Exclusive: NY Giants Super Bowl champion Raul Allegre on Jaxson Dart’s growth, John Harbaugh, and the 2026 Draft mistake

Raul Allegre, who won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, remains a renowned voice in the sport. He spoke exclusively with Bolavip US about Jaxson Dart‘s progress, the arrival of John Harbaugh, and the recent Hall of Fame snub of Bill Belichick.

A year ago, Bolavip US had the opportunity to speak with Allegre, the legendary Mexican kicker. At that time, the club had not yet named Jaxson Dart as QB1; a year later, Allegre believes that decision has proven to be the right one.

“The process of a rookie quarterback is slow,” Allegre told Bolavip US. “I think they made the right decision giving Russell Wilson the chance. Russell Wilson didn’t have a great performance in the games he played, and they ended up making the transition to Jaxson Dart. The results were not the best; it was a team that, I think, lost five games that they entered the last quarter winning by 10 points or more. But it is difficult to put in a rookie QB immediately.”

Jaxson Dart needs to grow, and John Harbaugh will help him

Last year, prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, Allegre suggested that neither Cam Ward nor Shedeur Sanders were the right options for the Giants. He was proven correct as the club prioritized defense with Abdul Carter before later securing Jaxson Dart.

“I never thought Shedeur Sanders was an option,” the two-time Super Bowl champion said. “Cam Ward was obviously not available when they ended up choosing. So, I believe it was the right call to come back and select Jaxson Dart late in the draft. That option was not available when we talked last year. They made the trade with Houston, giving up a second and a third, I think. Under those circumstances, I think it was an excellent decision.”

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Dart had a promising rookie season in 2025, initially starting as QB2 behind Russell Wilson. He eventually took over the starting role—a move Allegre considers logical and views with great optimism.

“Little by little, they realized that Russell Wilson no longer had the level or the capacity to move the team forward, and that is when they made the transition to Jaxson Dart,” Allegre told Bolavip US. “So, I wouldn’t blame the Giants’ process last season too much. At the end of the day, finishing the season with only four wins is not ideal, but they had already established who was going to be their quarterback and also found a running back.”

While Dart endured a losing record in his first year, he showed flashes of elite talent. As a solid dual-threat quarterback, he now has a head coach in John Harbaugh who specializes in exploiting those exact qualities. Having improved the skills of Lamar Jackson, Harbaugh is expected to bring a bright future for the young quarterback in New York.

“John Harbaugh knows how to handle quarterbacks who have the tendency to take risks when they don’t need to—as some may say, trying to gain that last yard at the cost of their health,” Raul Allegre stated. “Jaxson Dart has made statements; I think he is a kid with a lot of confidence and that certain arrogance that quarterbacks should have, but he reached a point of irresponsibility by saying in a press conference that it was his style and he wouldn’t change it.

“As the saying in the NFL goes: availability is the best ability. If you are not available—if you are in the concussion protocol or dealing with a knee injury, etc.—and you can’t play for two or three games, then you are costing your team the best chance of winning.”

The Giants missed a key opportunity in the 2026 NFL Draft

Allegre spoke with Bolavip US just after the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. While the Giants selected Arvell Reese (No. 5) and Francis Mauigoa (No. 10), these were not the players the former kicker would have prioritized.

The Giants aimed to fill the void left by Dexter Lawrence with Arvell Reese. However, Allegre believes they should have targeted Caleb Downs, whom he regarded as the premier defensive player in this class.

“The question here is whether the team is in a better position now,” Allegre said. “Obviously, the fifth pick was already theirs, and they ended up going for Arvell Reese. Personally, the player I liked the most was Caleb Downs, and I debated whether or not to take him twice. He ended up going to Dallas, which is not positive at all for Giants fans.”

At the same time, Allegre expressed concern regarding Francis Mauigoa’s health. The rookie offensive lineman is currently dealing with a herniated disc in his back—a diagnosis that surprised the former kicker, who noted the rarity and severity of such an injury for a player so young.

“Unfortunately, he [Mauigoa] arrives at the draft with a back issue that is said to need surgery; I don’t know which type or if he can recover without it,” Allegre stated. “But the fact that he has been diagnosed with back problems at the age of 20—I mean, 20! I developed back problems at 33. To me, it seems like a tremendous risk.”

Will the Giants achieve success in 2026?

Expectations for the Giants have shifted with Harbaugh’s arrival and Dart’s status as the established QB1. With the Eagles, Commanders, and Cowboys losing key personnel and undergoing staff changes, Allegre believes the Giants have a prime opportunity to compete in 2026.

“With Dexter Lawrence, I would have said they’d be competing for the divisional title,” Allegre said, regarding how far the Giants can go in 2026. “Without Dexter Lawrence, it remains to be seen which players they reinforce the roster with. As I said, I don’t believe there is a clear favorite, especially given the departures Philadelphia had.”

One remaining uncertainty is the kicker position. Last season, the Giants cycled through five different players at the position where Allegre once shined. However, with the arrival of Jason Sanders, the Mexican legend believes these struggles for the Giants will finally be resolved.

“Last season (2024), Jason Sanders went 7-of-7 with Miami (20-29 yards); he made all of his 40-yard field goals,” Allegre said. “I believe Jason Sanders will solve all the problems the Giants have had at the kicker position, provided he recovers his form and stays healthy—which was also Graham Gano’s problem.”

The Bill Belichick Hall of Fame controversy

In a move that shocked the football world, Bill Belichick did not make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility this past January. Allegre, who considers Belichick a living legend, expressed deep disappointment at the snub.

Allegre maintains that Belichick and Bill Parcells are the two greatest coaches in NFL history. He finds Belichick’s exclusion comparable to the delays Parcells faced, but he warns that the Hall of Fame’s credibility is at stake.

“It diminished the credibility of the Hall of Fame process, but we all know how it is—there are 50 voters, and many are not directly involved in football; most of them are journalists,” Allegre added. “They have their preferences, their favorites, and their biases, and unfortunately, that had an influence. The Hall of Fame is not complete without Bill Belichick as a member, no matter what happened.”

Regarding future eligibility, Allegre suggested that if the Hall of Fame snubs Tom Brady in 2028, the institution would lose all remaining credibility. However, given his relationship with Belichick, it remains to be seen if the HoF uses the same criteria for the quarterback.

WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH RAUL ALLEGRE ON BOLAVIP US: