Jaxson Dart doesn’t seem to be wasting any time figuring out what John Harbaugh brings to the Giants.
When asked about the new head coach, the second-year quarterback zeroed in on one thing first: how Harbaugh connects with his players.
“The biggest thing that stands out with him is his relationships with his players,” Dart said.
Harbaugh has only been in East Rutherford since January, but Dart has already had a front-row seat to the way the new coach operates. The Giants brought Harbaugh in on a five-year deal after 18 seasons and a Super Bowl title with the Baltimore Ravens, and The Athletic reported that he was given authority that reports directly to ownership. Dart was part of the interview process, and he has continued speaking positively about Harbaugh since spring.
That trust has mattered as the Giants work through a new setup on offense under coordinator Matt Nagy. Dart is lining up under center more often and learning to slide rather than take off with his shoulder down.
Teammates have noticed the adjustment during camp, and Harbaugh’s staff has made clear it wants a physical identity that starts up front. Dart has also echoed that theme in earlier comments about toughness and culture.
The first preseason game offered a reminder of why that relationship matters. On Aug. 15 at MetLife Stadium, the Giants lost 13-10 to the Minnesota Vikings, and Dart took a hard shot late in the first quarter when Vikings safety Jay Ward came unblocked and buried him.
Running back Tyrone Tracy missed the pickup. Dart headed to the medical tent for a concussion evaluation, then returned to finish 3-of-4 for 26 yards and a 15-yard touchdown to rookie receiver Malachi Fields, according to AP News.
Harbaugh was blunt the following day.
“There’s no way he should have been hit there,” the coach said. “That was a basic protection. Should have been protected and we expect in that situation to be protected in the future.”
Those comments were reported by multiple outlets, including the New York Post and Giants Wire. Harbaugh also pointed to the league’s focus on player safety and Dart’s concussion history as reasons the latest evaluation may have been necessary, while still placing the blame on the missed block.
Dart has dealt with that kind of punishment before. As a rookie, he made multiple trips to the tent and missed two games with a concussion. The Giants know what they’re asking of him, and Harbaugh’s approach gives him a different kind of support than he had before.
That matters for a team coming off a 4-13 season. Dart started 12 games as a rookie and threw for 2,272 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding nine rushing scores. Now he’s trying to settle into a new system with a coach whose reputation has long been tied to discipline and resilience.
Training camp is back at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center after the team’s time at The Greenbrier, and the regular season opens Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys. For the Giants, the biggest question may be the simplest one: can the line keep Dart clean?
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