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Jaxson Dart nominated for Pepsi Rookie of the Year

JAXSON-DART-ROTY-PEPSI

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is one of six finalists for the 2025 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year Award, the NFL announced today.

The winner will be selected by a fan vote at nfl.com/rookies. The voting period will run through Friday, Jan. 30, and the winner will be recognized during Super Bowl LX Week.

Dart is looking to become the third Giant to win it.

Tight end Jeremy Shockey won the inaugural award in 2002 after being selected as the 14th overall draft pick. Sixteen years later, fans voted for running back Saquon Barkley, the second overall pick who went on to be named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Dart, who led all rookie quarterbacks in rushing yards (487), rushing touchdowns (nine), and passer rating (91.7), will look to do both in the coming weeks.

His competition for Pepsi Rookie of the Year is quarterback Tyler Shough (Saints), wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers), linebacker Carson Schwesinger (Browns), and running backs TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots) and Ashton Jeanty (Raiders).

Pepsi again ran the weekly award throughout the season. Dart was nominated after back-to-back wins to close the season in addition to each of his first six starts, which led to him being named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October.

View photos of the Giants' rookie class throughout the 2025 season.

The Giants' top four draft picks in the 2025 class were all nominated at least once for Pepsi's weekly award. Running back Cam Skattebo (fourth round) was nominated three times before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8. Defensive tackle Darius Alexander (third round) was up for the award in Week 12, and outside linebacker Abdul Carter (No. 3 overall pick) was nominated in Week 15.

Dart ended his rookie campaign with 24 total touchdowns, including a franchise-record nine rushing scores. The No. 25 overall draft pick trails only Charlie Conerly (27 in 1948) and Daniel Jones (26 in 2019) for the most total touchdowns in Giants history by a rookie quarterback.

Dart surpassed Josh Allen (eight rushing touchdowns in 2018) for the second-most by a rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era, trailing only Cam Newton (14 rushing touchdowns in 2011). He also became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in five consecutive games.

Jon Hamm will host the 15th annual "NFL Honors" on Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The primetime awards special recognizing the standout performances and achievements on and off the field from the 2025 season will air live at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network, with streaming available on Peacock and NFL+.

"NFL Honors" debuted in 2012 and includes the announcement of the Associated Press' annual accolades, the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and the newest Pro Football Hall of Fame Class in the week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday.

The awards announced at "NFL Honors" include:

  • AP Most Valuable Player
  • AP Coach of the Year
  • AP Comeback Player of the Year
  • AP Offensive Player of the Year
  • AP Defensive Player of the Year
  • AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
  • AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
  • Protector of the Year Award
  • Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
  • Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 announcement
  • NFL Inspire Change Tribute
  • Salute to Service Award
  • FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year
  • Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
  • Don Shula High School Coach of the Year
  • AP Assistant Coach of the Year
  • Deacon Jones Sack Leader Award
  • NFL FLAG Players of the Year Award
  • NFL Fan of the Year
Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 3.36.49 PM

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