Jaxson Dart - QB, giants Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-05 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 5, 2026, Jaxson Dart addressed the media in a press conference for the Giants, discussing the impact of veteran teammate Odell Beckham Jr. as the team prepares for the upcoming NFL season. The event provided an opportunity for Dart to reflect on Beckham's influence and performance during training camp.
Transcript
Dart: If you've watched Odell play, I'm sure as a younger player, what's it like now having him as a teammate going into the season? From that perspective, I would say it's pretty nostalgic. Just like as a kid, you know, that's like an icon in a way where you feel like he changed the game a little bit. Like, you know, you're in your backyard as a young kid, you know, talking about like Odell when you catch it one hand or just things like that. So that part, it's a really cool experience from a player standpoint, just, you know, really just proud of him. You know, he came in here, he earned it. He got better each and every week, and he's playing his best ball since he got here right now from just a lineman assignment, playing fast, getting open, making plays. So, you know, really proud of him and just like the dedication that he's put in to get into this point, and he's a great teammate as well. So there's a lot that we as younger guys can learn from him. He's still a great player.
Dart: Was there a moment where I think for most people when they saw Odell signed, it was like, okay, they're giving him a shot, they're going to give him an opportunity. But whether it was you guys working out on the side, away from here, was there a moment where you realized, no, this guy can still play a little, that there's still something left other than just the name? Yeah, I think I started to realize that probably like when you said just like the extra work that we put in the off season where, you know, you hear stories like this and you don't really know how like dedicated somebody's going to be when they walk into a situation like this because he's damn near had it all, right? He's experienced and had so much success. But, you know, I knew he was serious when, you know, he's flying out across the country to come throw with me to get those extra reps in. When you just have that one-on-one time, you see, you know, his talent and the things that make him a special player. So I think just from like those experiences and him growing each and every week, you realize that you still got it.
Dart: What have you picked up from him just because he's been in the league for so long and we have veterans on the team, but just the experience that he's had as a, how does he made you a better quarterback? Well, he's played with a lot of amazing quarterbacks. So, you know, for me, just asking questions about different guys, his experience from across the league and, you know, how maybe some of those other great quarterbacks like communicated to him, communicated to the receivers. I think that those have been, you know, conversations that have really helped me.
Dart: We talked in the spring and asked you what you want to improve yourself. Like you're forward in the pocket, your eyes. So five months later, how have you progressed on those types of things? I feel so much better. I feel like in the command. I feel confident. You know, in this offense, there's a lot that's put on the quarterback's plate, but it's exactly how I want it. It's exactly how I viewed this coming together, and, you know, we still have a lot of room to improve and grow as a unit, but I'm definitely feeling, you know, way better each and every day, continuing to learn, continuing to grow as a player, and just the comfort in the offense, you know, seeing the defense, and, you know, putting ourselves in great situations.
Dart: What are the benefits to this style of offense? Well, there's just a lot of answers. There's a lot of plays that you can get to. There's a lot of options that you can get to, and it lets us just go out there and play football. That's the creators that we have make plays, get open in space, and, you know, us just being on the same page and getting a ton of reps has really helped, and definitely feel like we've taken, you know, a lot of really big strides.
Dart: Jackson, when you open roles around, it'll be near a month since you faced live competition. Are you doing anything in particular, mentally or physically, to be ready for something memorable? I mean, every single day. I mean, every day, I'm going against Dennard's defense, the great players that we have, the scheme that's in place, and, you know, those are some of the best reps that I'm going to get, you know, going into week one. So I've been, you know, very grateful for those, because I would say early on in camp, there's a lot of things that maybe caught me by surprise, and, you know, against a defense that I haven't really had a ton of experience playing against, but I think that it's just made myself and this team a lot better, and, you know, I don't take those reps for granted, so I feel like those are the best reps that I could possibly get each and every day.
Dart: We'll take a few more if you don't have them. Thank you.
Dart: I know you played with Malik for a little, for that half of football last year, but what would it mean to this team to have him back, even if he's not fully under-present? I mean, I feel like I've said it a lot. Like, he's just a game-changing player, so whenever he's out there on the field, whenever his time is ready for us as a team, I think it's going to change a lot, and I can't wait for that time to come, but at the same time, I think that we've done a really good job of putting ourselves in position to be ready and be prepared for any situation that may come our way. So guys have stepped up and done a really good job, and like I said, whenever his time is to come back, we're all going to be really excited, and he's a game-changing player.