The question of what makes a franchise quarterback for the New York Giants was already playing out between Jaxson Dart’s father and former Big Blue passer Danny Kanell, but now franchise all-time sack leader and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan has weighed in with a vengeance.
Strahan didn’t like Kanell publicly expressing doubts about rookie Dart after Week 17’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The generational defensive end and Super Bowl champion spoke out after Dart led another victory in Week 18, a 34-17 triumph over the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
Dart threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday, January 4. In the process, he impressed Strahan, who had a message for the critics on FOX NFL Sunday (h/t Giants Nation Show): “One of my old teammates, Danny Kanell, said, ‘well, I don’t if Jaxson Dart has proven he’s the quarterback of the future, if he deserves a new contract,’ but Danny played two good games and got a new contract, so relax there, Danny.”
Strahan may have been a little extra salty because he was speaking on the day he saw the NFL’s single-season sack record rewritten. Defensive end Myles Garrett logged his 23rd sack of this campaign for the Cleveland Browns, overtaking the mark of 22.5 set by Strahan back in 2001 and tied by Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt during the 2021 season.
Perhaps Strahan’s competitive fire had been ignited before he was asked for his take on Dart. Yet, it’s more likely one of the all-time greats is simply being honest when he says “Jaxson Dart, to me, I think this young man has a lot of talent.”
Not every ex-Giant is as convinced.
Ex-Giants Split About Jaxson Dart’s Potential
Strahan’s roast of Kanell referred to the latter’s mini breakout of sorts ways back in 1997, when he replaced Dave Brown as starter. Kanell led the Giants to an 8-2-1 finish, the NFC East title and a spot in the playoffs, but he lost the reins to Kent Graham the next year.
Ironically, Kanell’s all too brief ascension also coincided with Strahan’s true breakout as a dominant pass-rusher. He logged 14 sacks to spearhead a ferocious defense that carried the Giants from worst to first in one season.
The franchise is targeting a similarly rapid rebuild in 2026, but those hopes will hinge on Dart justifying Strahan’s praise and not letting Kanell’s critique prove prophetic.
Kanell told CBS Sports last week how he doesn’t “know if Jaxson Dart is the long-term answer for the Giants. When I think of a first-round draft pick, I think it’s somebody that you should picture for 10 to 12 years as going to be your guy. I still haven’t seen the development as a passer. He’s still running the football, and they’re designing runs for him, but I want to see him take that next step as a passer, and I just haven’t seen it yet.”
Dart’s father, Brandon, soon hit back, telling Kanell, “Bro, Eat a Fat One!” This prompted Kanell to answer back, “I don’t know why you’re messing and meddling in your son’s business,” during an appearance on VT Sports.
Kanell did say he believes Dart has shown “enough to see him go another year.” Particularly when “you’re going to give him a new coach, you’re going to get Malik Nabers back.”
Those things work in Dart’s favor, but Kanell still wants to see more maturation as a passer. To his credit, Dart offered some reasons for optimism against the Cowboys.
Jaxson Dart Upside Provides Obvious Building Block
Dart played a clean game as a passer to close out the season. He didn’t throw an interception and spread the ball between six different receivers.
One of his best plays was an ad-libbed, underhand throw on the run to tight end Daniel Bellinger. The latter took the ball 29 yards for a touchdown.
This play showed why the Giants are excited enough about Dart to let him win out the last two games and eliminate any chance of having a top-two pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Dart’s an unorthodox playmaker, a natural athlete who thrives off-platform and off-script.
It’s a flair for the unexpected that can put him at risk of greater physical punishment, but Dart has the big-play potential the Giants have lacked for too long at football’s most important position.
That potential will be a lure for a new head coach who can maybe get more from Dart than interim boss Mike Kafka. There’s enough obvious upside to believe Dart can improve the more traditional aspects of his game, the way Kanell thinks he must.
Michael Strahan Shreds Ex-Giants QB Over Jaxson Dart Take