It’s the start of a new era for the New York Giants. When the team takes the field in Week 4, it will be led by rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, according to multiple reports.
Dart will replace Russell Wilson as the team’s starting quarterback. The rookie’s first start will come against the Chargers on Sunday.
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Dart was always expected to see some time as the starter in 2025 after he was selected by the Giants with the No. 25 overall pick in April’s draft. But Dart put himself on an accelerated program after a strong preseason in which he threw three touchdowns and no interceptions in three games.
Despite the presence of veteran Jameis Winston, Dart’s preseason performance was enough to push him into the No. 2 quarterback spot on the depth chart to start the regular season. There were reports that the Giants even had a package of plays prepared for Dart ahead of the team’s Week 1 game against the Washington Commanders, but he did not receive playing time in the contest.
That may have benefited Dart in the end. Wilson struggled mightily in the team’s first game of the season. The 36-year-old completed just 17 of 37 passes for 168 yards. He did not throw for any touchdowns in the team’s 21-6 loss to the division-rival Commanders in Week 1.
Wilson’s struggles didn’t go unnoticed by Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who refused to commit to Wilson as the team’s Week 2 starter immediately following that first loss. A day later, however, Daboll changed his tune and said the team would stick with Wilson moving forward.
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That decision lasted just three games. After an excellent Week 2 performance by Wilson, in which he decimated the Dallas Cowboys’ leaky secondary, the veteran came back to earth in Week 3.
With the game in a primetime slot, Wilson was exposed on national television, going just 18 of 32 for 160 yards and two interceptions. On Monday, Daboll said “we’re evaluating everything.”
Wilson’s struggles in the end zone, in particular, gained a lot of attention on social media following the team’s Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. While the game was already likely out of hand, Wilson threw three uncatchable passes out of the back of the end zone with the Giants desperately needing a touchdown with roughly three minutes to play.
For Wilson, the benching could prove to be the last of his NFL career. After putting together a Hall of Fame resume with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson saw his numbers decline precipitously after being traded to the Denver Broncos. Despite a solid season in 2023, the Broncos decided to move on without the veteran. Wilson joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, tossing 16 touchdowns in 11 starts before again hitting the free-agent market. He signed with the Giants, hoping to get one more starting opportunity.
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Wilson got that wish, opening the 2025 NFL season as the Giants’ starting quarterback, but Dart wound up pushing him back to the bench.
With the move, the Giants are officially playing for the future. Dart showed off some promising skills during the preseason, earning the trust of the Giants’ coaching staff much sooner than expected. But the regular season is a completely different animal, and Dart will need to prove he can handle the speed of the pro game when the games really matter. While Dart did not appear in the team’s game in Week 1, he did see action in Week 2 and Week 3, running the ball twice. Dart has yet to throw a pass in the NFL.
Dart assumes the starting role with plenty of experience under his belt. In his four years in college, Dart appeared in 45 games. After playing sparingly at USC as a freshman, Dart transferred to Ole Miss, where he won the team’s starting job. Dart posted solid numbers with the team as a sophomore and junior before taking his game to another level as a senior.
In his final season at Ole Miss, Dart threw for a conference-leading 4,279 yards. He threw 29 touchdowns against six interceptions, also leading the conference with a 69.3 completion percentage. Dart also emerged as a rushing threat, running for nearly 500 yards and scoring three rushing touchdowns as a senior.
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Those stats were strong enough to push Dart into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Now that he’s finally worked his way into the starting role, Dart will look to prove he can be a true franchise quarterback in New York. The Giants have been searching for a stabilizing presence under center since the days of Eli Manning. It would only be fitting if his replacement came from the same college.
