THE DART ERA BEGINS: HOW OLE MISS’ GUNSLINGER FOUND HIS NEXT SPOTLIGHT

Gunnar Galloway - November 3, 2025 

Jaxson Dart’s story isn't one handed out to just anyone. It’s a story carved through perseverance and a continuous effort to prove he’s the quarterback deserving of a chance. He’s not just another quarterback making the jump. He’s the latest test of whether raw talent and unshakable confidence can survive the NFL’s unforgiving pace.

After transferring from USC, Dart took over as the starting quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels in 2022 and went on to leave his influence on the record books. Over three seasons, Dart threw for 10,617 yards and 72 touchdowns, surpassing Eli Manning to become Ole Miss’ all-time passing yards leader. In 2024 alone, he completed 69.3% of his passes for 4,279 yards and 29 touchdowns, posting a passer rating damn near 180, all while leading the Rebels to back-to-back 10-win seasons.

These were all reasons that the New York Giants were willing to trade up all the way to the 25th pick in the draft, all with Dart in mind. But stepping from Oxford to the Meadowlands is a jump few can handle cleanly if at all, and his earlier few games have reflected that all over the place in simple words. 

After a sluggish 0-3 start under veteran Russell Wilson, the Giants handed Dart the reins in Week 4. He responded with a scrappy debut, 13-for-20, 111 yards, one rushing touchdown, and 54 yards on the ground, leading New York to its first win of the season. Since then, he’s put up a total of 1,175 passing yards, 10 touchdown passes, 4 interceptions, and 251 rushing yards with 5 rushing scores, while being one of the most talented rookie quarterbacks in the NFL.

The rookie’s style mirrors what made him a fan favorite in Oxford: confident, mobile, and able to lower the boom on the run. When the pocket collapses, he knows exactly where he's going. When the crowd gets loud, he gets even more fired up. Still, the growing pains are not to be ignored. Two-pick games, pocket pressure, and a high sack rate have reminded everyone how steep the learning curve is from college to pro.

For 6, the mission now is to become as comfortable as he was in his years past. To become the rookie in the league, ready to handle whatever the hell is thrown his way. For the Giants, it’s about patience, letting the kid from Ole Miss grow into the star they drafted him to be.

Because if his college career taught us anything, it’s this: Jaxson Dart’s story always builds toward something. He turned the Rebels into a national headline. Now, he’s got a shot to do the same for New York.

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