Jaxson Dart prepares for his first season opener as Giants quarterback

The New York Giants enter the 2026 season with Jaxson Dart as the starter under center for Sunday's opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach John Harbaugh expects Dart to anchor the team's offense, citing the quarterback's poise and ability to extend plays. While internal expectations are high, outside analysts like Chris Simms question whether Dart possesses the elite arm strength required to make high-level NFL throws consistently. To address these concerns, the coaching staff is emphasizing play-action passing and under-center work during training. Dart faces pressure to refine his technical play after completing 57.3% of play-action passes during his rookie season. His performance in these areas remains a primary focal point for the Giants as they look to move past years of organizational instability.

• 11:43 AMYahoo Sports — Jaxson Dart holds Giants’ future in his hands, wants to do ‘something special’