Not a lot is going right for the 2-7 New York Giants. The team is currently riding a three-game losing streak, and injuries have taken a toll. Star wide receiver Malik Nabers is lost for the year with an ACL injury, and breakout rookie running back Cam Skattebo is also sidelined for the season due to an ankle injury.

However, amidst the struggles, there has been one bright spot for the Giants: it appears the team has found its next franchise quarterback in rookie first-rounder Jaxson Dart. The 22-year-old Ole Miss alum has been a revelation since replacing Russell Wilson back in Week 4. Dart has thrown for 1,175 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions, boasting a passer rating of 93.9.

In addition to his passing prowess, Dart has added 251 yards rushing and five more scores on the ground. His impressive performance is a strong justification for the Giants trading up in the draft to select him with the No. 25 overall pick back in April.

While Dart’s future with the Giants looks promising, the same cannot be said for head coach Brian Daboll or general manager Joe Schoen. There has been plenty of speculation that one or both could be gone when the season ends. Amid these rumors, talk has emerged about Dart’s college coach Lane Kiffin potentially being Daboll’s successor in New York.

“As we were texting on our Kiffin-Dart family text thread, because I think Boomer Esiason had said something in the media today that maybe they should throw out a potential coaching (offer) to Kiffin,” said Dart’s father, Brandon. “And he just sent it over with a smirk and just said, ‘It’s too cold in New York for me.’ It’s just kind of funny.”

Brandon also emphasized the strong bond between the Dart family and Kiffin: “We have our weekly interactions with him and his family, and Jaxson holds him in high regard. I think Kiffin is one of his most trusted allies, and he uses him for advice in a lot of different ways, so there’s constant communication between them, even today, and there’s a lot of that between our families. I don’t think we could have asked for a more special coach relationship between our family and our son, so we’re very, very grateful for coach Kiff.”

While these remarks suggest Kiffin will likely stay at Ole Miss, it’s hard to ignore the fact that he is entertaining conversations about potentially making another jump—whether to the NFL or other prominent college programs. It’s possible Kiffin could be lured away by Penn State, Florida, or LSU.

Giants fans, however, seem to be against the idea of a Dart-Kiffin reunion in New York. Some fan reactions include:

– “Sure, he did such a great job during his fifteen minutes as Raiders head coach,” one wrote sarcastically.

– “Dart’s dad needs to stay out of it,” another added.

– “Lane Kiffin was already a washout in the NFL and nobody needs him here coaching the Giants anyway,” stated a third fan.

– “Sure, why not consider Kiffin who has failed at big stages? He destroyed USC as Pete Carroll’s replacement and yet you want to put him in charge of the Giants,” remarked one user.

As the season progresses, the Giants will have to navigate not only their on-field challenges but also important decisions about their coaching staff and future leadership. Meanwhile, all eyes remain on Jaxson Dart as he develops into a potential cornerstone for the franchise.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/jaxson-darts-dad-fuels-lane-kiffin-new-york-giants-rumors-11014233