Phil Simms conducting runaway Giants’ Jaxson Dart hype train

The Jaxson Dart hype train has officially left the station, and New York Giants legend Phil Simms might be conducting it.

Dart enters his second NFL season with expectations far higher than a year ago. Simms, who knows something about playing quarterback in New York, has few questions about Dart’s long-term potential.

“Jaxson Dart is without question a franchise quarterback,” Simms told NorthJersey.com and The Record. “Because what you need to be one, he’s got it all. He’s good at everything. Not only is he good at everything, his teammates, they admire him, they look to him. Now the question is, is he ready when given chances from the team and his coaches to make the plays that need to be made? If he is given the opportunity, he is going to get it done. I feel really safe in saying that.”

The Giants QB provided reasons for optimism as a rookie, throwing for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding another nine scores on the ground in 12 starts.

Dart believes his baseball background has helped develop one of his biggest strengths. The former middle infielder explained that manipulating throws, changing arm angles, and delivering passes off-platform are skills that translated naturally to playing QB.

“I was a baseball player my whole life, played middle infield and thought that I was pretty good,” Dart said. “So, being able to have the arm talent to do those, I think, is something that I feel confident translating over into this game. Being able to manipulate different throws, being able to even just get out of trouble sometimes. I think that that’s a skill that you’re kind of seeing … with quarterbacks being able to throw off-platform. I think the biggest thing is, that stuff’s all cool, but you’ve got to be really consistent in the easy things as well, the completions that you got to have, the in-rhythm throws, I think those are the ones that you really try to excel at. And then, off-platform, different arm angle stuff is just a strength when you’ve got to go out there and just make a play.”

If the 23-year-old starts showing significant progress early in 2026, Simms won’t be the only one calling him the Giants’ franchise quarterback.