The New York Giants are starting a new era, with head coach Brian Daboll deciding it was time to bench veteran quarterback Russell Wilson and start rookie Jaxson Dart for the rest of the 2025 NFL season.
Although Wilson showed flashes of brilliance at times, reminding people that he’s a Super Bowl champion, Dart’s potential to help this Giants team win games every week this season was too promising to pass up.
Fortunately for Daboll, the controversial choice to go with Dart heading into Week 4’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers paid off, with the Giants pulling off a major upset on their home field of MetLife Stadium.
Shannon Sharpe’s Message for Giants Rookie QB Jaxson Dart
With Dart getting the first win of his NFL career in his first start on the professional level, there’s a lot of excitement in New York about this rookie’s potential to make the Giants relevant again in the NFC.
However, with excitement and a lot of hype comes expectations and pressure, which can be very difficult for a young quarterback to handle, especially in the country’s biggest media market.
Interestingly enough, Dart will head into Sunday’s matchup against a New Orleans Saints team that passed on him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Dart was asked if
“There is always a chip on your shoulder any time something like that happens,” Dart said via ESPN. “But yeah, I’m just going to go out there and play as hard as I can.”
Most NFL players take it personally when a team that needs to address the position they play gets passed over during the draft, especially when it results in a drastic drop, as Dart’s case is a perfect example, as he fell to No. 25 overall.
NFL legend Shannon Sharpe chimed in on Dart’s situation heading into this matchup with the Saints on the Nightcap podcast with Chad Ochocinco.
He should be thankful,” Sharpe said of Dart ending up with the Giants. “Okay, Ocho. Top 10 pick. Money. I get it, but come on, bro.
“If you make it in New York, do you understand what you can become? Look at the people who win in New York. Look at [Derek] Jeter. Look at [Michael] Strahan. Eli [Manning].
“Can you imagine if Aaron Judge were to win a World Series? I’ll give you an example: LT (Lawrence Taylor). Reggie Jackson.”
Sharpe is not wrong. Winning in New York or Los Angeles is not like anything else, and Dart has been given that opportunity rather than potentially becoming another promising young quarterback that might not amount to anything in New Orleans, which seems to happen time and time again, unless you are Drew Brees, who decided to sign with the Saints in 2006.
Jaxson Dart Determined to Make Statement Vs. Saints
GettyJaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants.
Earlier this week, Dart made his feelings about the Saints clear after he was passed over during the NFL Draft. He seems to believe that things went well during his visit to New Orleans, and appears disappointed he didn’t land with the Saints.
“Yeah, I felt like my visit with them went good,” Dart said. “You kind of have thoughts in your head about what options are realistic, and I felt that was a place that could’ve panned out. But things didn’t work out that way.”
Dart not landing in New Orleans was likely a blessing in disguise, as he’s now the new starting quarterback of the Giants, coming off an impressive win against the Chargers, with fans of the storied franchise excited about the future with the young quarterback under center.
“I love it here. There’s not a place that I’d rather be,” he said. “I love just how passionate people are outside the facility, in the facility. I like the attitude the East Coasters have. It’s a lot of fun. So I love it.”
Heading into Week 5, the Saints have gone from being the underdog to the favorite (-2.5), which is interesting and is bound to fuel Dart’s fire that much more.
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