NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
SAN FRANCISCO – Lane Kiffin stirred controversy when he decided to leave Ole Miss for LSU.
Kiffin instantly became the most hated man in Oxford after leaving the Rebels high and dry just as the College Football Playoff was about to begin, accepting a contract reportedly worth nearly $100 million.
However, one of Kiffin’s former Ole Miss quarterbacks respected the coach’s decision.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Jaxson Dart of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates after being named MVP with head coach Lane Kiffin (R) after the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils at EverBank Stadium on January 2, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“I understand it was a difficult decision for him,” New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart told Pakinomist Digital on the radio series.
“Just because of everything that was offered at LSU. I have my relationship and my ties are at Ole Miss. So I’m excited for the future of Ole Miss and Pete [Golding] and the way the organization and the program is going to go, but I also have a lot of love for coach Kiff and know he’s going to do a great job as well.”
Dart’s Giants, of course, had their own head coaching search, but Dart said he didn’t put Kiffin’s name in the hat. He is ecstatic about John Harbaugh, though.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks at the press conference announcing his hiring at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. (Ed Mulholland/Imagn Images)
NFL STARS HIGHLIGHT THEIR ON-FIELD WINGMEN TEAMMATES, HOW THEY MAKE EACH OTHER SUCCESSFUL
“Obviously he was the hottest name out there and he was the guy we all wanted,” Dart said of his new head coach. “So when we heard and had the opportunity that we were going to get to play for him, everybody was excited and fired up about it. I just think that who he is as a person and his identity is something that is very respected around the league.
“From the conversations I had, he sees the game exactly the same way that I do, that we do, and you know, he can’t wait to get this thing rolling in the right direction.”
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after being introduced during a press conference at the team’s NFL football practice facility. The event took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
The Giants fired Brian Daboll during the season after blowing several leads in the fourth quarter. Harbaugh was released by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 seasons.
