Two weeks into the NFL season and New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart remains the backup behind veteran Russell Wilson.
Yet, Giants fans got an unexpected window into the life of their young rookie QB on Thursday as ESPN’s Peter Schrager shared a new clip from his “The Schrager Hour” podcast, in which franchise icon Eli Manning recounts a surprisingly relatable request from New York’s first-round pick.
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In the clip, Manning describes telling Dart, “If you have any questions about anything, I’m here for you — football stuff, living in town, whatever.”
When Dart rang him during training camp, Manning assumed it was rookie jitters or scheme related, but then came the question, “Can you get me a reservation at 4 Charles tonight at 6:30?” Manning laughs, clarifying, “That’s not part of the deal. I’m not your reservations guy. You’ve gotta earn that.”
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The relationship between Manning and the rookie stretches back to Dart’s Ole Miss days, where Manning, an alumnus and still the program’s all-time touchdown pass leader (81), served as a mentor.
“Eli has been a huge role model for me, even before I got to Ole Miss,” Dart told Sports Illustrated after the draft. “Any time I had a question, I could reach out to him and I knew that he was going to be there for me. Now with the Giants, he’s living right down the road and he’s been great, making sure that I know that I have him in my corner… That’s a huge asset for me.”
Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) waves to the fans as he exits the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.© Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Not only did the two share a similar path, with both going to Ole Miss, but they also shared similar roles in their respective rookie seasons.
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In 2004, the Giants signed Kurt Warner to start while Manning, the No. 1 overall pick, acclimated to the NFL and New York. Coach Tom Coughlin eventually turned the job over to Manning in November after Warner’s early-season struggles.
Fast forward to 2025 and the Giants rebuilt their quarterback room around Wilson (and depth like Jameis Winston) before trading up to select Dart in Round 1 of the NFL draft.
Once again, the Giants are leaning on the formula of pairing a proven veteran with a developing rookie, offering another clear parallel between Manning and Dart.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 18, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
