The defending MVP won't be playing, but Saturday will be surreal for Jaxson Dart in the home of Josh Allen.
Brian Daboll, who has worked on the ground floor of both first-round quarterbacks, did not announce if the Giants' starters will play in the preseason opener in Buffalo.
Daboll, however, confirmed one thing.
"He's playing," Daboll said of Dart. "There you go. Tweet that out."
Everyone did.
Thus, the 25th overall draft pick is set to begin his NFL journey. Whether that happens in the first or second half remains to be seen.
"This is just the start of a dream of mine," Dart said. "So, I'm excited to take that next step, be out there, compete at the highest level. My family's going to be there, so I'm super excited to have them a part of this journey with me and I think that's really it. I'm just stoked for the opportunity."
See the best photos from practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
QB Russell Wilson (3)
CB Deonte Banks (2), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93), Head Coach Brian Daboll and CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
S Jevón Holland (8)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
OL Marcus Mbow (71), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Darius Slayton (18) and WR Malik Nabers (1)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Montrell Washington (80)
WR Montrell Washington (80) and WR Zach Pascal (83)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Raheem Layne (43) and CB Nic Jones (31)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Head Coach Brian Daboll
T Evan Neal (73)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
Head Coach Brian Daboll
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
T Stone Forsythe (70)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (44) RB Cam Skattebo (44)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
G Austin Schlottmann (65)
G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
CB Art Green (35)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) and RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
Head Coach Brian Daboll
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), Tom Coughlin
G Greg Van Roten (74)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
S Jevón Holland (8)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
CB TJ Moore (30)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
TE Jermaine Terry II (48)
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CB Nic Jones (31)
S Jevón Holland (8)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Art Green (35)
G Aaron Stinnie (64)
RB Dante Miller (25)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
CB Korie Black (25)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
Generic NY
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB O'Donnell Fortune (39)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Malik Nabers (1)\
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Jevon Holland (8) catches the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fist bumps John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) hands the ball off to Cam Skattebo during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) huddles with teammates during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) greets fans during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) talks with Abdul Carter (51) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) talks with Abdul Carter (51) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) makes a catch during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
S Jevón Holland (8)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
P Jamie Gillan (6)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
K Graham Gano (9)
T Evan Neal (73)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
T Stone Forsythe (70)
ILB Ty Summers (47)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
G Greg Van Roten (74)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
C Bryan Hudson (60)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) and Tiki Barber
WR Malik Nabers (1),CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
RB Dante Miller (25)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
G Jake Kubas (63) and QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
Head Coach Brian Daboll and CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2) and CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
S Raheem Layne (43)
S Raheem Layne (43)
T Evan Neal (73)
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
G Jake Kubas (63)
WR Da'Quan Felton (9), WR Juice Wells Jr. (2), and WR Gunner Olszewski (0)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
WR Da'Quan Felton (9)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Jonathan Ward (23)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
RB Jonathan Ward (23)
RB Dante Miller (25)
CB Tre Hawkins III (37) and WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
S Jevón Holland (8)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81),CB Tre Hawkins III (37)
WR Malik Nabers (1), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17), and WR Darius Slayton (18)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
CB Deonte Banks (2), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28), CB Dru Phillips (22) and S Tyler Nubin (27)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28), CB Dru Phillips (22) and S Tyler Nubin (27)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
S Dane Belton (24)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
WR Montrell Washington (80) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Art Green (35)
WR Montrell Washington (80) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
CB Deonte Banks (2)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Jevón Holland (8)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
S Dane Belton (24)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
Tom Coughlin
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey (81), QB Jaxson Dart (6), WR Zach Pascal (83)
LB Chris Board (49)
QB Russell Wilson (3), Former Head Coach, Tom Coughlin
WR Jalin Hyatt (13) and QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Montrell Washington (80)
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OLB Abdul Carter (51), Tom Coughlin
QB Russell Wilson (3)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58) and S Tyler Nubin (27)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Dane Belton (24)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (44)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
LS Casey Kreiter (59)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
WR Dalen Cambre (5)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Art Green (35) and CB Deonte Banks (2)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
Days after the draft, which saw the Giants trade up to select Dart and pair him with Abdul Carter in the first round, the incoming rookie connected with the Bills quarterback. Two months earlier, Allen won his first league MVP award. It was the individual high point of a career that started with Daboll as his offensive coordinator in 2018.
"He's been somebody who I've really looked up to and since coming here, just watching a ton of his tape and how he was able to operate Coach Dabs' system," Dart said. "It's going to be kind of a surreal feeling to be on the same field as him."
And that system has been known to be difficult to learn, even for veterans.
"This is the only NFL offense I can really compare it to, so it's all that I know of at this moment," Dart said. "You hear people say that, but I think that when you're kind of able to get the base fundamentals of it down, then you're able to just obviously grow your knowledge and what not. There's been long nights of just studying and sitting in my room and just trying to get it down. I'm excited for the future."
Knowing the offense is only a portion of a quarterback's job description. Allen, who is 76-34 as a starter and has led the Bills to six postseason appearances, emphasized everything else.
"He talked a lot about leadership," Dart said. "That was kind of like his main thing and then trying to be the best teammate for the guys around you because as a quarterback, you have to raise the standards of everybody. Obviously, schematics, I think that what shows up on Coach Dabs' record is being able to coach many different quarterbacks who have different skill sets and kind of molding offenses around what they're good at, so kind of just hone in on the key details of Coach Dabs' offense and really trust it. I think, at times, maybe quarterbacks will predetermine things and not really trust the system, but the special thing about Coach Dabs is he gives us a ton of freedom, so there's answers to everything that you can really think of."
Daboll isn't the only architect of the offense, nor is he the only coach on the staff who has been around a future Hall of Fame quarterback from the ground level. Assistant head coach/offensive Mike Kafka started his NFL coaching career with the Chiefs in Patrick Mahomes' rookie season. In addition, offensive pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney worked at North Carolina State when Russell Wilson began his college career.
"I'd say Jaxson is right on schedule from what we'd expect in terms of just understanding the offense, continuing to grow and learn every day," Kafka said. "Every day we're presenting him – not just him but all the quarterbacks – with different situations and some situations you've probably never seen before. Those have been good to build off of, whether it's in two-minute, whether it's a third-down situation or a certain blitz look that we're getting, he's able to kind of grow and learn from those examples and now as he starts banking more and more looks, more and more reps. We do a lot of this throughout the walkthrough as well. Now he's starting to put the picture together a little bit better and cleaner for a rookie."
The former NFL quarterback also had some advice for the rookie.
"I think for Jaxson, for a young player – I know from my experience, it was getting young guys who probably never played as well – he's out there calming them down and having great poise and great confidence," Kafka said. "And then just going and playing football. It's a game you love and you know. You've been playing it for a long time. My biggest piece of advice is just go out there, enjoy it, play, have fun and go be aggressive."
