Jaxson Dart didn't delight his new head coach with his actions during Tuesday's New York Giants practice.
After scoring a rushing touchdown during a red-zone drill at training camp, Dart threw the football at cornerback Greg Newsome. Several defensive players exchanged words with the young quarterback after the ball hit Newsome's helmet.
Per ESPN's Jordan Raanan, John Harbaugh flagged Dart for the unnecessary move.
"I think it's a 15-yard penalty for taunting, so we backed up the extra point and had them do it again," Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh doesn't think he needs to explain to Dart why he should avoid that decision moving forward.
"I think he understands that we don't want it for the game-winning extra point, we don't want it to be a 50-yard extra point or so," Harbaugh said. "Do you think I need to say anything in that case? It's pretty clear cut."
How will Harbaugh and Dart fare in 2026?
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Harbaugh will probably hope that incident isn't indicative of what he can expect in his first year coaching Dart.
New York hired Harbaugh after firing Brian Daboll during a 4-13 season. The former Baltimore Ravens coach will attempt to lead the Giants to their third playoff appearance in the last 15 years.
Developing Dart into a franchise quarterback will be a key piece of the puzzle.
Last year's No. 25 pick showed some promise in his rookie season, posting a 91.7 quarterback rating in 14 games. A dangerous dual-threat option, Dart amassed 15 passing and nine rushing touchdowns to just five interceptions.
His boisterous on-field demeanor won over some supporters, but Harbaugh probably wants the 23-year-old to temper that energy against his own teammates. Dart's health is also a huge concern after getting checked for a concussion several times last season.
Dart will spend the summer learning a new scheme under Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The unit has experienced some rough patches early in training camp, but Harbaugh doesn't sound concerned.
"You can't even imagine how much there is for a quarterback to operate with, especially in a new offense," Harbaugh said on Monday, per The Athletic's Dan Duggan. "He's done an outstanding job. There's so much on his plate. He's pushing the envelope. He's also competing at the same time. He's a fiery guy. I'm very impressed."
