He didn’t expect him to be that big. Jaxson Dart, fresh from his first minicamp in blue, stood a little straighter when Michael Strahan walked into the room. Not because a coach told him to—but because legacy did. That moment, quietly shared after practice, marked more than a rookie’s surprise—it hinted at the weight of the Giants uniform, and the ghosts who still walk its hallways.

The Giants are into minicamp, starting off their preparations for the upcoming season. And this time, their legend, Michael Strahan, paid a visit to the facility. During his time with the rookies, Strahan shared a message that could be a turning point for their perspective, growth, and the franchise’s pursuit of another Super Bowl.

After meeting with both veterans and the newly drafted players, Strahan addressed the team post-practice. “I’m proud to be here, man, to watch you guys on your first day here. Y’all are working hard and busting your a–. And this is that kind of business where this is what it takes every day. I’ll be honest with you, the more you do it, the easier it gets. Well, you’ve got a great coaching staff here. You got coaches who care,” Strahan said.

He continued, “You got an organization that cares about you, an organization that’s here for you, that wants you to succeed. And you got guys like me who are too old to do it anymore, but who come around because we want to see you guys. We want to be a part of what you’re building for the future.”

Before ending the huddle with a team chant, Strahan closed with: “We want to be a part of your greatness. So when you guys are great, we can go, yeah, that’s my boy. That’s my team. And we take a lot of pride in being New York Giants, as we hope you do.” Strahan, who spent 15 seasons with the Giants and helped lead them to a Super Bowl XLII victory in 2007, was the kind of player who built culture as much as he built stats. And now, he wants to pass that legacy forward.

The Giants’ 2025 draft class includes seven new rookies. Among them, quarterback Jaxson Dart and linebacker Abdul Carter have garnered the most attention. While Carter is expected to make an immediate defensive impact, Dart’s future hinges on how the team manages the crowded quarterback room, which includes freshly acquired vets Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson.

Jaxson Dart’s take on Michael Strahan’s important visit 

After Strahan’s visit, Jaxson Dart spoke with reporters. “Yeah, it’s incredible. He’s a legend. You see him on the walls. I’ve seen him on TV for a long time. He’s bigger in person,” Dart said. “It’s great to have a person like that who’s open, who’s able to come around the facility a ton… those are people that you can lean on and ask for advice because they’ve done it at the highest level. That’s kind of my mindset, and I’m excited to continue to grow my relationship with them.”

Dart, who was the second QB selected in this year’s draft, ahead of the more-hyped Shedeur Sanders, has already turned heads in New York. Reports suggest that his early showings have impressed head coach Brian Daboll and that his command in early practices has given the team something to think about. While it’s too early to call, Dart looks poised to carve his own path with the Giants.

Drawing inspiration from Giants legends like Strahan and Eli Manning, Dart’s early impressions suggest he’s more focused on legacy than comparison. For now, the Giants seem re-energized—and New York fans may be in for a season to remember.