Giants name Jaxson Dart starter for rest of season over Russell Wilson
Daboll says it’s his decision; Dart will start Week 4 vs. Chargers and remain the starter for the remainder of the season.
The New York Giants named Jaxson Dart the starting quarterback for the rest of the season, beginning with Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Giants coach Brian Daboll announced the move to New York reporters on Wednesday, saying it is his decision and that conversations with both Dart and Russell Wilson will stay private. Dart, the first-round pick the Giants moved back into the 2025 draft to secure, is viewed as the quarterback of the future and will start Week 4 and beyond.
Daboll made clear that the decision followed three games in which the offense struggled and Wilson, the veteran starter, was at the helm. Wilson delivered a high-profile 450-yard game in Dallas, but the team has dropped three straight, most recently a 22-9 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dart had backed up Wilson through those games and impressed in the preseason, which helped him win the spot over veteran Jameis Winston on the Giants’ depth chart. Daboll has not wavered from his belief in Dart since the Giants traded back into the first round in April to land him, a move GM Joe Schoen described at the time as aiming to secure a potential franchise quarterback.
It will be Dart’s first NFL start and his first time leading the offense at MetLife Stadium, where the Giants will host the Chargers at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Daboll underscored that the decision was made with both players aware of their roles moving forward. "It’s my decision," he said, reiterating that conversations with the players would remain private but that the direction was clear: the team will go with Jaxson. He added, "We’ve had three games, haven’t put it together all collectively, and made the decision to play Jaxson."
The move signals a broader shakeup in New York’s approach at quarterback, with the organization betting on a longer-term plan rather than short-term results. Owner John Mara has emphasized performance expectations after a 3-14 season in 2024, and Daboll’s willingness to pivot mid-season reflects the urgency to show progress in a challenging start to 2025. Projections for Dart come with cautions common to rookie quarterbacks: growth, growing pains, and a learning curve that will reveal itself in real games on a public stage against top competition. Daboll acknowledged that rookie quarterbacks rarely arrive fully ready and that the decision to play Dart is rooted in a belief that the rookie has earned the opportunity to compete at the NFL level.
As the debate about the right path for the Giants continues, Dart’s first test will be a notable one. The Chargers, undefeated at 3-0 through the early portion of the season, bring a combination of talent and discipline that will test the young quarterback’s readiness in real-game conditions. For Dart, the assignment is not just about immediate results but about validating the long-term plan the Giants have pursued since the draft. The team will provide whatever support and coaching is necessary to help him grow while navigating the pressures of a professional debut under bright stadium lights.
The season’s progression will determine how the Giants’ quarterback pipeline is viewed going forward, but for now, the focus is on Dart’s development and the opportunity to change the trajectory of a franchise seeking a return to relevance in the NFC East. It remains to be seen how quickly Dart adapts to the speed and complexity of the NFL game, how Wilson responds to the bench, and how the coaching staff maximizes the offense around a young quarterback poised to take the reins at a pivotal moment for the franchise.
