Jackson Dart Adjusts to NFL Life

Jackson Dart, the rookie quarterback for the New York Giants, hails from Utah. After playing college football at both USC and Ole Miss, he decided to enter the NFL Draft. His origins—where he was born and where he played in college—haven’t really defined his path, as Dart was a four-star recruit and proved himself to be a capable player with both the Trojans and the Rebels.

Interestingly, Dart found himself lacking experience with highway tolls. In Utah, there aren’t many toll roads, and in Mississippi, well, there aren’t any at all. That lack of exposure became evident as he moved to the northeastern U.S., specifically New Jersey and New York, where he had to familiarize himself with the tolls and the E-ZPASS system. Recently, videos of him navigating the New Jersey Turnpike surfaced online, garnering attention.

“I don’t know what these things mean—these tickets, e-zpasses,” Dart said, visibly confused while approaching a tollbooth.

When faced with a toll while exiting, he had the choice of using either the E-ZPASS lane or a ticket lane. “I’m just driving it every time,” he admitted with a hint of sheepishness.

Thankfully, Dart’s rookie contract is around $16.9 million, so paying those tolls shouldn’t be a big deal for him, which is a relief. If he decides to stay in the East Rutherford vicinity, he won’t have to take financial hits by using local routes.

Dart made his preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills recently, where he completed 19 out of 32 passes for 154 yards, including a touchdown pass. The Giants triumphed in that game, finishing at 34-25.

All in all, it’s clear Dart is acclimating to his new life, though the quirks of navigating tolls might take a little time to fully grasp.