Jaxson Dart spent the first three weeks of his inaugural NFL season mimicking Jayden Daniels, Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes on the Giants' scout team.
Now the Chargers – and all upcoming opponents for the foreseeable future – will have someone pretending to be Dart in practice. Brian Daboll named the rookie as his starting quarterback for Week 4. Russell Wilson, who made his 200th, 201st and 202nd career starts this season, will be the backup.
"I'm really just excited to get out there on the field, compete, and play with the guys," Dart said following Wednesday's practice, his first as QB1. "We put a lot of work in, and excited for the opportunity and very humbled for it."
Daboll met privately with the two quarterbacks Tuesday morning, the details of which will remain private.
"All I can tell you is we're going with Jaxson and we're getting ready to play," Daboll said. "I'm not going to add too much to it. Those are private conversations, it's my decision and we're going with Jaxson."
Daboll added: "I expect him to prepare, I expect him to go out here and get better each time he plays. It's not always going to be perfect, but I do think that he has the right makeup and athleticism. Look, we're going to do everything we can do to help him be the best player. I know he is as well. It's not just on one person, it's on the entire team and that's what we're going to do."
View photos of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) rolls out to throw a pass during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
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QB Jaxson Dart (6) makes a pass during an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Brennan Asplen/Giants)
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QB Jaxson Dart (6) and ILB Micah McFadden (41) go to the ring toss prior to an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus/Giants)
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QB Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass during an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Brennan Asplen/Giants)
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QB Jaxson Dart (6) and ILB Micah McFadden (41) go to the ring toss prior to an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus/Giants)
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QB Jaxson Dart (6) makes a pass during an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Brennan Asplen/Giants)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) runs the ball during an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Brennan Asplen/Giants)
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2025 New York Giants Rookie Mini Camp,OLB Abdul Carter (51), RB Cam Skattebo (44), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
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QB Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass during an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Brennan Asplen/Giants)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) looks for an open pass during an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. (Brennan Asplen/Giants)
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2025 New York Giants Rookie Mini Camp
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The next conversation for Dart after being informed of the move by Daboll was a FaceTime with his parents. His father, Brandon, a former Utah safety who passed his toughness on to his quarterback son, was already in town. His mother, Kara, was back home in Utah.
"I'm ready, so it wasn't anything extra," Dart said of his emotions after finding out. "You always try to say, I'm going to prepare the same each week. But in all reality, you have different responsibilities as the starter, so I'm just locked in."
The Giants traded up to select Dart with the 25th overall pick, sending their 34th and 99th picks and a 2026 third-round choice to the Texans. Dart is the first and only quarterback drafted under Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who took over in 2022. Dart will be the eighth quarterback in that span and the seventh different one to start a game.
According to NFL Research, the Ole Miss product becomes the first quarterback since Teddy Bridgewater in 2014 to be drafted in the second half of the first round and start a game within the first four weeks of his rookie season.
The first test will be a hard one.
The trademark of Jim Harbaugh-coached teams is "overall toughness," Daboll said. The Chargers, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2002, have allowed 17.6 points per game since Harbaugh took over in 2024, the best in the NFL. Including his first NFL head coaching stint with the 49ers, rookie quarterbacks are 2-8 against Harbaugh.
In a twist of fate, however, one of those wins came from Wilson in 2012 with the Seahawks.
"First of all, we've just got to continue to keep the main thing the main thing, process-wise," Dart said. "Everybody throughout a season is going to face adversity. I think for us, it's going to show what kind of grit we have as a team, character-wise. How do we handle it when we've been punched, when we're down? How are you going to respond to that? I think the biggest thing for me is I want to do my best to be a spark. I want to create excitement on the field. I want to be explosive when opportunities are there. Try to just bring a little bit of swagger."
Like he did in the preseason.
That's when the Ole Miss product turned heads. Dart completed 32 of 47 passes for 372 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions (113.1 passer rating). He also rushed six times for 52 yards and another touchdown while the Giants scored more than 30 points in three consecutive preseason games for the first time in franchise history.
"I'm just going to lay everything I have on the line," Dart said when asked about his message to the fans. "That's just the way that I play the game. When I step in between those lines, nothing else in the world matters to me except doing everything that I can to win it. Whatever rep that is in practice, whatever competition it may be, I just feel like I'm a competitor. Whatever I've got to do to prepare for the week, when I'm on the field to get a win, I'm going to give it my all to do that."
Tickets available for the Giants Women's Tailgate
Join us Sunday, Sept 28 -10am to 12:30 pm at the Ultimate New York Giants Women's Tailgate, an event designed to celebrate and unite the team's loyal fan base.
Enjoy a curated custom merchandise shop, exclusive Kendra Scott activation, tailgate games, giveaways, photo opportunities, live DJ entertainment, and more!
