The New York Giants head-coaching opening was John Harbaugh’s preferred destination because of the franchise’s status in the NFL. But their having Jaxson Dart didn’t hurt.
So the new Giants head coach opened up about the budding second-year quarterback and offered high praise of his potential at his introductory press conference Tuesday in East Rutherford.
Dart, of course, was the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft from Mississippi then burst onto the scene as the Giants’ franchise quarterback. He was named a finalist for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after starting 12 games.
Dart threw for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns with just five interceptions and led New York in rushing touchdowns (9) while going 4-8 in his outings.
John Harbaugh Is ‘Excited About Jaxson Dart’
The 2025 season was one to forget by most accounts, but Dart’s potential will be remembered. He won his first start, 21-18 against Harbaugh’s brother Jim and the Los Angeles Chargers, and showed poise in the pocket and excitement with his fearlessness while running and throwing the ball.
So Dart’s presence was a major factor in Harbaugh’s interest in the Giants role.
“I’m excited about Jaxson Dart,” Harbaugh said. “You build your team around your quarterback, and I like the way he plays. I like his talent. I like his skill set. All the things he’s accomplished, but more than that I like who he is and what he’s about.”
Dart, who grew up in Utah and played briefly at USC before transferring to Oxford after his freshman year, would not be the first first-round-selected Ole Miss QB to make a name with the Giants. Of course, Eli Manning won a pair of Super Bowls for New York after playing a standout career at Mississippi.
Dart still has more to accomplish to match Manning in Giants lore, but Harbaugh lauded Dart’s commitment in the brief time they’ve spent together.
“To me he’s about football,” Harbaugh said. “He wants to talk football all the time, and that’s kind of what I like doing too. So we’re going to have a lot of great conversations, and I can’t wait to get started with him.”
John Harbaugh Likes The Giants’ Roster
Much has been made of Harbaugh’s interest in football history. He spent almost two decades with the Baltimore Ravens and comes from a football family that includes his brother, who was a player and is a current NFL coach, and his dad, who of course spent decades coaching college football.
But Harbaugh said he wasn’t interested in just any job, and the talent on the Giants’ roster made that role especially appealing.
“This was the [job] that I wanted, and I wanted it because … we have an opportunity to go win,” Harbaugh said. “I like these players. I had a chance to watch these players on tape. I like the way they play. I like their style. I like how physical and how tough they are, and I know they want to be successful and they want to go to work.”
To Harbaugh’s point, the Giants’ expected win-loss record in 2025 was 7.1-9.9, per Pro-Football Reference, a far cry from their 4-13 record that included seven losses by one possession and two in overtime.
So Harbaugh spelled out his plan, which includes a lot more winning than those around the team have seen in the nine years where they have averaged just 4.9 victories per season and made the playoffs once.
“The plan is to win every game, one game at a time,” Harbaugh said. “You go into every game planning to win that game. That’s our expectation.
“We will be expecting to do that, but we’ve got to earn the right to expect that by how we go to work and prepare and what kind of a team that we make ourselves into.”
John Harbaugh Offers Strong Statement For Giants QB Jaxson Dart At Introductory Press Conference