The Giants' Russell Wilson experiment is over — starting Jaxson Dart right move for the future

It probably wasn’t going to work, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth a try. Russell Wilson will someday have a gold jacket. The 36-year-old is nowhere near the player he once was, but if the Giants could squeeze out just a bit more of his magic, maybe they could compete in the present while readying rookie Jaxson Dart for the future.

So, that was their plan. The plan failed. The Giants, through three games, are winless. Wilson, in two of those three games, was horrible.

New plan: Future meet present.

The Giants will start Dart on Sunday against the Chargers.

Wilson is not the root of all evil for the Giants. He’s just one of the problems within this organization. Joe Schoen’s draft classes are aging like a split avocado. The retained coaching staff has its players quitting in the middle of plays during games. Offensive schemes lack creativity. The defense doesn’t maximize its playmakers.

So while the Giants spent all offseason telling anyone who would listen that they’re better, the truth about this 2025 team is that, again, right now they’re not good.

Which is why it made zero sense at all to continue playing Wilson.

It’s not that Wilson can’t play anymore. He showed in his 450-yard, three-touchdown outing against the Cowboys he can still flash a bit of the player he once was. He’s no longer great, good even, but he makes sense on a team like the Bengals. They have playmakers littered on offense and don’t want to give up on the season just because Joe Burrow went down with a turf toe. If the Eagles lost Jalen Hurts, or the Vikings hadn’t found Carson Wentz to fill in for J.J. McCarthy – other examples of where Wilson would fit.

But not the Giants. There have been five teams in NFL history who have made the playoffs after starting a season 0-3. Anyone who watched New York during those three weeks will tell you it's likely not capable of becoming the sixth. Wilson will not be on the Giants in 2026, so every moment he spends on the field would now be a waste of everyone’s time.

That’s not the case with Dart.

Dart was a bit of a polarizing player entering this year’s draft. Almost all evaluators recognized his talent. They loved his work ethic and personality. Where they differed was in his NFL readiness. Ole Miss, specifically Lane Kiffin’s offense, is the opposite of pro ready. So many labeled Dart green as a result. They felt he needed a full year to sit, watch and learn – acclimating himself to a pro-style system and NFL speed before a team could even consider putting him on the field.

Some within the Giants building shared this sentiment. It’s why, on draft night, they stressed Wilson was the starter – there would be no competition. They preferred a redshirt year for Dart. They pointed toward what the Packers did with Aaron Rodgers, the Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes. There was a chance Dart wouldn’t even be the backup, with Jameis Winston on the team.

Then Dart got to the facility. He blew away the staff and front office with his ability to take classroom teachings to on-field practices. Young quarterbacks, especially green ones, often look out of place in organized team activities, minicamp, training camp. That was never the case with Dart. He continued to exceed expectations even as they increased what they asked of him.

In the preseason, Dart completed 32 of 47 passes (68 percent) for 372 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He ran for 52 yards and another touchdown. He was ready. It’s why Brian Daboll made him Wilson’s backup to start the season. Had they actually held an open competition during camp, some within the building, sources told SNY, believe Dart would have won it outright.

Still, they started with Wilson. Fine. But there’s no point in continuing to do so now.

Game reps are invaluable for Dart if he’s going to be this team’s franchise quarterback. Every protection he adjusts, rush he faces, coverage he sees (disguised or otherwise), touchdown he throws – this will all benefit him as he develops. It won’t always be pretty, but will be of such great benefit when the Giants are ready to compete.

The Giants hosted the Jets for their second preseason game. It was arguably the best Dart looked all summer. He completed 14 of 16 passes for 137 yards with a touchdown. He rushed for another on a sneak near the goal line. It was everything you hoped to see from any quarterback, let alone a rookie.

In the locker room after the game, Dart spoke briefly with a reporter before going to the podium for his news conference. Daboll came over and interjected. No “excuse me.” He leaned in, extended his hand, looked Dart dead in the eyes and uttered three words with no emotion.

“I love you,” he said.  

This Sunday, finally, Dart will be given the chance to show why.