Jaxson Dart bids warm farewell to mentor Lane Kiffin after shocking Ole Miss exit

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New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who thrived under Lane Kiffin's tutelage at Ole Miss, offered a heartfelt tribute to his former coach following Kiffin's abrupt departure for rival LSU last weekend.

The move, announced Sunday amid Ole Miss's 11-1 playoff push, stunned the college football world, leaving the Rebels to navigate the postseason without their architect.

In Wednesday's press conference, Dart called the news "crazy," but praised Kiffin's unpredictable flair.

"I think with Kiff, he kind of does some things that are unexpected," Dart told reporters. "But I'm looking forward to his next opportunity, and me and him just have such a great relationship. So, I know for him that he's going to put his best foot down and do some really great things for that program. I'm definitely excited for him."

Dart also expressed relief over Ole Miss's stability.

"I'm also really happy for Ole Miss, keeping Coach (Pete) Golding at the helm there. I was also just happy that they were able to keep their offensive staff, being able to come back and coach the rest of the playoffs," Dart said. "I felt like that would be kind of, I don't know, just like a disrespect, a little bit to not allow those guys finish it out. Really happy to see, or excited to see their run for a national championship this year."

Kiffin, now LSU's head coach, responded warmly on X with a simple heart emoji to a clip of Dart's remarks, underscoring their bond. The gesture drew mixed reactions — praise from Tigers fans, backlash from Rebels loyalists decrying the mid-season exit as a betrayal.

Dart's poise reflects the mentorship that propelled him from Oxford to the NFL, a testament to Kiffin's lasting impact on his protege and the game.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Jaxson Dart bids farewell to Lane Kiffin after Ole Miss exit

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