The New York Football Giants are getting ready to make their debut on Sunday, September 13th, against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Head coach John Harbaugh has been building in several new areas where Big Blue can fight its way into the top tier this season. This former Super Bowl-winning head coach has liked what he has seen from his star quarterback, Jaxson Dart, during the offseason. The former Baltimore coach has also taken the time to build the offensive line around him. The question is whether, after a rough season last year, Dart is ready to take the next step and be better for his team alongside the other new additions.
The former Ole Miss Quarterback is no longer just a rookie that the team is evaluating to see how he can play. Originally, Big Blue planned to keep him on the bench all of last season while former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson was the team's starting quarterback. However, that changed by Week Four after the Giants suffered multiple losses. Dart showed up on the field and was ready to play the minute the team put him in. Since then, New York has looked to him to be a team leader.
That said, there are no more evaluations, but expectations remain for this young quarterback. Locked in with a lethal arm, yet ready to ground-and-pound. The 23-year-old general doesn't just slice defenses from the pocket; he tramples them on the run. Last season, he rushed for 487 yards on 86 carries, while averaging out to 5.7 yards per carry. The explosive signal-caller wasn't just throwing touchdowns; he personally calloused his hands in the end zone, racking up nine rushing scores last season. Dart finished the season with 24 total touchdowns, setting a franchise record.
Expectations will be higher this season, knowing that the Giants' play caller is a triple threat to defensive lines. He also has bigger and better weapons this season. The rookie pedigree was on full display this preseason. He didn't need long to flash his franchise potential, turning just four pass attempts into 26 yards and a clinical touchdown. The former first-round pick has been able to get a touchdown in nearly every game he has played in. There's no room for error in East Rutherford. Harbaugh has been hands-on with Dart all summer, drilling the offense until the sophomore quarterback can run the entire playbook in his sleep.
There are still areas that need improvement. Last season, he was sacked 35 times as a rookie because he didn't have a decent offensive line. The training wheels are officially off in New York. If the Giants are going to make a serious postseason run, their 23-year-old signal-caller must elevate his game from standard game-manager to a cold, calculated decision-maker under fire. This season, he may have a chance to do better because Harbaugh has worked to keep his quarterback protected. It’s going to take time, but Dart will also need to work with his team to make sure he can pull off what he needs to get the job done.
The honeymoon is over. After a rookie campaign that teased a bright future, the standard has dramatically shifted. In this league, promise is a currency that quickly loses value, and for Big Blue’s chosen one, only excellence will do. Dart needs to push forward and be more than he has ever been before. The Giants' signal caller has so much more to work with this coming season. The engine behind New York’s offensive revival gave the Giants reason to believe in 2025. Now in 2026, he has an opportunity to prove everyone right.
