What Made the Giants’ Centennial Season Such a Disaster?
With the NFL season now in the rearview, I thought it would be best to look back and reflect on how each franchise performed this year. In a season filled with highs and lows, no team hit rock bottom quite like the New York Giants. With multiple key departures coming back to bite them, coupled with outright organizational malpractice on multiple fronts, I have no shame in assigning this year's Giants a solid F grade for 2024. So, without further ado, let’s break down what led this centennial season to stray so far from expectations.
The New York Football Giants ended their 100th season with a 3-14 record, finishing last in their division and earning a top-three pick in the 2025 draft. A season that began with optimism failed to yield a winning effort from any aspect of the organization. The offense was abysmal, and while the defense was, in my estimation, the strongest part of the team, it still failed to deliver even a league-average performance. In 2024, the Giants ranked among the worst in the league in several categories:
- Points per game: 31st
- Yards per game: 30th
- Yards per play: 30th
- 3rd-down conversion rate: 27th
- Red zone scoring percentage: 32nd
- Turnover margin: 26th
- Penalties per game: 22nd
Many other statistics placed them in the bottom 10–15 in the league, further emphasizing how dire the season truly was.
The Downward Spiral Began Before the Season Started
Now that we’ve established just how bad the numbers were, it’s important to note that New York’s decline began even before the season kicked off. Let’s start with the obvious: allowing Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney to leave in free agency was downright foolish—there’s no argument against it. Both were well-respected captains for this franchise, with Barkley serving as the face of the team after the departures of Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.
To add further insult to injury, both players thrived immediately upon leaving. Saquon joined an elite group of running backs who have rushed for over 2,000 yards in a season while also breaking the record for most rushing yards in a single season (regular season and postseason combined). It was a truly historic season for a generational player who capped it off with a Super Bowl victory for his hometown and division rival, the Eagles. Meanwhile, McKinney flourished in Green Bay, earning First-Team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career after recording eight interceptions—just one shy of his career total before this season. Considering that the Giants managed only five interceptions as a team in 2024, allowing a playmaker like McKinney to walk away for nothing is infinitely worse.
The Quarterback Catastrophe
With that said, let’s discuss the Giants’ quarterback situation—or rather, their quarterback disaster. Daniel Jones entered the season with sky-high expectations, but those expectations were dead and buried by the trade deadline, ultimately leading to his release during the season. Jones finished with a 2-8 record as a starter, averaging 207 passing yards per game with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions—a dismal performance for a player signed to a $160 million contract.
In my opinion, Jones' failure was a direct result of front-office incompetence—not only did they mishandle his contract, but they also failed to secure a legitimate backup despite the clear risks. Enter Drew Lock, who stepped in following Jones' departure. Lock was exactly who we thought he was—a flawed passer who shows flashes of brilliance but ultimately isn’t capable of winning consistently. He finished the season 1-4 as a starter, averaging 133.9 passing yards per game with a 6-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
With such a carousel at quarterback, it’s no surprise that the Giants' offense barely mustered 16 points per game, ranking 31st in the NFL. Perhaps the most ironic part of the season came during HBO’s Hard Knocks, when Giants GM Joe Schoen was caught on camera saying:
“We do not pay our quarterback $40 million to hand the ball off to a $14 million running back.”
Lo and behold, their $40 million quarterback didn’t even finish the season. Meanwhile, Philadelphia is doing exactly that with Jalen Hurts and Barkley—except they just celebrated a Super Bowl parade. Ironic, isn’t it?
A Glimpse of Hope: Malik Nabers & Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Despite all the negativity, there were a couple of bright spots on offense—rookies Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr..
Malik Nabers has, in my opinion, already solidified himself as the Giants' WR1 and a potential top-10 receiver in the NFL after just one season. He led the team in receptions (109), receiving yards (1,204), and touchdowns (7), capping off an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist campaign. What makes it even more impressive is that Nabers missed two games due to a concussion, meaning he likely would have put up even bigger numbers if he had played a full season. The fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft looks like an absolute hit, and his presence gave Giants fans something to root for during one of the worst seasons in team history.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was another key contributor, bringing tough, physical running paired with quick feet and burst. Tracy started 12 games after initially sitting behind Devin Singletary but took over as the lead back after strong performances. The fifth-round rookie exceeded expectations, finishing with over 1,000 scrimmage yards and six total touchdowns.
The Harsh Reality: Giants Leadership Must Deliver in 2025
Unfortunately, outside of Nabers and Tracy, there isn’t much to celebrate about this team. The Giants failed to put a competitive product on the field yet again, marking another chapter in their ongoing struggle just to reach mediocrity.
This team has young talent capable of contributing to winning, but poor leadership and a disastrous quarterback situation overshadow everything. If New York wants to climb out of this hole, they need an incredible offseason—one of the best in franchise history.
Looking ahead to 2025, the pressure is firmly on GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll to right the ship. Based on John Mara’s comments to the media, it’s clear that this will be their last chance to prove they can turn this team around. If things continue on this trajectory, changes will be inevitable.