Jaxson Dart’s new locker room nickname - and the ones the Giants fans are using for the rookie QB

Back in early October, the New York Giants briefly felt like they had stumbled onto something electric. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, the Ole Miss gunslinger and late-first-round surprise, had just outdueled Jalen Hurts and the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. He ran around, extended plays, made defenders miss, and earned a nickname from receiver Wan’Dale Robinson that instantly went viral: “Vanilla Vick.”

Three starts, two wins, history-making rushing numbers, and personality to match. For a moment, it felt like the Giants had turned a page. Fast-forward to December 1, and the mood around the franchise is…different. New York sits at 2–10, having lost nine of its last ten, including last week’s 31–13 defeat to the Detroit Lions.

The season spiraled even further during Dart’s two-week absence. Injured in Week 10 and sidelined for two games, he watched from the sideline as the Giants fell deeper into their 2–10 hole. The offense has stalled, the injuries have stacked up, and Dart, while flashing talent, has looked every bit the rookie thrown into a battered roster with little margin for error. His playmaking ability hasn’t disappeared, but the supporting cast, pass protection, and consistency have.

And tonight, things don’t get any easier. His return offers a needed boost, but it comes against a Patriots team sitting at 10–2 and playing as well as anyone in the league. The Patriots are one of the most complete teams in football and a likely top-two seed in the AFC playoff race.

What happened to Vanilla Vick?

The early-season hype wasn’t unfounded. Dart’s dual-threat ability is real, and he made NFL history by rushing for 50+ yards in each of his first three starts, joining Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts in that exclusive club.

In April, Giants fans were debating the best nickname for their new quarterback, including The Dart Knight, Dart Vader, Jaxson Six, and Darty Time. In October, “Vanilla Vick” took over as the go-to moniker.

Now, the Giants fans aren’t shouting any nicknames. They’re just looking for progress, for something to believe in down the stretch, and evidence that Dart is still the future, even if the present is rough. And despite the record, that future can still be bright.

He will be put to a difficult test tonight. The Patriots are a disciplined, physical, and unforgiving team. They force young quarterbacks into mistakes, and they rarely give up chunk rushing plays. Dart will need to go into this game calm and collected. He doesn’t need to recreate the Philly game or live up to a nickname. There is no saving the season at this point - the Giants are out of the playoff picture. So Dart just needs to make good decisions, show poise, find consistency, and give the Giants something to evaluate heading into 2026.

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