When New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart takes the field, he carries more than just the playbook. For the young athlete, the pressure of leading an NFL team is underpinned by a profound sense of faith and family. His journey from a record-breaking high school player in Utah to a first-round NFL draft pick is a story of raw talent, but to understand what truly drives him, you have to look beyond the stats and the highlights. The core of his identity is rooted in the values and beliefs he grew up with, which have shaped his decisions, his public statements, and his approach to the game he loves.
Dart isn’t just a promising new quarterback; he is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often commonly known as the Mormon faith. This religious background is a significant part of his personal story, influencing his life off the field and providing a foundation of purpose and perspective as he navigates the bright lights and big expectations of the New York sports scene. His faith is not just a label; it’s a guiding principle that he has openly discussed and integrated into his life as an athlete.
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A Faith Forged in Utah
Jaxson Dart’s religious background is deeply intertwined with his origins. He was born and raised in Kaysville, Utah, a state with a strong LDS community. He was raised in what has been described as a devoutly Mormon family, and his upbringing in this faith has played a major role in shaping his values. In a 2021 interview, he directly connected his everyday life to his faith, stating, “I am LDS, Mormon, so off the football field it’s kind of how it is every day in Utah.” This comment highlights how his religion is a normal and foundational aspect of his identity, something as constant as his home state.
His commitment to his faith has been evident in significant life choices. While many young Latter-day Saints men choose to serve a two-year mission, Dart publicly announced a commitment to do so on social media, though he ultimately chose to pursue his football career. This decision, likely a difficult one, shows the weight his faith carries in his life.
🚨HISTORY: New #Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is the 3rd MORMON QB in history to be selected in the first round of the #NFL draft.
👏
New York made multiple historic picks in the first round. pic.twitter.com/FDp5jACMx3
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) April 27, 2025
Furthermore, he has consistently used his platform to give credit to his beliefs. After a record-setting performance against Arkansas during his college days, he was quick to deflect praise, saying, “All glory goes to God for putting us in this situation and letting us play the game that we love.” This habit of public acknowledgment underlines how his faith provides a lens through which he views his success and his gifts.
Personal Rituals and Family Ties
Jaxson Dart’s faith and family values also manifest in more personal, tangible ways on game day. He is known for carrying symbols of his family with him onto the field, most notably a distinctive necklace he “borrowed” from his younger sister’s room before a college bowl game. After he threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns in that game, the diamond-shaped hearts on the silver chain became his permanent good-luck charm, a physical connection to his family during play. It’s a ritual that connects his professional performance to the support system he has at home.
This intertwining of the personal and professional creates a fascinating portrait of a modern NFL quarterback. His story isn’t just about athletic prowess; it’s about how foundational beliefs provide stability in an unstable profession. As he steps into the starting role for the Giants, replacing another vocally Christian quarterback in Russell Wilson—who had previously established Bible studies within the team—Dart brings his own unique, deeply rooted spiritual foundation.
He represents a new generation of athletes for whom faith, family, and sport are not separate realms but are woven together into a single, driven identity. For fans watching his career unfold, understanding this core part of who he is is key to understanding the poise and purpose he displays under pressure.
