Russell Wilson Explains Approach to Mentoring Giants' Rookie

The strategy behind the New York Giants’ quarterback signings in March was simple, but multifaceted. In signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, the Giants ensured that their quarterback play would be better than in 2024, when Daniel Jones made his last stand and the offense crumbled around him.

But for as much as New York hopes to see the offense improve in 2025, it is more concerned with the long-term fate of first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart. An intangibly raw prospect, he’s in line for a redshirt season. The Giants don’t want to risk stunting his development by forcing him into action too early.

With two viable quarterbacks, that is far less likely to occur, giving Dart more time to watch and, more importantly, learn from Wilson.

After the Giants’ OTAs on Thursday, Wilson explained his approach to mentoring Dart.

“I always share,” Wilson said, via NJ.com’s Darryl Slater. “I’m a big believer in communicating out loud: ‘Here’s what I’m thinking.’ You don’t hold any information [back]. For me, when you have tremendous confidence in yourself, you have no problem sharing with others. That’s just what I’ve always believed.”

Other quarterbacks have been less willing to blitz their understudies with information. Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco found himself in hot water after he doubled down on his eagerness to start over the team’s host of young passers. Self-preservation is a symptom of the competitiveness that gets athletes to the biggest stage, and it often is something that is hard to drop.

Wilson, however, has continued to say and do all the right things in East Rutherford. He knows he’s set to start, and he knows Dart could push him for playing time by the end of the year. If Wilson plays well enough to keep New York in contention late in the season, he may very well push Dart’s debut into 2026.

“I just think about having success today,” Wilson said. “That’s always been my approach. I’m trying to be the best in the world. I think that for me, mentally, you have confidence in yourself and you have confidence in what you do, your process. I constantly stay the course and understand that if I’m the best me, I know how great that is. I always just stay within. I don’t really think about outside.”

It’s far too early to tell how much success Wilson will have in East Rutherford. If he’s a factor in turning Dart into a star, he’ll go down as a win for New York.