Giants Made Big Jaxson Dart Decision in September

Dart's Background

The 25th overall pick out of Ole Misshad impressed enough behind the scenes that the coaching staff felt the timing was right. Daboll spoke with Wilson and Dart privately before the decision and later told reporters the team was committed to Dart going forward. Wilson handled the move professionally, even walking with Daboll to practice afterward, a moment that showed there was no tension despite the change.

Dart made his first NFL start that weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers, and from that point, the Giants went all in on development. Fans had already begun chanting for Dart during the Sunday night loss to Kansas City, and the staff saw the value in giving the rookie full control.

Dart responded with the traits that drew New York to him in the draft. Through his first stretch of games, he threw for 1,417 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. His best outing came Oct. 19 at Denver when he threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns while going 15 of 33.

The season took another turn when Daboll was fired on Nov. 10 after a 2-8 start. At 50 years old and coming off a year of constant scrutiny, the organization felt it needed a new direction. That placed interim head coach Mike Kafka in charge, but the quarterback plan remained unchanged. Kafka stayed with the rookie, keeping him in place even after Dart was injured in the 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears. Dart had gone 19 of 29 before the injury, which raised immediate questions about how long he might be sidelined.

Dart’s Status Moving Forward

The Giants are 2-10 and officially eliminated from postseason contention, which makes the final weeks about building for next season. The biggest piece of that plan is already in motion. Dart has been cleared to return and will start the rest of the year, including the upcoming Monday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots. Kafka confirmed that as soon as Dart was healthy, he would regain QB1 responsibilities.

This is one of the few constants in what has become a chaotic season for New York. The September decision to hand the job to Dart continues to shape the franchise’s direction. With the coaching transition underway and roster changes expected this offseason, every snap he takes becomes part of the evaluation for long-term stability. The team believes in his arm talent and toughness, and now he gets the final stretch to show he can anchor the next era.