lows.

Frank Sinatra said it best.

“It’s up to you, New York.”

Written by

Matthew Sheremeta

Matt Sheremeta is a Broadcast and Digital Journalism graduate student at Syracuse University and a proud alumnus of Oswego State. Matt has experience as a sports anchor and student reporting experience for Syracuse basketball and football. Matt is an expert on the New York Giants, New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets. When not working in sports media, you can find Matt on a run as he trains for a marathon, at a coffee shop, or jamming out to the latest album releases.