It might just be the Steelers situation all over again for Russell Wilson. A long pause from Najee Harris and an insider report to Sports Illustrated last year had suggested that the team would rather have their backup QB starting the games than the 10x Pro Bowler taking over. In New York, though, the sighs and discontent aren’t being discussed behind the closed doors.

After Wilson had his pass intercepted twice against the Chiefs and proved ineffective by Week 3, fans filled the stadium with boos and chants for Jaxson Dart to start over him. Days in, coach Brian Daboll did just that. The rookie was their new QB1, and the entire team was calling to let him know that they were right behind him. Now, CBS Sports insider Kyle Long, says that response has got a lot to do with Russell’s personality to begin with. 

“I want to say this about Russell. The thing that has been lacking with Russell is guys that have played with him don’t necessarily feel like it’s real, OK? Sometimes they feel like he has formulated a personality to play quarterback,” he said on NFL Today. 

“When you get a guy like Jaxson Dart who comes in and wears his heart on his sleeve and is willing to fight for those extra yards, willing to put his body on the line, it means the world to a football team.” 

For what it’s worth, though, Wilson came in as a veteran with unshakable positivity. His Super Bowl experience also lit up the locker room with confidence. Jalin Hyatt, for one, called him a true pro, a true leader. But somewhere along the way, Wilson has built up a reputation for lacking genuinity. 

Offensive lineman, T J Lang, who played 10 years in the NFL, opined Wilson appeared ‘confused’ without an identity back in 2023. He’d say that the texts they exchanged while discussing the Broncos’ coaching staff appeared rather pretentious and corny. Then there was  NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt who called him the one of the least authentic personalities.

The opinions are not to say that Wilson is a bad person, but rather how he carries himself amidst all the fame. Brandt’s argument was simple: if you are being paid those hefty sums, either make sure you are really good on the field or be lovable in the locker room. 

By the looks of it, neither of the personas are favoring Wilson right now. The QB completed 18 of 32 passes in Week 1 for 160 yards. While the following performance was a highlight of the entire league, Week 3 saw him drop back to 17 of 37 passes for 168 yards and no TDs. Last year, reports said that the Steelers had preferred Justin Fields, who had led them to a 4-2 record in Wilson’s absence over the starting QB himself. 

As for the locker room, the Giants haven’t said much, but Marshawn Lynch had a story that keeps popping up.

The former NFL running back revealed on Club Shay Shay in 2023 that he never had Wilson’s phone number when they were teammates in Seattle. There was no way he could get hold of the QB to discuss the game, and while Wilson did call him once, he would soon block Lynch’s number. A word has it that the 10x Pro Bowler would often hand out his agent’s number to the players instead of his own. 

Whether it’s the case with the Giants is not known. But the team isn’t hiding the fact that they are shifting focus to Dart. The Giants need a reliable presence at a time when the season is heading downhill, and the team is seeing that in Dart.

Jaxson Dart wins over the Giants’ locker room

The Athletic’s Diana Russini highlighted how fired up teammates are for Dart’s debut. Giants head coach Brian Daboll adores the rookie, spending hours breaking down plays with him and praising his “spongelike” approach to learning. 

Team captains and players across the roster have shown overwhelming support, making calls and FaceTiming Dart to back him up. “And inside the Giants locker room, I’m told, they’re fired up. Several players on both sides of the ball, including team captains, reached out right away with calls and FaceTimes to let Dart know they’re behind him,” Russini wrote.

Jaxson Dart’s swagger and confidence have earned nods from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who sees in the rookie the leadership and preparedness every QB should have. “That’s what you want in a quarterback. Swagger, confidence, I think they’re kind of one and the same. How you want to define it, I just think Jaxson has that.”

Now, all eyes are on Jaxson Dart as he prepares to face the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers. But his arrival is more than just about skills; it’s about resetting a locker room.