Jaxson Dart made a lot of headlines during his rookie campaign as the Giants' quarterback. Unfortunately, his overall performance under center wasn't what dominated the conversation.
Instead, a lot of the narrative was focused on his scrambling and being "reckless" as a runner. The franchise QB recently went on the Ross Tucker Podcast and let everyone know how he'll approach running going forward:
“I think that it's very situational based…”
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) March 2, 2026
“I promise I'm NOT going to be the one that's going to slide before that first down marker, I'm gonna give it EVERYTHING…”
Giants QB @JaxsonDart discusses his mindset as a runner going into year two: pic.twitter.com/pETbCD0W8m
This is the correct mindset to have if you're a dual-threat quarterback. Like he said, you don't want to take the unnecessary hits on early downs or early in the game. But if it's crunch time, you have to do what you can to get a win. We saw it this past season during the Broncos game. Only a few minutes left, and Dart put his head down, took a beating, and got in the end zone (we won't talk about what happened next).
His running ability is what makes him so special as a player. He's able to keep the defense guessing pre-snap and can gash them when he gets outside the pocket if a play breaks down. To take that away from him would be a detriment to the team and Dart himself.
A good offseason can silence the narrative when it comes to Jaxson Dart running the ball
It's also important to look at the context of the team regarding his running tendencies. He lost his star receiver in his first start and his fellow rookie phenom at running back not too long after. The Ole Miss standout had to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders to keep the offense moving, and oftentimes that required using his legs. When your receivers struggle to get separation, you have to do what's necessary.
If people are so worried about the 22-year-old's run game, then they need to look at the front office to get him some help. Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo should return, which can alleviate some of the pressure, but you have to get him another weapon on the outside. Especially with Wan'Dale Robinson's departure all but certain, that second receiver becomes all the more important.
If Dart has places to throw the ball, he won't have to run as much. However, if he decides to take off, it seems like he has the right mentality. We'll need to see him run smart once games start, but this is exactly the answer you want your QB of the future to give.