Phil Simms Becomes Unlikely Advocate for Giants Quarterback Jaxson Dart
Legendary Giants quarterback Phil Simms reveals he was initially skeptical of Jaxson Dart but has been won over by his performance and demeanor.
Phil Simms, a storied figure in Giants history, has become an enthusiastic supporter of current quarterback Jaxson Dart, admitting he was initially hesitant about the player.
"I wasn’t crazy about Jaxson Dart, I will say this," Simms stated on The Post’s “Schein Time” show. "His personality, his talent, everything is much better than I expected. The throwing — he can throw with power. He has great touch if he needs that. He’s a really good decision-maker."
Dart's performance in the Giants' Week 1 victory over the Cowboys has fueled optimism for the team's current season. He completed 23 of 29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Simms highlighted Dart's connection with his teammates, noting, "The players love him and he knows how to react and act with all the guys. And that’s just one of the reasons why when he talks, they all listen."
Simms elaborated on Dart's compelling presence, stating, "He’s got — nobody ever said I had swagger, Adam, OK? This guy, he just — and I’ll tell you, I kind of worried when [head coach] John Harbaugh took over. I said, ‘Man, they might not like this whole Jaxson Dart thing.’ But no, it’s the opposite. They don’t like it. They love it. Because they see he’s got this personality that you want to see in your quarterback. You know, ‘Trust me. I got it.’"
Beyond his command of the offense, Simms is impressed with Dart's athleticism, particularly his running ability. "He’s just more talented than you think. And it’s like running, he runs faster in the NFL than he did in college. When he puts it down, he’s slick. He just worms — works his way through there. He is a really sneaky good runner. And the arm, it is big-time NFL. No matter what you want — accuracy, power, touch — he’s got it all."
Simms also credited the coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and head coach John Harbaugh, for their role in Dart's development and their ability to handle his workload. "They really go into the intellect of the quarterback. And I don’t know if Jaxson Dart ran one play where he didn’t have to check, tell everybody, ‘Here, oh, this, that, let’s go to this play,’ and ready to go. I mean, it’s work. And I’ve heard John Harbaugh talk about it and Matt Nagy talk about it, that he can handle it all. So they don’t worry about putting too much on his plate."