Second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart has been in the headlines after triggering a medical evaluation during the New York Giants’ 13-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.
Dart’s interaction with his girlfriend, Marissa Ayers, during the Giants’ training camp has also attracted widespread discourse.
Jaxson Dart’s Girlfriend Addresses Critics
Dart shared a picture of himself and Ayers after a Giants practice session at the team’s East Rutherford, New Jersey, facility on August 10, attracting NFL fans’ attention.
In a clip posted on her TikTok account this week, Ayers addressed fans’ criticism about wives and girlfriends hanging out with players during training camp.
“It’s like, ‘Why are the girlfriends there?’ It’s to bring the families together,” Ayers said. “Just kind of gives everyone a chance to meet and hang out and bond and just be a part of it. Where the kids can go, they see their dads. It’s so cute.
“So it’s not like they’re hanging out. Like, trust me, they’re locked in. Trust me, they are locked in. It’s literally the quickest like, ‘Hey, love you, good job.’ I’m here to support you. It’s a chance for us to be supportive before the season.”
Jaxson Dart’s girlfriend Marissa Ayers talks about the NFL’s propaganda campaign and claims players are locked in despite being pushed by the league to participate in the Taylor Swift effect. pic.twitter.com/HWmOWSSubP
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) August 15, 2026
Dart is not the only NFL quarterback to cause widespread discourse among fans for hanging out with their significant other.
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
Clips of Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert and his fiancée, Madison Beer, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and his girlfriend, Olivia Ponton, have also divided opinion. (There are also rumors that these viral moments are part of an upcoming content campaign).
The Giants quarterback and his girlfriend have reportedly been dating for 10 months.
Ayers was a cheerleader in high school, and according to her LinkedIn profile, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Alabama in May 2025.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Ayers worked as a ring card girl for Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions company. She became an internet sensation during the Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano fight at Madison Square Garden last year.
Dart was in the audience for Ayers’ debut, walking the runway at Miami Swim Week in May.
Dating the Giants quarterback has kept Ayers in the public eye, and she currently boasts over 1.5 million and 499,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, respectively.
Dart is one of the players expected to take a massive leap this upcoming season under the tutelage of new Giants coach John Harbaugh.
Last season, the Giants QB earned a PFN QB Impact Score of 73.4 (ranking No. 23 in the NFL) after registering 2,272 passing yards on a 63.7% completion percentage, 15 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, while adding 487 rushing yards and 9 scores on the ground.
