New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was sidelined in Week 11 with a concussion, and hours before New York’s game kicked off, a report came out that the Giants have urged Dart to modify his running approach.
The rookie quarterback has found success with his legs during his young career, but he hasn’t done a good job of avoiding contact. With the goal of keeping Dart healthy and on the field, people inside and outside of the Giants organization are encouraging him to switch things up.
This has been a conversation for the quarterback since before he entered the NFL, and one prominent voice even warned Dart of what would happen if he continued to run recklessly. That voice was Jon Gruden. The former NFL coach sat down with Dart during the draft process and told him he needed to change his playing style. That clip has now resurfaced amid the recent report, and it’s especially interesting now since the Giants have an opening at head coach.
Jon Gruden warned Jaxson Dart to change his playing style before joining Giants
Gruden admitted to Dart that the way he ran the ball and welcomed contact was impressive, but he also explained that it was reckless, careless, and dangerous. The former coach went on to say Dart is at risk of taking himself out of action with avoidable injuries, and if he doesn’t change that part of the game, he’s going to find himself in the concussion protocol tent.
Sure enough, Dart has been evaluated for a concussion four different times this season, and was actually diagnosed with one in Week 10. The hope is that the young quarterback now gets the message and utilizes sliding or getting out of bounds when he’s back on the field.
Beyond the message, Gruden being one of the messengers is something many fans are highlighting, because he’s being viewed as a possible candidate for the Giants’ open head coaching job. Gruden has been open about his desire to get back on the sidelines, and the NFL is seemingly open to a possible return, after Gruden resigned in 2021 because of controversial comments he made, revealed in a league investigation. Additionally, some consider Gruden to be an ideal fit for Dart and New York’s young core.
The resurfaced clip between Gruden and Dart could serve as an example of that. Whether or not the Giants explore Gruden as an actual candidate remains to be seen.