Jaxson Dart is hoping to become the next quarterback to bring a Super Bowl title to the New York Giants, and he has already received some advice from the last person to accomplish that feat.
In a wide-ranging interview with Steve Serby of The New York Post, published on Saturday, Dart was asked if Eli Manning had given him any advice. Like Dart, Manning played at Ole Miss before beginning his NFL career in New York.
Dart shared some words of wisdom he received from Manning that had nothing to do with football.
“Yeah, one thing he told me early on was to embrace the city, embrace the people, the culture, embrace New Jersey,” Dart said. “Like, it’s cool when you’re able to go out in the street, like I just saw a video of J. Cole riding his bike down the streets. That shows you embrace the people that you’re around, you embrace the whole community, you don’t ever view yourself as higher than anybody else or above anybody, you look at everybody as we’re all the same, especially in God’s eyes. I want to do my best to be an advocate for the community, and then at the same time, I just want to win.”
Dart and Manning have likely discussed X’s and O’s extensively as well. Their conversations have gone even deeper than that, which should only benefit the rookie.
Russell Wilson is expected to start for the Giants this season, but New York traded up to draft Dart for a reason. Head coach Brian Daboll has made it no secret that he is high on Dart, and the quarterback seems to have a great mindset about his current place on the depth chart.
Dart threw for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdown passes and just six interceptions at Ole Miss last season. He may begin the year playing behind both Wilson and Jameis Winston, but the Giants want him to prove he is worthy of playing time sooner rather than later.