The Giants have been trying to find stability all season, and strangely enough, the most consistent spark has come from their rookie quarterback.
Jaxson Dart has played with a mix of confidence, instinct, and raw edge that has caught the attention of fans and analysts across the league. Now he has earned an admirer with real weight behind his words: Mike McCarthy.
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The former Cowboys and Packers head coach spoke about Dart on The Pat McAfee Show, calling the young passer someone with an “extremely bright future.” McCarthy spent years developing quarterbacks in Green Bay, so when he breaks down a rookie, people tend to listen. He praised Dart’s ability to create outside the pocket and his natural feel for escaping pressure, noting that those traits cannot be coached.
Dart has appeared in ten games and started eight, throwing for 1,556 yards and 11 touchdowns. The numbers suggest a promising start, although the conversation around him has shifted toward durability. He missed two games in November with a concussion, and his return on Monday night featured another violent collision along the sideline that reignited concerns about his physical approach.
What Jaxson Dart does naturally you can’t teach.. His ability to make plays is phenomenal and I think he has an extremely bright future
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Dart stood by the way he plays, telling reporters that “we’re not playing soccer out here.” That competitive fire resonates with fans, but McCarthy was clear about what must come next. He emphasized that young quarterbacks need to stay on the field to improve, describing availability as the most important attribute for a developing player.
His point lines up with what other coaches have said about mobile quarterbacks in recent years. Buffalo has repeatedly urged Josh Allen to avoid unnecessary hits, according to reporting from ESPN, and the same theme has emerged with players like Lamar Jackson and Justin Fields. The league loves mobility, but it demands longevity.
McCarthy also referenced a specific moment from Monday when Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss launched Dart into the air near the sideline. While he admired Dart’s toughness, he said the rookie needed to step out instead of inviting the hit.
I love the way that Jaxson Dart plays but he’s gotta get outta bounds there
The timing of McCarthy’s comments is interesting, given that the Giants are in the middle of searching for a new head coach. Whoever steps into the job will inherit a talented, fearless rookie who plays full throttle on every snap. The challenge will be shaping that energy into something sustainable.
For now, the message from one of the NFL’s most experienced coaches is simple: Dart has the tools to be special, but he needs to protect himself if he wants that future to actually arrive.
