The New York Giants aren’t waiting any longer. After three frustrating weeks to open the 2025 season, the franchise is handing the keys to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. His first start will come in Week 4 against the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers, marking the beginning of what the organization hopes will be a long-awaited era of stability under center.
Turning the Page
For months, the question wasn’t if Dart would play this season, but when. Drafted 25th overall in April, the Ole Miss product impressed throughout training camp and the preseason, showcasing accuracy, mobility, and confidence that suggested he was ahead of schedule.
Head coach Brian Daboll stopped short of declaring Dart the future face of the franchise this summer, but his confidence was clear. “We wouldn’t put anybody in a game we don’t feel confident with,” Daboll said recently when pressed about Dart’s limited early action.
Now, that confidence will be tested under the bright lights of MetLife Stadium.
Russell Wilson’s Final Chapter?
The decision comes after veteran quarterback Russell Wilson failed to find a rhythm in three starts. His Week 1 struggles against Washington (17-of-37, 168 yards) foreshadowed inconsistency. Though he rebounded with a strong outing against Dallas in Week 2, his prime-time collapse against Kansas City in Week 3 sealed his fate: 160 yards, two interceptions, and a chorus of criticism.
Social media lit up after Wilson threw three consecutive errant passes into the end zone during the final minutes against the Chiefs. The veteran who once defined efficiency in Seattle now looked like a quarterback searching for answers.
Wilson’s career résumé — nine Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl title, and nearly 45,000 passing yards — will one day put him in Canton. But in New York, the spotlight has shifted to the rookie behind him.
The Rookie Résumé
For Dart, the challenge is monumental. But so too is the opportunity.
At Ole Miss, Dart developed into one of the SEC’s premier passers, capping his senior season with gaudy numbers: 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a conference-best 69.3% completion rate. He added nearly 500 rushing yards and three scores with his legs, proving he’s more than just a pocket passer.
His college coach frequently lauded his toughness and leadership. Dart himself embraced the scrutiny that comes with playing quarterback in the South’s most competitive conference. “I don’t think that you can be an elite competitor if that’s not your mindset,” he said in camp. “I’m not scared … When I go out there, I’m going to play the game I know how to play.”
That unshakable belief is what the Giants are banking on now.
A Franchise Searching for Stability
Since Eli Manning’s retirement in 2019, the Giants have cycled through placeholders and question marks: Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor, Jameis Winston, and now Wilson. None proved to be the long-term answer.
Dart represents something different — a clean slate, a chance to develop a quarterback who could be the franchise’s anchor for the next decade. The Giants aren’t just 0-3. They’re at a crossroads. And instead of trying to salvage the season with a veteran, they’re betting on the future.
“Our sole focus as a quarterback room is to win games,” Dart said earlier this month. “That’s what this job is about.”
What Comes Next
The Chargers’ defense, loaded with speed and disguised coverages, will be a tough first assignment. Growing pains are inevitable, but the Giants want to see how Dart handles the speed, the pressure, and the spotlight of an NFL game plan aimed squarely at him.
This is no longer Russell Wilson’s team. It’s no longer about the ghosts of quarterbacks past. The Jaxson Dart era has begun. And for the first time in years, Giants fans can look at their quarterback and wonder: is this the one who will finally bring stability back to New York?
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