Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason launched a fiery attack on New York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter for criticizing teammate Jaxson Dart on social media after Dart introduced President Donald Trump at a Republican rally in Suffern, New York. Esiason said the “re
The timing didn’t just catch the locker room off guard—it caught Boomer Esiason.
On Friday. Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Donald Trump at a Republican rally in Suffern. New York. and the moment that surfaced online took Abdul Carter by surprise. Carter posted on X: “Thought this s*** was AI. what we doing man.” The response sparked an offseason flame-up around the Giants. and it didn’t stay limited to two players.
Carter. the second-year edge rusher who was picked third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. has since spoken privately with Dart to “diffuse the simmering offseason controversy. ” but Esiason still went after Carter when New Yorkers returned to work after the Memorial Day weekend. During his WFAN morning radio show on Tuesday. the 65-year-old Long Island native—best known for his years as a quarterback with the Cincinnati Bengals—spoke with no patience for Carter’s public criticism.
“This was a real error on the part of Abdul Carter – not on the part of Jaxson Dart,” Esiason said. Dart, Esiason argued, was doing a straightforward job asked of him.
“Jaxson Dart was asked to do something, to introduce the President of the United States,” Esiason continued. “How many people get an opportunity to do something like that?. Regardless of who the President is. But to put this out, like a child, on social media is ridiculous. Then when I heard. ‘Oh we spoke man to man.’ There was only one man on that call and it was Jaxson Dart.”.
Esiason’s anger didn’t stop at the post itself. He said Carter’s history with team discipline made the outburst feel even more misplaced.
“You were a man who was late to meetings, you were a man who didn’t live up to your draft choice,” Esiason said. He also referenced a series of accusations from Carter’s rookie year, including being late to team meetings that he said resulted in Carter being benched at times.
For Esiason, the No. 56 issue added another layer. He recalled Carter’s request to wear No. 56 in New York—an honor devoted to Giants great and longtime Trump supporter Lawrence Taylor, whose number is retired.
“You’re a man who wanted to wear No. 56,” Esiason continued. “And by the way, your idol, No. 56, has introduced Trump numerous times. So, I don’t want to hear this.”
The Giants’ internal disagreement quickly spread beyond the team, too. Lawrence Tynes. a retired New York kicker. slammed Carter on X. writing: “The locker room is a sacred place because it brings together everyone from all walks of life and beliefs for one common goal.” Tynes added: “Calling a teammate out publicly for his political views and to get attention is nasty work.”.
Jumbo Elliott, a former left tackle and Super Bowl winner, pushed back. Elliott wrote on X: “[Dart] made it very public outside the ‘safe place,’ Elliott wrote on X. ‘And not for a neutral positive event.’”
The event itself wasn’t framed by Dart as an overt political message when he introduced Trump. Dart. a native Utahn who replaced Russell Wilson as the Giants’ starter last season. first tried to get a chant of “Go Big Blue” going before welcoming Trump on stage to speak in support of local Republican congressman Mike Lawler.
“I’m grateful, I’m honored, I’m pleasured to introduce the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump,” Dart said to the excited crowd.
After Trump walked onstage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” he hugged Dart. Trump later called Dart a “future Hall of Famer” and also said about Dart’s appearance: “I’m looking at Jaxson… I’m looking at the legs there. He’s this beautiful guy. He’s got legs like tree trunks. This is not a good thing for women.”.
The reaction from Giants fans across New York—both on the East and West sides of the Hudson—reflected how unsettled people felt about a star quarterback stepping into national politics. Some viewers said they weren’t bothered by Trump’s ideology as much as they were disturbed by Dart’s departure from what they wanted the NFL to be. But others focused directly on the politics, and a few latched onto the President’s public standing.
Critics argued that the moment should have stayed apolitical. One angry fan wrote, “What. A. F***ing. Moron. God damn him,” adding: “All my Dart rookie cards are going to go to zero in a week. Stay out of politics you jacka**.” Another said: “Seeing a Giants player introduce Trump in New York feels like a bad joke. New Yorkers reject this kind of politics.” A third declared: “Jaxson didn’t make any friends in our blue city… with this MAGA a**-licking.”.
Others objected to Trump’s disapproval numbers. Some pointed to a “58-percent disapproval rating,” citing the latest Daily Mail/J.L. Partners polling, writing: “Yikes,” and “Dart introduces racist trump.”
Not everyone was offended, though. Trump supporters celebrated the move, even if it didn’t align with Giants fandom. One pro-Trump post quickly anointed Dart as a symbol for the political side that felt energized by the visit.
Presidential appointee Nick Adams quickly named the Giants as “early favorites to win the NFC East with pro-Trump stud Jaxson Dart under center!” Another supporter wrote on X: “Athletes finally using their platform for something real instead of scripted virtue signals. Blue states are cracking, people want strength, not more decline. If this fires you up, show up and vote like your future depends on it. It does.”.
At the center of all the noise is Carter’s role in it—because after Dart introduced Trump, Carter posted his shocked reaction on X. Dart and Carter have since spoken privately to smooth things over, but Esiason made it clear he believes the public part should never have happened.
The storyline is now split between people who want players to stay out of politics entirely and those who believe athletes have every right to use their platform. In that clash. Esiason chose his side—aiming his most pointed blame at Carter for criticizing Dart “like a child” on social media. and reminding listeners of the discipline and expectations that come with being picked third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
NFL New York Giants Abdul Carter Jaxson Dart Boomer Esiason Trump rally Suffern WFAN Lawrence Tynes Jumbo Elliott NFL Draft 2025