Anytime a young rookie starts hot in the preseason, it’s hard not to think of the line from “Bull Durham”: “I want to announce my presence with authority.”
The New York Giants’ rookie quarterback is trying to do that. After an impressive performance in relief of starter Russell Wilson in Week 1 of the preseason, he filled the same role in the Giants’ annual preseason matchup with their housemates, the New York Jets.
How Did Dart Do Against the Jets?
Pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Dart entered the game during the second quarter and showed off his athleticism and aggressiveness, finishing with an eye-popping stat line of 14 completions on 16 attempts for 137 yards and a touchdown. He added a rushing touchdown as well.
Jaxson Dart finishes 14-of-16 for 137 yards with a passing TD and a rushing TD.
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) August 17, 2025
Dart played sparingly with the first team in the first half, but in the second half, he took off. He marched the Giants downfield, completing five of six passes for 62 yards, and finished the drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass over the middle to tight end Greg Dulcich.
On the very next drive, he led the Giants downfield again, completing eight passes for 45 yards and capping it with a 1-yard keeper for a touchdown.
Every Jaxson Dart play v. Jets
Jaxson Dart
14/16 137 yards 1 TD 0 INT
2 rushes 5 yards 1 TD pic.twitter.com/Dnuko3LgRK— Giants Nation Show (@GiantsNationPod) August 17, 2025
He performed against the Jets’ second team, but what stood out was his decisiveness, his ability to deliver the ball, and the confidence in his playmaking. It was a drastic improvement over the shaky play Daniel Jones displayed during his time in the Meadowlands.
Additionally, Dart hasn’t committed a turnover in two preseason games.
Is There a Chance Dart Could Open the Season As the Starter?
Don’t hold your breath.
Wilson has been fine in the starting role, and his experience will likely keep him in that spot to open the season.
Wilson completed four of seven passes for 108 yards, including an 80-yard bomb to Beaux Collins, proving he can still deliver the deep ball.
GIANTS COUNTRY, LET’S RIDE.
RUSSELL WILSON CONNECTS WITH BEAUX COLLINS ON THE DEEP BALL! pic.twitter.com/uf5asOx0HE
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) August 16, 2025
However, Dart’s scintillating play will fire up the Giants’ fan base and undoubtedly lead to calls for the team to throw caution to the wind, bet their season on Dart, and see what they have in him.
The Giants gambled on Dart by trading back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, signaling they believe he could be their future quarterback.
Head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are likely on the hot seat and will need a successful 2025 season to keep their jobs. Whether Dart sees time as a starter sooner rather than later is a coin flip