Jaxson Dart might have been a bit of a late bloomer, whether in high school or college football, but his name climbed draft boards, which led him to being selected by the New York Giants. Football runs in his veins—he gets that from his defensive-back father. Let’s get to know his parents a little better.
Who Are Jaxson Dart’s Parents?
Dart was born to Brandon and Kara Dart on May 13, 2003, in Kaysville, Utah. He used to play both baseball and football as a kid but eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and focused on football.
“We’re talking like probably two (years old), and we’re out playing catch in the backyard, and he’s just humming them in. … As a little guy, he could throw, he could hit, he could shoot, and he could throw a football. That’s all we would do on the weekends when he was little.
“… He has always loved quarterback, but defensively, he was very, very good and loved that physicality and I think took pride in kind of imposing his will on the other team,” Brandon told Michael Katz of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
Brandon attended Northridge High School before playing defensive back for the University of Utah. He suited up for the Utes during two separate stretches, from 1994 to 1996 and again from 1999 to 2000.
His freshman year was cut short by an injury, and another setback the next season led to a redshirt. He bounced back the following year, starting 10 games and finishing as Utah’s second-leading tackler with 96 total stops, including 15 tackles for loss.
A knee injury in 1997 forced him to redshirt again. However, he was granted two additional years of eligibility by the NCAA and returned for two more seasons.
While Brandon coached Jaxson during his early years, his mother, Kara, played the role of motivator. There’s not much public information about her life, but Brandon shared that she didn’t hold back when Jaxson underperformed.
“I just remember walking in the house and he’s at the kitchen table and she’s kind of giving it to him, like, ‘Jax, you had a chance at that point in time to blow that dude up,’” Brandon said, recalling a play where Jaxson got juked near the end zone. “‘We don’t take the easy way out,’” he added with a laugh. “And he’s kind of sitting there like, ‘OK mom, OK, OK.’”
Dart played high school ball at Roy High School before transferring to Corner Canyon High for his senior year. There, he led the Chargers to a perfect 14-0 record and a 6A UHSAA title, earning Gatorade National Player of the Year honors.
He spent one season at USC before transferring to Ole Miss, where he caught the attention of scouts. He was widely considered the consensus third-best quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft but was selected second (pick 25) after Cam Ward. Now, he prepares for his NFL debut in the preseason.
Preview for Bills vs. Giants Preseason Week 1 Game
The Buffalo Bills begin their quest for a Super Bowl with the preseason opener against the Giants. Josh Allen and Co. have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL over the last half-decade, yet they haven’t had any silverware to show for it.
The upcoming season is crucial for the Bills, as another loss before reaching the Super Bowl could cost Sean McDermott his job. As a result, Buffalo has to set a tone from the jump, and it starts in the preseason.
As for the Giants, they are in a completely different phase from the Bills. While Russell Wilson is their starting quarterback, many expect Dart to get an opportunity to shine eventually.
It will be interesting to see how long Wilson continues to start, as New York has a tough schedule to open the season. Since Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen’s jobs are on the line this year, the Giants will not stay pat at the quarterback position if the team struggles.
