Jaxson Dart has managed to more than hold his own in an incredibly talented quarterback class in this year’s NFL Draft. Despite competing for attention with the likes of Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, Dart’s stock has steadily risen, and with good reason.
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The Ole Miss signal-caller finished the 2024 season with 3,168 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions, helping lead the Rebels to an 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. Dart’s impressive stats and NFL-ready physical attributes (at 6’2″ and 225 pounds, and with a 40-yard time of 4.56 seconds) had many analysts predicting him to be a late first-round or early second-round pick. This proved spot-on, with the Giants preferring Jaxon over Sanders as first pick.
While Dart’s performance earned him his NFL entry, none of this would have been possible if not for his parents, Kara and Brandon Dart. Raised as one of siblings, Dart knew what it meant to work hard and stay grounded.
The young QB particularly leaned on the wisdom of his parents to reach where he is today. So here is all you need to know about Dart’s parents.
Who is Jaxson Dart’s Mother, Kara?
Jaxson’s mother, Kara Dart, used to work for fashion retail giant Nordstrom. She is also an avid runner and runs a grassroots-level running program, as evident on her Instagram page: @runningwithkara.
Kara has played a massive role in being her son’s emotional compass. For instance, when Jaxson was weighing his future after transferring from USC — amid a whirlwind of coaching staff changes — it was his mother Kara’s steady presence and voice that helped bring clarity.
According to those close to the family, she never pushed her choice on Jaxson. Instead, she trusted him by ensuring that he thought through every angle before signing with the Ole Miss Rebels. His decision aged beautifully as we now know.
Kara is also her son’s fashion advisor. The Ole Miss star said in a recent interview that his mother gives him a lot of input when it comes to his outfits for pre-game walkouts, thanks to her prior experience with Nordstrom.
Who is Jaxson Dart’s Father, Brandon?
While Kara contributed to emotional stability in her son’s life, Brandon Dart gave Jaxson his football IQ. Dart was a football player, having donned the role of a defensive back for the Utah Utes football team from 1994 to 1996 and 1999 to 2000.
The Northridge High School alum faced massive challenges in his football career, as he was burdened with injuries in his first two years at Utah.
But his fortunes changed in 1996 when he shifted to playing as a Safety, as he quickly became Utah’s second leading tackler with 96 tackles, with an impressive 15 tackles for loss. His exploits on the field even earned him an honorable mention as an all-WAC strong safety.
Though Brandon’s career never took off after this breakout season, he ensured that his son didn’t have to face the same adversities. He coached his son about X’s and O’s from an early age. And the results are for all to see!
But the story of Jaxson Dart isn’t just about stats, arm strength, or winning in the SEC. It’s about belief. Belief from a mom who never stopped showing up. From a dad who once roamed the secondary. From a family that never let his dreams sound too big.
And if things play out the way they’re trending, that belief will echo in the NFL as well.
