Giants Sign Veteran QB Brandon Allen as Backup

Allen brings experience as a journeyman QB to support Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:53pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the overlapping planes and angles of a quarterback's throwing motion, rendered in a cubist style using navy, green, and orange tones to conceptually represent the Giants' depth at the quarterback position.A cubist interpretation of a veteran quarterback's throwing motion symbolizes the Giants' depth at the position.NYC Today

The New York Giants have signed veteran quarterback Brandon Allen to be their third-string quarterback, replacing the departed Russell Wilson. Allen, 33, has played in 19 games over his 7-year NFL career, making 10 starts with a 2-8 record. He spent last season as a backup with the Tennessee Titans.

Why it matters

With the Giants' starting QB situation still unsettled, adding an experienced veteran like Allen provides valuable depth and competition at the position. His familiarity with Giants QB coach Brian Callahan, who previously worked with Allen, could also help accelerate his integration into the offense.

The details

Allen was a 6th-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016 and has since played for the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans. In his career, he has completed 183 of 323 passes (56.7%) for 1,882 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

  • Allen will turn 34 years old in September 2026.
  • He played in 1 game for the Titans in 2025, going 17-of-30 for 72 yards and 1 interception.

The players

Brandon Allen

A 33-year-old journeyman quarterback who has played for several NFL teams over the past 7 seasons.

Jaxson Dart

The Giants' young quarterback who is expected to compete for the starting job.

Jameis Winston

The veteran quarterback the Giants signed in free agency to also compete for the starting role.

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What they’re saying

“Brandon brings valuable experience to our quarterback room. His familiarity with our QB coach will help him get up to speed quickly.”

— Joe Schoen, Giants General Manager

What’s next

Allen will compete with Dart and Winston for the Giants' backup QB job during the team's offseason program and training camp.

The takeaway

The Giants are continuing to build depth at the quarterback position as they look to solidify their starter for the 2026 season. Allen's veteran experience could prove valuable, especially if injuries strike the QB room.