For 16 years, the New York Giants enjoyed remarkable stability at quarterback. Under the leadership of Eli Manning, the team secured two Super Bowl victories, cementing his legacy as one of the franchise’s all-time greats. However, following Manning’s retirement, the Giants faced a challenging search for their next franchise quarterback.
Daniel Jones, selected sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, showed promise in his early years, delivering one standout season. Unfortunately, he was unable to sustain that success. Since then, several quarterbacks have come through New York, including Tyrod Taylor, Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock, and Russell Wilson, but none provided the long-term solution the Giants were hoping for.
Enter Jaxson Dart. Taken with the 25th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Dart has quickly taken the league by storm. Since being named the starter in Week 4, he hasn’t looked back. The Giants may have finally found their franchise quarterback — a sentiment even endorsed by Manning himself.
“We follow the Giants, and I pull hard. We’ve always known the ownership. And yeah, Jaxson’s giving them a little spark there,” said Arch Manning on Kay Adams’ show. “He’s played some good football when he’s gotten in there and got the offense rolling. I think Jaxson will keep playing good and be a really good, solid quarterback for the New York Giants.”
Arch Manning’s praise carries weight, coming from the elder Manning who spent 13 years as an NFL quarterback from 1971 to 1984.
Eli Manning also shared his thoughts on Dart, who, like him, is an Ole Miss alumnus. With a smile, Eli joked about Dart’s rising popularity in the New York-New Jersey area: “I got to call him for reservations now. He’s the toast of the town, and that’s exciting.”
He continued, “Feels like they have their quarterback. They got their guy, which is exciting. I think as a rookie in the NFL, every week is just a learning experience. You’re going to do some great things, but it’s just going to prepare you for the next week and for the next year. I think he has that work ethic. He has that commitment to getting better each and every week, not repeating mistakes and taking those next steps.”
### Dart’s Franchise-Revitalizing Rookie Season
New York Giants fans haven’t had much to celebrate in recent years, but that narrative is changing with Dart under center. The rookie is currently the odds-on favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year at most sportsbooks.
Despite the team’s overall struggles, Dart has put up impressive numbers in just six starts. He’s completed 62.3% of his passes for 1,175 yards, tossing 10 touchdowns against only three interceptions. Dart has also proven to be a major threat on the ground, rushing 51 times for 251 yards and scoring five rushing touchdowns.
It’s safe to say that Jaxson Dart has been a catalyst for the Giants’ offense. His dynamic play provides a strong foundation for the franchise to build upon for many years to come. Giants fans can finally feel a renewed sense of optimism with Dart leading the way.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/new-york-giants/eli-manning-message-jaxson-dart/
