The New York Giants made a big move, benching veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart. The Cleveland Browns have also followed the same playbook, making a switch from veteran Joe Flacco to rookie Dillon Gabriel. Navigating this rapidly shifting landscape, seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady has shared some encouraging advice for the veterans to hold their ground.

When asked in a recent SI interview on 3rd October, about what vets need to do to stay relevant, Brady didn’t overcomplicate it. “You have to take advantage of every opportunity. And I think for me, I always wanted to prove to my teammates every day that I was the best I could be for them.” That relentless mindset, which fueled Brady’s own career, is the same one he wants the vets to adapt now to stay the starters.

For Tom Brady, the answer also lies in how you tackle the game as a singular organization. That is something he has been able to do thanks to an amazing squad of players as well as coaches. As he further notes, “I was fortunate to be a part of a lot of great teams, and we all came together as a team to play our very best. And when you play well… we won a lot of games. – I think I’m most blessed with the teammates that I was kind of in the fight with and the coaches that were really committed to helping us be successful.” But the ultimate goal to win games hasn’t gone so well for Russell Wilson.

So far, the Giants have lost all three matchups with Russell Wilson as QB1. The only win in Week 4 came with Jaxson Dart leading the team. The stats paint a confusing picture as well. In his regular-season debut, Dart threw for 111 yards and a touchdown. But he also took 5 sacks in the process. Wilson, meanwhile, has 786 passing yards, three scores, and three picks, while taking 8 sacks. The contrast, though, remains the win-loss record. Dart – one start, one win. Wilson – three starts, three losses.

Brady’s long NFL career had a rough start, but he turned it around with a steady grind behind the scenes. That’s something too many rookies miss out on. And if Wilson continues to put in the work, that could make his case for the starter again.

The message for veterans like Wilson is straightforward: Stay hungry, outwork the competition, and never stop proving why you belong. But can Wilson become the QB1 for the Giants again?

Wilson’s road ahead; Tom Brady’s take on rookie struggles

If Jaxson Dart falters in the coming weeks, the Giants could pivot back to Wilson’s veteran arm. A few months ago, Brady had discussed how this new trend of benching veterans in favor of rookies could backfire on teams. “I think it’s just a tragedy that we’re forcing these rookies to play early, but the reality is the only reason why we are is because we’ve dumbed the game down, which has allowed them to play.” Without enough time to learn the nuances, Dart’s consistency could come under scrutiny. All the while, Wilson could work out the kinks in his plays and come back stronger.

As Brady recalled, coaches now face pressure to win games more than ever. That pushes them to find quick fixes instead of polishing the certified talent they already have. “We used to spend hours and hours in the offseason, in training camp, trying to be a little bit better the next year. But I think what happens is it discourages the coaches from going to deep levels, because they realize the players don’t have the opportunity to go to a deep level. So they’re just going to teach them where they’re at.” This makes working on your own time to attain higher levels critical for success.

But what does it mean for teams caught between developing young talent and relying on experienced vets? Brady’s perspective cuts through the noise. It’s about balance. Teams that manage to nurture rookies while trusting their vets in the right way set themselves up for success. Wilson has hinted that his game is far from over. For now, he’s “focused on helping this team win.” Following Brady’s parallel, Russ has also noted, “I’m focused on getting ready to be the best version of myself.” If that version achieves full throttle in the coming weeks, we might just see him take the lead in Big Blue once again.