Jaxson Dart Keeps Shotgun, RPO Game in Giants Offense, Callahan Says

Aug 14

3 min read

Updated: 10 minutes ago

Published Aug 14, 2026, 9:19 PM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi

Jaxson Dart is learning a new system in his second season. New offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is switching things up a bit and making Dart play more under center, emphasizing a good cadence, while also adding in more play action opportunities.

But quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan told the media that they won't shy away from what Dart does well:

"We are still going to be able to be in the [shot]gun and do the things that he's comfortable with there and we'll have all the RPO [run, pass, option] game that goes with it."

The Giants tailored their offense to Dart's strength in 2025, leading to a very strong rookie campaign. We will see how much they decide to do that in 2026 with a new coaching staff.

Who Is Brian Callahan?

Callahan brings 16 years of NFL coaching experience to the Giants. He was head coach of the Tennessee Titans in 2024 and 2025, and before that he spent five seasons, from 2019 to 2023, as offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.

In Cincinnati he worked closely with Joe Burrow, and the Bengals won two AFC North titles and reached Super Bowl LVI, according to Giants.com.

He has also coached quarterbacks for the Oakland Raiders in 2018 and the Detroit Lions in 2016 and 2017, working with Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford, and he began his NFL career with the Denver Broncos in 2010. In 2017, Stafford threw for 4,446 yards with Callahan as his position coach.

How Matt Nagy's Offense Fits In

Nagy is one of two former NFL head coaches on John Harbaugh's first Giants staff, along with Callahan. He was the Chicago Bears' head coach from 2018 to 2021 and won AP Coach of the Year in 2018, then returned to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2025.

The changes Callahan described, including more snaps under center, an emphasis on cadence and more play action, are a different look from the shotgun concepts Dart was comfortable with as a rookie. Callahan's point is that the staff is adding to Dart's toolbox instead of replacing it.

Why the RPO Game Matters for Jaxson Dart

In an RPO, the quarterback decides after the snap whether to hand the ball off, keep it or throw, based on how the defense reacts. That fits Dart's skill set.

As a rookie he ran 86 times for 487 yards and nine touchdowns, the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season in Giants history, and he led all rookie quarterbacks with 24 total touchdowns, according to his team bio.

He also protected the football, throwing 15 touchdown passes against five interceptions across 14 games and 12 starts. Keeping the parts of the offense that produced those numbers while layering in Nagy's concepts gives Dart a chance to build on his first season instead of starting over.

When Fans Get a First Look

The first chance to see how the two approaches blend comes in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 15, followed by a game at Miami on Aug. 22 and the finale against the New York Jets on Aug. 28.

Update: In the opener, Dart completed three of four passes for 26 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown to rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields, per Giants.com. Afterward, Harbaugh said the Giants want to push the ball downfield more. Related: Giants not attempting many deep throws in camp.

Our Take: Callahan's Plan Still Matters for Jaxson Dart

This August plan now reads differently. Jaxson Dart started two games before his season-ending knee injury, going 26 of 34 for 250 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, per Pro Football Reference.

I still see Dart as the Giants' quarterback of the future, and I've said he is still the guy in 2027. Callahan's promise to keep the shotgun and RPO game is a big reason I'm comfortable with that.

The same menu is coming back for JJ McCarthy, as we covered in JJ McCarthy Could Help Giants 'Bring Back' Offense Built for Dart.

If those concepts work for McCarthy this fall, Dart returns in 2027 to an offense the staff has already tested in games.

The rest of the roster will decide how far that goes. I want this season spent improving the team around Dart.

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