Phil Simms Disagrees with Jackson Dart Sitting Out Entire Season

Giants icon Phil Simms isn’t buying the narrative that quarterback Jackson Dart should sit out the whole season. In fact, if you chat with the former quarterback, he’d say it’s one of the “most overused, stupid” ideas tossed around by analysts.

Simms advocates for Dart to have some playing time this season, suggesting that experiencing both “successes and failures” is crucial for his development in the NFL. During a recent appearance on “Up & Adams,” hosted by Kay Adams, he shared his thoughts.

“In an ideal scenario, and I apologize for comparing myself, but back in ’79, I wasn’t ready to start the season. I was just there on the sidelines. But by my third game, I felt confident, thinking, ‘Okay, I can play.’ Then, two weeks later, everything fell into place for me,” Simms reflected. “It’s not just about playoffs or the Giants right now.”

“My point is, let’s say for six, seven, maybe eight weeks this season, we need to put Jackson in there. He should gain experience—some successes and failures—unless we find ourselves in a position to grab something special,” he added.

Currently, the Giants haven’t indicated that Dart will start in 2025, especially with veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston joining the team in the offseason. But, as is often the case in football, situations can change as the season unfolds.

The Giants moved up in the draft to secure Dart at No. 25, prompting many football pundits to suggest that he should learn from veterans like Wilson and Winston while observing from the sidelines for the year.

Interestingly, Adams seemed to enjoy this discussion, chuckling as he realized Simms wasn’t advocating for Dart to sit out for the entire season. “Oops,” Sims said with a laugh. “I tend to put my foot in my mouth sometimes.”