“So much hate”: How Jaxson Dart’s girlfriend Marissa Ayers hit back at critics calling NFL WAGs a distraction during Giants training camp | NFL News
Jaxson Dart’s girlfriend Marissa Ayers has pushed back at critics who questioned why WAGs were appearing around NFL training camps. The New York Giants quarterback recently shared a post-practice moment with Ayers at the team’s facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The clip quickly drew attention online, with some fans suggesting players should stay focused on football. Ayers, however, said those brief moments have little to do with taking players away from their work.Her response also came as similar videos involving NFL quarterbacks and their partners spread across social media. Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow found themselves in the same conversation, giving the WAG trend even more attention. But Ayers wanted fans to understand what actually happens when she meets Dart during camp.
How did Jaxson Dart’s girlfriend Marissa Ayers respond to the criticism?
Marissa Ayers addressed the backlash in a TikTok video after visiting the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford. She explained that her interaction with Dart lasted only a short time and did not interfere with his preparation.“So it’s not like they’re hanging out like, trust me, they’re locked in,” Ayers said in the TikTok video. “It’s literally the quickest, like, hey, love you, good job, here to support you.”She then explained why those moments matter to the players and their partners.“It’s a chance for us to be supportive before, you know, the season, this Saturday’s first preseason game,” Ayers said in the same TikTok video.The Giants had returned to East Rutherford after spending 11 days at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. Dart and Ayers were then spotted together following New York’s practice on August 10, 2026. The couple chatted and smiled on the field after the workout.Still, the online reaction bothered Ayers. “So yeah, just so much hate online and negative commentary around players,” she said in the TikTok video.Ayers also said training camp has given her a chance to meet other girlfriends and wives connected to the Giants. She described that part of camp as an opportunity for the women to build friendships while supporting their partners.“It’s been so fun because I’ve been able to meet the girls, a lot of the girlfriends, the wives,” Ayers said. “It gives us a chance to meet and just like bond.”
Why are NFL WAGs suddenly at the centre of training camp attention?
The timing of Marrisa Ayers’ response is interesting because the recent WAG coverage has not happened by accident. Front Office Sports reported on August 14, 2026, that viral training camp moments involving NFL quarterbacks and their partners form part of a coordinated league content campaign.The campaign fits the NFL’s wider effort to reach women and younger fans. The league has increasingly highlighted players away from the field, including their families and relationships. NFL senior vice president of social and influencer marketing Ian Trombetta told Front Office Sports that the league has worked with players’ loved ones for years and looks for authentic opportunities to highlight them.That puts the Dart-Ayers moment in a different light. What looked like another random training camp clip became part of a much bigger conversation about how the NFL presents its stars.For Ayers, though, the message remains simple. A quick greeting, a few words of encouragement and a little time together do not mean Dart has lost focus. As the Giants prepare for the 2026 season, she wants fans to see those moments for what they are: support from someone close to the quarterback.
