Few young quarterbacks have lived through as many highs and lows in two seasons as Jaxson Dart. He was a first round pick who took over a struggling team as a rookie. He won over fans with his fearless style and then watched his head coach get fired in the middle of the year. Just when a new staff arrived and he looked sharper than ever his 2026 season ended on the seventh snap of a Monday night game. This guide covers his Utah roots and his college path and his draft story and his rookie year and the knee injury that changed this season. It also looks at what comes next for the Giants and for him.
Quick Facts
He was born on May 13 2003. He grew up in Draper Utah. He is listed at six feet three inches and about 210 pounds. He wears number 6 for the New York Giants. He plays quarterback and he is known as a mobile passer who is not afraid to run. He is in his second NFL season.
Early Life in Utah
Jaxson Dart grew up in Draper which sits just south of Salt Lake City. He attended Corner Canyon High School and became one of the top quarterback recruits in the country. Scouts liked his arm and his athletic frame. They also liked how calm he looked under pressure. His high school career put him on the radar of major programs and he signed with USC in December 2020.
College Career: USC and Ole Miss
His time at USC was short. He arrived as a young passer and spent the 2021 season mostly learning behind the starter. The program then hired Lincoln Riley as head coach. Rumors spread that Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams would follow Riley to Los Angeles. Seeing the path blocked Dart entered the transfer portal.
He chose Ole Miss and that decision changed his career. Under coach Lane Kiffin the Rebels ran a fast offense that gave quarterbacks plenty of freedom. It fit Jaxson Dart perfectly. He became the starter in 2022 and grew every year after that. He threw for big yardage and made plays with his legs and led the team to some of its best seasons in years. By the time he left he was among the top passers in program history.
Ole Miss also won big games with him at the helm. The Rebels finished strong in 2023 and 2024 and he became the face of the program. NFL teams noticed how he handled big stages in the SEC which is one of the toughest conferences in the country.
The 2025 NFL Draft
Draft analysts described him as a mobile quarterback with solid arm strength and good accuracy. Some questioned whether his college offense hid weaknesses. Others loved his competitiveness. The Giants were one team that believed in him. After taking pass rusher Abdul Carter with the third overall pick they traded up to select Jaxson Dart at pick 25 in the first round.
The move showed how badly New York wanted a long term answer at the position. He walked into a locker room with a veteran starter and a head coach under pressure. That is not an easy place for a rookie.
A Rookie Season Full of Drama
He began 2025 as a backup. The Giants started the year with three straight losses. On September 23 the team announced that Dart would take over as the starter for the Week 4 game against the Chargers. From that point the offense felt different. He ran with confidence and he made throws that surprised defenders.
One of the best moments came on a Thursday night in October when the Giants beat the defending champion Eagles. It was a signature win for the young passer. He kept finding ways to extend plays and fans started to believe the team had found something real.
Over 12 starts he completed 216 of 339 passes for 2272 yards. He threw 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He also added yards and touchdowns on the ground and ran for nine scores as a rookie. Those numbers are strong for a first year player on a team that lost a lot.
Concussion and a coaching change
Not everything was smooth. He suffered a concussion in a loss to the Bears in November and missed a game. That loss dropped the Giants to 2 and 8 and the next morning the team fired Brian Daboll. Jaxson Dart returned later but then took a big hit while running against the Patriots. Those moments raised a question that follows him everywhere. Can a quarterback this aggressive stay healthy for a full season?
A Fresh Start Under John Harbaugh
In January 2026 the Giants hired John Harbaugh as head coach and brought in Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator. The offense was built around a strong run game and smart passing. Many analysts felt it was a good fit for Jaxson Dart. He could stay efficient and let the system help him.
The opener proved it. In a Sunday night win over the Cowboys he completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran 11 times for 54 yards. His passer rating that night was 134.2 and it was the best of his career. The Giants won 28 to 20 and fans left the stadium excited about what a full season could look like.
The Injury That Ended His Season
One week later everything changed. The Giants visited the Rams on Monday night. On their opening drive Jaxson Dart dropped back and jumped to throw downfield under pressure. He was hit on the right side by linebacker Byron Young and went down with a knee injury. He had thrown only five passes. He completed three of them for 20 yards and he never returned to the game. The Giants lost 28 to 6.
At first people hoped it was only a sprained MCL. But the MRI showed more damage. The injury included his MCL and PCL and a meniscus tear in his left knee. His ACL was intact and that was a relief. Surgery followed and it went well according to Harbaugh. He will miss the rest of the regular season. The coach did not fully rule out a playoff return at first but later said that idea was probably a little ambitious.
The team expects him to make a full recovery and be ready for 2027. Harbaugh also spoke about how hard the news was on him. He said Dart was determined but also disappointed and that injuries come with a kind of mourning.
How the Giants Have Responded
The Giants moved fast. Veteran Jameis Winston took over as the starter. They beat the Titans 12 to 7 in the first game without Dart. They then won against the Cardinals 36 to 24 and tied the Commanders 27 to 27. That leaves the team with three wins and one loss and one tie heading into a home game against the Saints on Sunday October 18.
New York also added insurance at the position by trading for former first round pick J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings. The message was clear. The team wants to stay in the playoff race while Dart heals. It also shows that the staff takes the quarterback position very seriously.
Playing Style: Strengths and Concerns
When he is healthy he brings a rare mix of traits. He has a strong arm and quick feet. He can throw from different angles and he is willing to take chances. His completion rate in the first two games of 2026 was above 76 percent. That shows how well he fit the new offense in the short time he played.
The concern is how he plays. He runs with a fearless style and he takes hits. Some of that is what makes him special. But two serious injuries in a short time have fans and coaches asking for balance. Learning when to slide and when to throw the ball away is the next big step. Harbaugh has a reputation for teaching smart habits and the long recovery will give Dart plenty of time to study film and think about it.
Career Numbers So Far
Through his first 16 NFL games he has thrown for 2522 yards and 18 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He has rushed for 541 yards and nine touchdowns. Those are strong numbers for a young quarterback who has played for two different coaching staffs. The sample is small but the early results are encouraging.
What Comes Next
The immediate goal is rehab. He will work with the medical team to rebuild strength in the knee and get back to full speed. Then comes the offseason when the Giants will plan around him once again. The staff will have a full year of data on what worked in the new offense. He will also have time to work with Nagy and refine the passing game.
For the Giants the season is still alive. For Dart it is a year of patience. The goal for 2027 is simple. Come back healthy and play smart and show that the early flashes were not a fluke.
Why Fans Believe in Him
Giants fans have waited a long time for a quarterback who excites them. He plays with energy and he is willing to make big plays when the moment demands it. Teammates have praised his leadership. Fans see a young passer who wants to win and cares about the team. Even with the injury many of them still view him as the future.
Final Thoughts
The story of Jaxson Dart is still being written. He went from a Utah high school star to a transfer at Ole Miss to a first round pick for the Giants. He survived a rough rookie year and showed real promise under a new coach. Now he faces his biggest test which is coming back strong from a serious knee injury. If he heals well and plays with a bit more caution the best chapters could still be ahead.
You may also read more blogs
FAQs
Who is Jaxson Dart?
He is the second year quarterback of the New York Giants who played college football at Ole Miss.
How old is he?
He was born on May 13 2003 so he is 23 years old.
Where did he go to college?
He started at USC and then transferred to Ole Miss.
What injury does he have?
He has a torn meniscus and damage to his MCL and PCL in his left knee.
Is he out for the season?
He will miss the rest of the regular season and the team expects him back for 2027.
Who is starting for the Giants now?
Veteran Jameis Winston is starting while Dart recovers.
