New York Giants Bench Russell Wilson for Rookie Jaxson Dart!

In a move that has rocked the NFL world, the New York Giants have decided to bench veteran quarterback Russell Wilson after just three games of the 2025 season, opting instead to start first-round rookie Jaxson Dart in Week 4. The announcement, confirmed by sources close to the team to ESPN, comes amidst a disastrous start for the Giants, who are 0-3 and facing mounting pressure from fans and the organization. Background: From Hope to Disappointment Russell Wilson, the 36-year-old, future Hall of Famer, signed a one-year, $21 million contract with the Giants in March 2025, intended to serve as a "bridge" to the team's future. After his inconsistent stints with the Broncos and Steelers, Wilson seemed like the ideal savior for an offense that had been one of the worst passing teams in 2024. However, his initial performance fell short of expectations: he completed only 59.1% of his passes for 778 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in three games, with a passer rating that ranked him 30th out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks. The turning point came in last Sunday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs (Week 3), where Wilson threw two interceptions, including one at a crucial moment that sparked chants of "We want Dart!" from the MetLife Stadium stands. Frustrated by the poor start, fans cheered the rookie when he entered the game for one snap in the second quarter, in stark contrast to the boos directed at Wilson. "We're evaluating everything," head coach Brian Daboll stated on Monday, leaving the door open to changes, although in Week 2 he had insisted on patience. The Rise of Jaxson Dart: The QB of the Future The Giants surprised no one by selecting Jaxson Dart, taken 25th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft (after trading back to secure the Ole Miss product). The 22-year-old Dart has been preparing as a backup and has shown flashes of potential in practice and limited game action. The team sees him as the franchise quarterback they've been searching for since the Eli Manning era, and head coach Brian Daboll praised his confidence: "We wouldn't put someone on the field if we weren't comfortable with them." Dart will make his starting debut on Sunday against the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium, a monumental challenge for a rookie. Behind him, Tyrod Taylor will be the backup QB, with Jameis Winston as the third-stringer. Sources indicate that Taylor could mentor Dart, but his future in New York is uncertain: his contract includes non-guaranteed incentives, and a trade or release before the deadline is not out of the question.