Jaxson Dart, the New York Giants, and the quarterback’s girlfriend Marissa Ayers all came out guns blazing to start the season. The second-year signal caller went 23 of 29 for 230 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1.
The Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys and looked like a team that was preparing to take the next step. Ayers stepped her game up as well and received praise for her performance to start the season.
Marissa Ayers attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 12, 2026. (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
Then, just seven plays into the Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Giants lost their starting quarterback. Dart went down with what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury.
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Where do you go from there if you’re the Giants? They’ve for the moment handed the offense over to veteran backup Jameis Winston.
Marissa Ayers isn’t going to turn her up-and-coming WAG duties over to anyone else. While the season took a turn and there was no victory celebration in Week 2, she set the tone for the rest of the season prior to Week 3 kicking off.
Jaxson Dart and Marissa Ayers attend the Kentucky Derby 152 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on May 2, 2026. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)
“It has been an emotional few days. My sweet Jax,” she wrote in the caption of a TikTok video. “Your unconditional love and drive for this sport will push you through this temporary pain being away from it. We now place full trust in God to wrap His arms around you to heal your body and lift your spirits.”
Ayers continued, “The road to recovery begins, and I promise to keep you covered in so much love and prayer through it all. Jax you are the most determined and resilient person I know. You inspire me to show up for myself — my dreams and goals even when it’s difficult.”
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We’re a little more than halfway through this and if he wasn’t injured, Dart just might be running straight through a brick wall. If there was any doubt about where she stood after participating in the NFL’s girlfriend propaganda campaign, that’s gone. She’s built for the NFL.
Jaxson Dart and Marissa Ayers attend the 15th annual NFL Honors at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 5, 2026. (Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
“So I promise to remind you of that strength you have instilled in me every single day. There is not a doubt in my mind that you will come back even stronger than before,” Ayers added.
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“You can do everything you set your mind to — I’ve seen it firsthand, and I’ll be here to hold your hand each step of the way. I love you. @Darty”
That’s how you make a name for yourself in this league. The talent is undeniable. It’s not how you approach the game when things are going well. It’s all about how you respond when you get knocked down.
Marissa Ayers popped right back to her feet, and she’s going to help Jaxson Dart do the same. That’s how you wake up one day and find yourself as the face of the league.