April 25, 2025 • 8 mins
Quarterback Jaxson Dart speaks to the media Friday after being introduced as a Giant.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What of the last I guess twelve hours been like
for you.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Yeah, it's been crazy. It's been surreal for sure. I
think just growing up, this is as an athlete, this
is what your dream is. So being able to experience
this with my family, my loved ones back home was
quite a special experience. And then carrying it over to
come and hear bring them with me is is an
amazing experience for sure. So it couldn't be more happy.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Jackson. What's it like to walk around this building? You
see the trophies and the burals and the players and everything. Yeah,
you know that's expected of you.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, no doubt. This place is iconic. You know, everybody
in the National Football League knows it. If you're a fan,
you know it. So I'm blessed to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I'm humbled by it. It's extraordinary to see it on
the wall when you walk by. You can just fill
it in the air when you're here. So I was
able to meet a lleged Day and Carl Banks. So
being able just to be a part of this is
is quite you know, amazing, and I'm very humbled by it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
During the before the processing and.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Then yeah, they they were great.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You know was able to have conversations with them going
into this process, and I think anytime that, you know,
you get to have those opportunities, you want to take
you know, full advantage of them and being able to
meet them and create that connection before I was even
drafted here with special So look forward to continuing with
that and and just really grateful for them and and
you know them believing in me.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
You look at the quarterback room.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
You know, the Giants went out inside two veterans this offseason.
How do you see yourself fitting.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
In right away?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, I think it's just a great opportunity for me
to learn. You know, they played at the highest level,
won super Bowls, So you know, I remember as a
little kid, you know, I was watching Russ play and
actually have a jersey of him when it was used
with the Seahawks. So you know, it's like I said,
it's a surreal experience to be able to play here
and play with those.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Great guys at such an elite caliber.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
And I'm just you know, really prepared to you know,
take it day by day and try to improve.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Myself and learn from them as much as I can.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Those guys initially mean team trades up gets in the
first round, they're gonna think it'd be a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
What does that mean to you, like potentially being this franchise.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, it's special, you know, them being able to have
that belief in me. You know, I think as a
competitor that you know, you have that belief in yourself.
So when you're able to be a part of an
organization that sees it the same way, it's special. And
I think that, you know, they have an amazing plan
lined up for me in the development program, and then
being able to learn from the vets that are ahead
(02:27):
of me is going to be great.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
One of the things that's unique about the draft is
that people do sometimes pick at pieces of your game.
And one of the criticisms of you was just unique
time time your job, which isn't a bad thing, but
how ready do you believe you are? And when you
heard oh, he needs time to develop, time to develop,
what goes through your mind?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
You know?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Quite honestly, I just try to stay away from you
know that as much as I can. I'm really just
focused on getting better each and every day, and you know,
I feel like anytime I step on a football foot,
I'm gonna out there and ball regardless of who I'm
playing against.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
So I have that confidence in myself.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
But at the same time, I understand that coming to
a next level, there's definitely gonna be a development piece.
And that goes for anybody, you know, regardless of where
you're at in your career, if you're taking it to
the next level. So you know, that's my plan to
attack each and every day and to prepare myself for,
you know, whenever my time's to come.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Did he like give you any advice on how to
handle everything else around this job, not just playing football
but being good quarterback.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
For the New York team. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
So he was actually one of the first people to
reach out to me yesterday when the news broke, And
I just think that I've had such a you know,
great connection with him and the Manning family that you know,
being able to have them in my corner has been
a huge asset, and you know, I could be more
blessed to have them in my corner coming here and.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Continue that in the future.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Specifically, or we're gonna have conversations coming up. Yeah, this
these last few hours have been kind of crazy.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
On using him as a sounding board.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think it would be kind of a full not
to you know, really any questions that I have. And
I think that he's a great person and to rely
on and and kind of lean on. So he's been here,
played at the highest level, won super Bowls, and you know,
for me, I want to chase greatness just like he did.
So I think that when you're able to pick the
brain of a future you know, first Palot Hall of Famer,
(04:14):
you'd be a full.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Not to you have that misconnection. Yeah, it's huge, it's huge.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Like I said, I think it's going to be a
great outset for me to carry over to the next step.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
What do you remember about the Peach Bowls, Penn State and.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Baby Strip.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I remember he got after me early on in that game.
You know, I remember, you know, game planning for him,
and you know, just seeing his skill set was at,
you know, such an elite level. And I actually told
my family before this that I hope that I get
the chance to play with him, and because I know
how great of a player he is, and you know,
I've seen, you know, what his teammates have said about
him and how he's able to set a culture for
(04:52):
the team, and I see it the exact same way.
So I'm excited to compete with him and be a
teammate with him.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
You work with your judge at ole Miss.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Did you pick his brain about the organization and playing
in this market.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, he gave me some you know, he's gonna connect
me with some really good people. And I think that,
you know, just like many others, he's a great asset
for me. And you know, he's had a lot of experience,
so you know, he he's shed a lot of wisdom
down to me, and you know, I'm just grateful to
have him, you know, as an asset as well. So
you know, he's been a great source when in my
(05:27):
development at ole Miss. And he was able to be
at you know, my draft party yesterday, which says a
lot to me.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And you know, he's been a huge supporter.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
What's sort out about this game? When you were.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Jeez, he doesn't really have a weakness. He can do
it all. He's so versatile. I mean I played him
when he was playing in the box at the linebacker
position and how he was able to disrupt a game
from that. I still remember a play that we had
on a short yardage where he chased you know, from
the end of the line of scrimmage all the way
back to the other side of the field and almost
made a tackle on a running back for lost and
actually stif before you got to the first down. I remember,
(06:02):
you know, live, you know, you can't really see it,
but then when you watch back on film, not many
people on this earth can make a play like that.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Jackson is obviously a lot more that goes into playing
quarterback and just playing it right. So where where did
your leadership come from? How did you describe your leadership?
What kind of role models.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Have you had that?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, I'm huge on, you know, making relationships with with
my teammates. You know, I want to know everybody's story
and I want to get to know them as as
the people that they are. And I think that as
a leader, you know, to really get buy in from
your teammates, you have.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
To have that.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
And I think that when you're able to also come
to work every single day with the mindset of consistency
and discipline, where your teammates and the guys around you
know that you're going to show up and handle your
business at an elite level. I think that that you know,
can be in a great example but I think it
definitely starts with, you know, building that relationship and that
connection so you know they can trust you and you
(06:54):
can trust them, and you know, make everybody around you better.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Around.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I think early on when I was at USC, Drake
London was a great leader. When I was at Ole Miss,
you know, another receiver that I had, Trey Harris was
a great leader.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Mingo was a great leader. I've played a lot with
a lot of.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Really you know, elite players, and I think that I've
been able to take it some pieces, or it's some
pieces from all of them.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I'm surprised were you to be the second quarterback taking
in this shift to that taken by surprise all did
you kind of expect it?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Like, how did you kind of expect it to unfold?
And then the natural you know, waite fans are going
to look at some people say, you know, could have
taken or standards of you, and that there's going to
be a comparison there. How do you handle that moving forward? Go, Honestly,
this is kind of what I expected.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I think as a competitor, you see yourself as as
the best any time that you're gonna step on the field.
I think that if you don't see it that way,
then you know, especially as a quarterback, you know the
team's not going to believe in you at the highest level. So,
you know, I didn't want to make any expectations going
into it because you know, you really never know what's
going to happen in the draft. And uh, you know,
(08:07):
I couldn't be more grateful to be in the position
that I am. I'm not really thinking of it that way.
I'm more focused on, you know, really being able to
make relationships with my teammates now and try to take
this thing to the next level.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Well, Jackson, you've played Los Angeles, you played in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
How has that prepared you for being in New York
just playing a big VIDI margan playing in a premier.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Conference like that? Yeah, I think, you know, I would
say the SEC is probably the most elete conference in
college football. And I think that, you know, for me,
I was able to play at a high level and
I was able to experience, you know, a high media
platform in college and I think that that's going to
be a good transition for me to come here.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
And you know, I feel like I'm just ready for
this
What of the last I guess twelve hours been like
for you.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Yeah, it's been crazy. It's been surreal for sure. I
think just growing up, this is as an athlete, this
is what your dream is. So being able to experience
this with my family, my loved ones back home was
quite a special experience. And then carrying it over to
come and hear bring them with me is is an
amazing experience for sure. So it couldn't be more happy.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Jackson. What's it like to walk around this building? You
see the trophies and the burals and the players and everything. Yeah,
you know that's expected of you.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, no doubt. This place is iconic. You know, everybody
in the National Football League knows it. If you're a fan,
you know it. So I'm blessed to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I'm humbled by it. It's extraordinary to see it on
the wall when you walk by. You can just fill
it in the air when you're here. So I was
able to meet a lleged Day and Carl Banks. So
being able just to be a part of this is
is quite you know, amazing, and I'm very humbled by it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
During the before the processing and.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Then yeah, they they were great.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You know was able to have conversations with them going
into this process, and I think anytime that, you know,
you get to have those opportunities, you want to take
you know, full advantage of them and being able to
meet them and create that connection before I was even
drafted here with special So look forward to continuing with
that and and just really grateful for them and and
you know them believing in me.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
You look at the quarterback room.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
You know, the Giants went out inside two veterans this offseason.
How do you see yourself fitting.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
In right away?
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, I think it's just a great opportunity for me
to learn. You know, they played at the highest level,
won super Bowls, So you know, I remember as a
little kid, you know, I was watching Russ play and
actually have a jersey of him when it was used
with the Seahawks. So you know, it's like I said,
it's a surreal experience to be able to play here
and play with those.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Great guys at such an elite caliber.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
And I'm just you know, really prepared to you know,
take it day by day and try to improve.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Myself and learn from them as much as I can.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Those guys initially mean team trades up gets in the
first round, they're gonna think it'd be a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
What does that mean to you, like potentially being this franchise.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, it's special, you know, them being able to have
that belief in me. You know, I think as a
competitor that you know, you have that belief in yourself.
So when you're able to be a part of an
organization that sees it the same way, it's special. And
I think that, you know, they have an amazing plan
lined up for me in the development program, and then
being able to learn from the vets that are ahead
(02:27):
of me is going to be great.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
One of the things that's unique about the draft is
that people do sometimes pick at pieces of your game.
And one of the criticisms of you was just unique
time time your job, which isn't a bad thing, but
how ready do you believe you are? And when you
heard oh, he needs time to develop, time to develop,
what goes through your mind?
Speaker 3 (02:47):
You know?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Quite honestly, I just try to stay away from you
know that as much as I can. I'm really just
focused on getting better each and every day, and you know,
I feel like anytime I step on a football foot,
I'm gonna out there and ball regardless of who I'm
playing against.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
So I have that confidence in myself.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
But at the same time, I understand that coming to
a next level, there's definitely gonna be a development piece.
And that goes for anybody, you know, regardless of where
you're at in your career, if you're taking it to
the next level. So you know, that's my plan to
attack each and every day and to prepare myself for,
you know, whenever my time's to come.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Did he like give you any advice on how to
handle everything else around this job, not just playing football
but being good quarterback.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
For the New York team. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
So he was actually one of the first people to
reach out to me yesterday when the news broke, And
I just think that I've had such a you know,
great connection with him and the Manning family that you know,
being able to have them in my corner has been
a huge asset, and you know, I could be more
blessed to have them in my corner coming here and.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Continue that in the future.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Specifically, or we're gonna have conversations coming up. Yeah, this
these last few hours have been kind of crazy.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
On using him as a sounding board.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
I think it would be kind of a full not
to you know, really any questions that I have. And
I think that he's a great person and to rely
on and and kind of lean on. So he's been here,
played at the highest level, won super Bowls, and you know,
for me, I want to chase greatness just like he did.
So I think that when you're able to pick the
brain of a future you know, first Palot Hall of Famer,
(04:14):
you'd be a full.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Not to you have that misconnection. Yeah, it's huge, it's huge.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Like I said, I think it's going to be a
great outset for me to carry over to the next step.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
What do you remember about the Peach Bowls, Penn State and.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Baby Strip.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
I remember he got after me early on in that game.
You know, I remember, you know, game planning for him,
and you know, just seeing his skill set was at,
you know, such an elite level. And I actually told
my family before this that I hope that I get
the chance to play with him, and because I know
how great of a player he is, and you know,
I've seen, you know, what his teammates have said about
him and how he's able to set a culture for
(04:52):
the team, and I see it the exact same way.
So I'm excited to compete with him and be a
teammate with him.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
You work with your judge at ole Miss.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
Did you pick his brain about the organization and playing
in this market.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, he gave me some you know, he's gonna connect
me with some really good people. And I think that,
you know, just like many others, he's a great asset
for me. And you know, he's had a lot of experience,
so you know, he he's shed a lot of wisdom
down to me, and you know, I'm just grateful to
have him, you know, as an asset as well. So
you know, he's been a great source when in my
(05:27):
development at ole Miss. And he was able to be
at you know, my draft party yesterday, which says a
lot to me.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And you know, he's been a huge supporter.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
What's sort out about this game? When you were.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Jeez, he doesn't really have a weakness. He can do
it all. He's so versatile. I mean I played him
when he was playing in the box at the linebacker
position and how he was able to disrupt a game
from that. I still remember a play that we had
on a short yardage where he chased you know, from
the end of the line of scrimmage all the way
back to the other side of the field and almost
made a tackle on a running back for lost and
actually stif before you got to the first down. I remember,
(06:02):
you know, live, you know, you can't really see it,
but then when you watch back on film, not many
people on this earth can make a play like that.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Jackson is obviously a lot more that goes into playing
quarterback and just playing it right. So where where did
your leadership come from? How did you describe your leadership?
What kind of role models.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Have you had that?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yeah, I'm huge on, you know, making relationships with with
my teammates. You know, I want to know everybody's story
and I want to get to know them as as
the people that they are. And I think that as
a leader, you know, to really get buy in from
your teammates, you have.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
To have that.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
And I think that when you're able to also come
to work every single day with the mindset of consistency
and discipline, where your teammates and the guys around you
know that you're going to show up and handle your
business at an elite level. I think that that you know,
can be in a great example but I think it
definitely starts with, you know, building that relationship and that
connection so you know they can trust you and you
(06:54):
can trust them, and you know, make everybody around you better.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Around.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I think early on when I was at USC, Drake
London was a great leader. When I was at Ole Miss,
you know, another receiver that I had, Trey Harris was
a great leader.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Mingo was a great leader. I've played a lot with
a lot of.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Really you know, elite players, and I think that I've
been able to take it some pieces, or it's some
pieces from all of them.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
I'm surprised were you to be the second quarterback taking
in this shift to that taken by surprise all did
you kind of expect it?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Like, how did you kind of expect it to unfold?
And then the natural you know, waite fans are going
to look at some people say, you know, could have
taken or standards of you, and that there's going to
be a comparison there. How do you handle that moving forward? Go, Honestly,
this is kind of what I expected.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
I think as a competitor, you see yourself as as
the best any time that you're gonna step on the field.
I think that if you don't see it that way,
then you know, especially as a quarterback, you know the
team's not going to believe in you at the highest level. So,
you know, I didn't want to make any expectations going
into it because you know, you really never know what's
going to happen in the draft. And uh, you know,
(08:07):
I couldn't be more grateful to be in the position
that I am. I'm not really thinking of it that way.
I'm more focused on, you know, really being able to
make relationships with my teammates now and try to take
this thing to the next level.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
Well, Jackson, you've played Los Angeles, you played in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
How has that prepared you for being in New York
just playing a big VIDI margan playing in a premier.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Conference like that? Yeah, I think, you know, I would
say the SEC is probably the most elete conference in
college football. And I think that, you know, for me,
I was able to play at a high level and
I was able to experience, you know, a high media
platform in college and I think that that's going to
be a good transition for me to come here.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
And you know, I feel like I'm just ready for
this
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