New York Giants fans were looking forward to John Harbaugh taking the podium for the first time as the historic franchise's new head coach. We finally witnessed that on Tuesday.
In his first press conference with his new team, Harbaugh gushed over the opportunity to coach the New York 'Football' Giants. One player he couldn't say enough good things about was quarterback Jaxson Dart.
When asked how much of a role Dart played in taking the HC job with the Giants, Harbaugh made it known quickly that he recognizes the value of the QB position.
"The quarterback's kind of important. It's a big deal... I'm excited about Jaxson Dart... it starts with the quarterback. You build your team around the quarterback.
I like the way he plays. I like who he is and what he's about. To me, he's about football. This young guy loves football... he wants to talk football all the time."
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh knows he has a promising QB in Jaxson Dart leading the charge
One of the biggest draws for any head coach candidate to the New York Giants' organization was the quarterback position. As many of the head coaching vacancies in 2026 included a questionable quarterback situation, Dart's promise was a big reason Harbaugh landed in New York.
As a rookie in 2025, the first-round pick combined for 24 total touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions in 12 starts. Dart recorded a 91.7 passer rating and a 57.6 QBR in his first season. However, his duel-threat ability was on full display, as he rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns, despite not playing a full season.
Harbaugh knows full well what an elite rushing threat can do at the helm, as he coached two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
At just 22 years old, Dart looks every bit like the quarterback of the future the Giants have been searching for since Eli Manning. While concussions have been an issue for Dart—he was evaluated in concussion protocol at least five times as a rookie—he has a bright future ahead.
Harbaugh didn't skimp on the praise for members of the organization during his first press conference with the Giants, but his comments on Jaxson Dart were notable. Though he didn't come right out and say it, this might have been his biggest reason for taking the head coaching job in New York.