For over a decade, Russell Wilson has carved together a legacy as one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history. His real success came with the Seattle Seahawks, where he earned ten Pro Bowl selections and won the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship. From there, he had short stints with the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers before ultimately finding his way to the New York Giants in the 2025 offseason.
Unfortunately, his tenure with the Giants has been anything but steady. After three games, fans have already seen the best and worst of the 10-time Pro Bowler. Now, the team is shifting him to the bench and giving the start to rookie Jaxson Dart instead. But what caused the relationship in New York to sour so quickly?
Why Did the Giants Elevate Jaxson Dart Over Russell Wilson?
The franchise was entering a prove-it year for both the coaching staff and the management. As a result, they took a few swings in the offseason to figure out the most important position in the sport.
That involved signing Wilson and trading back into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Dart. It seemed rather obvious that the veteran would hold the position for most, if not the entirety, of the season as Dart learned the ropes on the sidelines.
However, it quickly became apparent that Wilson had a very short leash with Giants head coach Brian Daboll. After a subpar first game of the season, where he threw for just 168 yards and completed less than 50% of his passes, Daboll declined to confirm if he would remain the starter.
The plan to elevate Dart could have seen fruition as early as Week 2. However, an explosive night against the Dallas Cowboys paved the way for Wilson to extend his run as the starter. In a 40-37 overtime classic, he threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns.
Even though the Giants lost, there was hope that Wilson could steady the ship until Dart was ready to take over. Then came the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3.
Jaxson Dart will make his first start today for the 0-3 Giants vs. the 3-0 Chargers. Last time a Giants rookie quarterback started for a winless team against an unbeaten team was Phil Simms in 1979, when he led his 0-5 Giants vs the 5-0 Buccaneers. And the Giants won the game. pic.twitter.com/U7jSXi2wOy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 28, 2025
Despite his excellent Week 2 outing, there is a reason the former Super Bowl Champion ranks 26th out of 35 eligible quarterbacks on PFSN’s QB Impact, behind players like Spencer Rattler and Justin Fields.
Finishing with just 160 yards and two interceptions, it was near the end of the game that Wilson crushed any goodwill left within the organization or fan base for him. He could not convert for a touchdown on four-straight downs, with the passing attempts turning laughably bad.
That seemed to be the final straw. Over the week, it became official that Dart would be taking over the reins from Wilson, potentially beginning a new era of football in New York.
An Ole Miss product, Dart showed continued improvement in his final three years with the Rebels, leading to a first-round selection from New York. But the task ahead of him is monumental.
The Giants have made the playoffs just twice in 13 seasons since their second Super Bowl victory under Eli Manning. But, with a young cast around him that includes the likes of Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Abdul Carter, the potential for a youth movement for the franchise is fully on the board.
It’s going to be up to the man under center to make sure that the vision for the future comes to fruition.
