New York Giants Rookie Honored For October Performance
The New York Giants finally have something to smile about. Quarterback Jaxson Dart, the 25th overall pick out of Ole Miss, has been named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October, and honestly? The kid’s earned every bit of it.
Dart’s October Dominance
Let’s talk numbers. In four October games, Dart wasn’t just good—he was historically great for a rookie. He led all first-year players with 10 total touchdowns (seven passing, three rushing) and posted a 90.0 passer rating. Not too shabby for a guy who made his first career start in the final game of September.
Here’s where it gets wild: Dart was the only rookie quarterback responsible for at least two touchdowns in each of October’s four games. The only veterans that matched that consistency? Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, and Daniel Jones. Yeah, that’s some pretty elite company for a 22-year-old.
Giants History In the Making
Dart becomes the fifth different Giant to win Offensive Rookie of the Month since 2002, joining some impressive names. The last to do it? Odell Beckham Jr. who went back-to-back in November and December of 2014 before winning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Before OBJ, you had Hakeem Nicks (2009), Gibril Wilson (2004), and Jeremy Shockey, who actually won it twice in 2002.
But Dart’s doing things we haven’t seen from a Giants quarterback in decades. He became the first Giants QB since at least 1950 to rush for a touchdown in three consecutive games (Weeks 6-8). He is also only the second quarterback in NFL history, alongside Tim Tebow, to record at least one passing and one rushing touchdown in three straight games.
The Rare Air Gets Rarer
Since 2000, only five rookies have tallied 10-plus touchdowns in October. That list includes Justin Herbert (11 in 2020), Deshaun Watson (17 in 2017), Dak Prescott (10 in 2016), and Cam Newton (12 in 2011). Two of those four won Rookie of the Month. All of them made Pro Bowls.
According to NFL Research, Dart is the only quarterback in the Super Bowl era with at least 8 passing touchdowns, 4 rushing touchdowns, and fewer than 5 giveaways through his first five career starts. That is elite-level ball security mixed with explosive playmaking.
What It Means For Big Blue
The Giants have been searching for their franchise quarterback for years. Dart’s October performance suggests they might have finally found him. The dual-threat ability, the composure under pressure, the knack for limiting mistakes—these are the traits that separate promising rookies from future stars.
The question now isn’t whether Dart can play. It is how high his ceiling actually is. If October was any indication, Giants fans might want to buckle up. This could be the start of something special in East Rutherford.
