Jaxson Dart will look back on his rookie season at some point a decade down the road.
Time will tell what has happened between then and now, but it will stir up the internal feelings of excitement, motivation, and frustration. There will also be gratitude.
"I think that when I look back on this 10 years from now, I'm just going to appreciate it because it's been humbling," Dart said in "Giants Conversations" following the season. "You just don't expect sometimes for things to shake the way that they did this year, but I think in the long run it's going to make me grateful for every opportunity that I have and the journey that we're going to go on."
At the same time, he is set on making sure 2025 never happens again. Every Giants fan would be grateful for that.
The team finished 4-13, with nine of those losses coming consecutively in a stretch that saw Brian Daboll relieved of his duties as head coach. The Giants ended the year with back-to-back wins, which were celebrated in the postgame locker room, but they ultimately served as a reminder that there were far too few of them.
Abdul Carter, the co-headliner of the Giants' draft class with Dart, drove that point home in his postgame speech at MetLife Stadium.
"I'm glad everybody is happy," Carter said while flanked by interim head coach Mike Kafka to his left and Dart over his right shoulder. "I enjoyed this one. But this is not where we're supposed to be. I just want to say that. I appreciate everybody giving a s* this year. I could be better. We all could be better. But let's make sure next year, whoever is here, this is not where we're supposed to be."
The NFL can be a wakeup call for rookies.
Less than 12 months earlier, Carter was putting on a gutsy performance in the Orange Bowl, helping his Penn State team come to within a field goal for a bid to play in the national championship. Dart, meanwhile, had just become the winningest quarterback in the history of Ole Miss, a program that boasts Charlie Conerly along with Eli and Archie Manning.
"This year, there was just a lot of adversity thrown at us," Dart said of Carter and himself. "Us being able to have those vulnerable conversations, I think for him, it spoke volumes to who he is and how he was able to bounce back and really finish this back half of the year at a really, extremely high level. He's just a guy who is very intense, is very passionate about winning and competing."
While Carter set the franchise rookie record for most consecutive games with at least a half-sack (four), Dart totaled 24 touchdowns in 12 starts. It was the third-highest total by a rookie in franchise history behind Daniel Jones (26 in 2019) and Conerly (27 in 1948).
Dart also set the franchise record – rookie or otherwise – with nine rushing touchdowns.
"I've not shied away from using it and using it to my advantage," Dart said. "I definitely had some learning curves in the NFL with it because the defensive line, every single person regardless of how big they are, are extremely athletic and you're seeing defensive tackles being able to chase down running backs. So, you've got to be very precise in your movements, very efficient in the way you are in the pocket because if you have one little slip-up, they'll take advantage of it."
More often than not, Dart took advantage of them. He did so with the benefit from having Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in his quarterback room.
"I knew that there was a lot that goes into it," Dart said of playing quarterback in the NFL. "I think it was just really fortunate the situation that I had of being able to be in a room with Jameis and Russ and being able to learn from those guys constantly, day in and day out. I knew it was going to be tough and I knew it was going to take everything that I had, but I just had a really good foundation and people around me to help get me through it."
They were just two of the many connections that Dart made while setting the foundation as the current and future leader of the team.
"I'm just a relationship person," Dart said. "I love growing connections with my teammates and being able to understand their stories and their why – of why do they come to work every single day, what's their purpose of going through adversity and trying to chase their highest dreams and aspirations. I love learning about that stuff with people. I just think from a quarterback standpoint, if you want to raise the bar for everybody around you and you want to hold yourself to the highest standard, the best way to do that is to make those relationships with your teammates and making sure they can trust you just as much as you can trust them. I think that's really where it all starts."
Speaking of leaders and friendships, Cam Skattebo also burst onto the scene. It carried over even after the running back suffered a gruesome ankle injury.
"Skatt's crazy," Dart said with a wry smile. "We just clicked right off the bat. I watched a ton of his Arizona State tape before he got here and I got to see what kind of player he was. I got to see his speeches during halftime to his team that fired everybody up. I just saw how much that whole program there changed when he stepped foot there and the way he left it off. As a player, when you see all those things, you want to compete with a guy like that. I feel like that helped us click. We see things the exact same way. We give it everything that we've got every single day. He's a killer and he's a super fun guy to be around."
Dart sees the Giants as having the pieces, but they weren't able to put them together, especially in "crunch time" situations. Changing that narrative begins now as the Giants look for their next head coach.
"This offseason is extremely important for us," Dart said. "There's a lot of uncertainty with what's going to happen. The certainty that we do have, the people that are coming back, we've got to make sure that we create the strongest culture and relationships that we can going into this next year. It doesn't' have to deal with football as much, but just spending time with each other off the field. Then when we get those chances on the field, create those connections, create the timing and the rhythm of how we work and making sure that everybody is on the same accord."
View photos of the Giants' rookie class throughout the 2025 season.
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), G Jon Runyan Jr. (76), RB Cam Skattebo (44) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91), OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0) , DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
A fan holds up a shirt for New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Giants in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs against Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , WR Beaux Collins (81)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
New York Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
S Tyler Nubin (27), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
New York Giants guard Marcus Mbow (71)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44),QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Chris Manhertz (85), OL Marcus Mbow (71), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
OLB Brian Burns (0) , OLB Abdul Carter (51), DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6),TE Theo Johnson (84), T Andrew Thomas (78)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reacts after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Kevin Sabitus via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
A fan holds up a sign for New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Giants in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass as Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey, middle, is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter, left, and cornerback Cordale Flott during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, bottom, scores past Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29), cornerback Riley Moss, middle left, and safety Brandon Jones during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) rolls out to pass as Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, bottom, scores against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, right, gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, middle, runs against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reaches for the goal line to score a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (22) and safety Talanoa Hufanga, middle, break up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Beaux Collins (81) during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) signs autograph before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) warms up before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) joins teammates in huddle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass the ball under pressure form Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J.Jones (93) an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants' Jaxson Dart, left, and Beaux Collins celebrate after Dart's touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)DB Korie Black (38)CB Deonte Banks (2)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Darius Alexander (91), OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Darius Alexander (91), ILB Bobby Okereke (58), LB Swayze Bozeman (54), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
New York Giants at New England Patriots Week 13,New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51),New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants at New England Patriots Week 13,New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Brian Burns (0) , DT Darius Alexander (91), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), DL Chauncey Golston (57)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6),New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander (91), New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Tomon Fox (45)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DT Darius Alexander (91), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander (91)
New York Giants offensive tackle Marcus Mbow (71)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
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