Jaxson Dart’s first NFL victory didn’t just put the New York Giants on the map early this season. It also reopened a personal story for Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.
The Giants’ rookie quarterback led his team past the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers, 21-18, on Sunday. Dart threw for 111 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 54 yards and another score. It was a gutsy performance from the former Ole Miss standout, who took several big hits but kept the Giants in control.
For Aikman, though, the game was more than numbers. On ESPN’s broadcast, the three-time Super Bowl champion praised Dart’s composure but admitted there’s still something about the young quarterback that bothers him.
“My only problem with Jaxson Dart – I tried recruiting him to UCLA a few years back, and he went to the crosstown rival,”Aikman said.
From a missed chance in Los Angeles to an NFL breakthrough
Back in 2021, Aikman pushed for Dart to join UCLA, where the Hall of Famer has long been one of the program’s most visible advocates. Instead, Dart chose USC, fueling the city’s oldest football rivalry. He spent one season with the Trojans before transferring to Ole Miss, where his game matured and his draft stock rose.
The Giants used a first-round pick on Dart this spring, betting on his athleticism and leadership. After Sunday’s win, it looks like that gamble may already be paying off.
Aikman’s respect for the rookie is clear. Still, the memory of losing him to USC lingers. “He’s everything I thought he could be,” Aikman admitted. “I just wish he’d been a Bruin.”
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