Jaxson Dart Gets Honest on Working With Ex-Giants Coach
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Before Jaxson Dart landed on the New York Giants, he probably knew a little bit about the organization from the team's former head coach, Joe Judge.
Before Judge landed his current position of Senior Analyst at Ole Miss, he had a long run in the NFL, which included a short stint as the head coach of the Giants.
Last year, Judge got to work directly with Dart, who would become the team's second first-round selection.
"Coach Judge was great and a huge part of the success that we had as a team last year," Dart said on 'Talkin' Ball' with Pat Leonard.
"Individually, you could see the development that I made from my third year to my fourth year, the jumps and leaps that I made, I definitely contribute that to my coaches, who really pushed me. Just the player that I am, I'm going to always put the work in. I never shy away from that stuff."
Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels warms up before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Oxford, Mississippi.
Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels warms up before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Oxford, Mississippi.This past NCAA season, Dart wrapped up his fourth year. After starting his college run at USC, Dart moved to Ole Miss in 2022. Last year, he completed a career-high 69 percent of his passes for 4,279 yards. Dart tossed for 29 touchdowns and turned the ball over in the air just six times.
Overall, Ole Miss finished with a 10-3 record in 2024 with Dart under center.
Not only did the presence of Judge for the year help Dart improve from an NCAA standpoint, but the former head coach was critical in helping Dart prepare for the pros.
"We were constantly watching tape, and I was always one of those guys, where if I made a mistake, I really just wish we had a second practice in the day so I could just clean it up," Dart continued.
Jaxson Dart on how Coach Judge fueled his growth: Jaxson Dart says his game jumped leaps and bounds with the help of Coach Judge last year. Film room & NFL tapes. Practice field. No shortcuts. Growth mindset. 🔒 #TalkinBall #NFLQBs pic.twitter.com/XCRymxevOB — Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) July 18, 2025
"I'm always constantly just trying to learn. He was great with me, being able to sit down and talk through those things. At the same time, look through NFL situational things and watch NFL tape, which was kind of unique for me, especially in the offseason before my senior year. I feel like that helped give me a jump, and kind of got me initiated a little bit to go through the draft process and even into my rookie year."
At the 2025 NFL Draft, Dart was selected 25th overall by the Giants. They double-dipped in the first round by adding Abdul Carter for the defensive side, while picking up Dart for the offense. This week, Dart reported for his first NFL training camp. While he's not expected to get a look as a starter right away, the rookie is surely preparing to become the QB of the future for the Giants in the post-Daniel Jones era.
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