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Earlier this week, first-year New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said that he can "kind of see" a little bit of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in second-year Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
During a recent interview with Spectrum News, Giants icon and current NFL analyst Phil Simms shared what he saw from Dart after studying the young signal-caller.
Phil Simms: Giants players know that Jaxson Dart is "really good"
"I studied him a lot in college," Simms said about Dart, per Dan Benton of Giants Wire/USA Today. "As a pro -- I watched him practice during the summer and play -- and I just went, 'Wow. This guy is a lot better than I thought.' It caught me by surprise. He really has the team in the palm of his hand. They all like him, they all know he's really good, and he just has a way about him."
Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor previously explained that Dart has taken the "next step into that leadership role" and has "everyone" in the locker room believing that he will make a major leap this coming fall. As a rookie, Dart won only four of 12 starts, but he flashed impressive playmaking skills as both a passer and a runner.
That said, Dart may need to make better "risk-reward" decisions after he missed two November games while he was in the concussion protocol and after he was checked for a concussion five times from the preseason through Week 18 of the 2025 campaign. Nevertheless, Simms is optimistic regarding what Dart could offer the Giants moving forward.
"I'm not expecting a good year from the Giants offense," Simms added. "I'm expecting a borderline great year. I think the only thing that can really stop them is...getting beat up. Getting your key guys hurt. That could hurt the overall outcome, but otherwise, I expect them to make the playoffs."
Second-year running back Cam Skattebo went down with a gruesome dislocation of his right ankle on Oct. 26, 2025. Meanwhile, third-year wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a torn ACL and torn meniscus on Sept. 28, 2025. One can only guess where they will and won't be in their recoveries when the Giants open the upcoming season against the rival Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13.
Phil Simms compares John Harbaugh to Giants, NFL legend
Meanwhile, the Giants have received praise throughout 2026 for the hiring of Harbaugh, a one-time Super Bowl champion who allegedly has already improved the team's culture.
"He's been in the league a long time, and he's had great success," Simms said about Harbaugh. "He's a leader of men. It's easy for him to get in front (of the guys), to galvanize, to criticize, to have fun with, and whatever. He's got it all. ...It's a little different, especially from what they had. But it's a little Bill Parcells mixed in with a few other coaches -- that's John Harbaugh."
Parcells famously guided the Giants to a pair of Super Bowl titles during his run as head coach. Big Blue fans are hoping that Harbaugh will enjoy a similar run beginning this fall.
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