The New York Giants are finally out from under the shadow of the Daniel Jones era, and honestly, it’s about time. For years, the Meadowlands felt like a place where offensive rhythm went to die. But as we head into the 2026 offseason, the vibe around the quarterback New York Giants situation has shifted from "here we go again" to something that actually looks like hope.
Jaxson Dart is the reason.
When Joe Schoen traded back into the first round to grab the Ole Miss product at No. 25 overall in the 2025 draft, critics were everywhere. They said he was too raw. They said his "gunslinger" mentality would lead to a turnover fest in the NFL. Fast forward to January 2026, and Dart has basically flipped the script. He didn't just start games; he started a culture shift.
The Jaxson Dart Era: Beyond the Box Score
It’s easy to look at the 4-8 record Dart posted as a starter and think the Giants are still stuck in the mud. That’s a mistake. You’ve got to look at the context of what this kid inherited.
Malik Nabers went down with an ACL tear in September. The offensive line was a revolving door of "who's that?" after Andrew Thomas landed on IR. Despite all that, Dart became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for a touchdown in five consecutive games.
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He’s got this weird, twitchy playmaking ability that New York hasn't seen in decades. It isn't just the 487 rushing yards or the 15 passing touchdowns. It’s the way he moves. He plays with a certain "IDGAF" energy that reminds you of a young Josh Allen—sometimes to a fault, like when he suffered a concussion against the Chicago Bears in Week 10 because he wouldn't slide.
Why the Veteran Experiment Actually Worked
One thing nobody expected was the Russell Wilson factor.
The Giants signed Wilson to a one-year "bridge" deal last offseason, and most fans figured it would be a disaster. It started out rough. The team went 0-3 with Wilson under center, and Brian Daboll made the gutsy call to bench the 10-time Pro Bowler in Week 4.
Usually, that’s where the drama starts. You'd expect a guy like Russ to pout. Instead, he became Dart's "caddy."
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- The Mentorship: Ian Rapoport reported that Wilson was the first person to call Dart after the benching to tell him he had his back.
- The Room: Jameis Winston, who is also on the roster, joined the trio in "closing the place down" every night watching tape.
- The Result: Dart finished his rookie year with a 91.7 passer rating, a massive jump from what the Giants were getting in 2024.
Moving on from Daniel Jones
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. The Giants officially released Daniel Jones in late 2024, ending a relationship that was, frankly, broken.
The contract was a mess. The $160 million deal will go down as one of the biggest "what were they thinking?" moments in franchise history. As of January 2026, the Giants are still eating a $22.21 million dead cap hit from that release. Jones spent 2025 in Indianapolis, where he struggled with an Achilles injury and a late-season fade.
The separation was necessary. It wasn't just about the money; it was about the air in the building. The quarterback New York Giants narrative needed a fresh face, and the front office finally stopped trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
What to Expect in 2026
The 2025 season ended with a mini-winning streak, but the work is just starting. The Giants are currently in the middle of a massive coaching transition, with reports surfacing that John Harbaugh might be heading to East Rutherford. If that happens, the expectations for Dart are going to skyrocket.
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The Roster Outlook
The Giants have some serious housekeeping to do this spring.
- Backup Decisions: Both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston are hitting the market. Winston, on an $8 million deal, is a prime candidate for a cut or a restructure.
- The Nabers Return: Getting a healthy Malik Nabers back changes everything for Dart. You can’t evaluate a young QB when his WR1 is out for 75% of the season.
- The Trenches: Marcus Mbow showed flashes at tackle, but the Giants need to stop the bleeding on the offensive line if they want Dart to survive a full 17-game slate.
Honestly, the biggest challenge for Dart in 2026 isn't his arm or his legs. It's his head. He's got to learn when to live for another play. You love the grit, but the Giants can't afford their franchise savior spending half the season in the blue tent.
The Reality of the QB Search
The search for a quarterback New York Giants fans can believe in has been a long, exhausting road. From the Eli Manning sunset years to the Daniel Jones rollercoaster and the brief Tommy DeVito fever dream, it’s been a lot.
Dart is the first one who feels like he actually belongs in the modern NFL. He’s not a game manager. He’s a game changer. Whether he can turn those "wow" moments into a playoff berth in 2026 depends entirely on whether Joe Schoen can finally build a wall in front of him.
Actionable Next Steps for Giants Fans
If you're tracking the Giants' offseason, keep a close eye on the salary cap movements. The team needs to clear space to surrounding Dart with veteran protection. Watch the "reserve/future" signings—guys like Swayze Bozeman and Trace Ford aren't household names yet, but they represent the depth the Giants desperately lacked last year. Most importantly, monitor the health of Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers; Dart’s success in 2026 is directly tied to the weapons returning to the field.