At a Glance
- Jaxson Dart and Marissa Ayers confirmed their relationship on Instagram Jan. 9 with a PDA-filled photo dump
- The couple enjoyed a date night at 4 Charles Prime Rib in Greenwich Village on Jan. 12
- Dating rumors began in October when they were spotted at a Halloween party
- Why it matters: The 22-year-old Giants quarterback and the influencer with 2 million followers are NYC’s newest sports-social media power couple
New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and University of Alabama graduate-turned-influencer Marissa Ayers have officially stepped into the spotlight as a couple, trading touchdown passes for Instagram posts and private dinners at one of Manhattan’s most talked-about steak joints.
The 22-year-olds sealed their budding romance with a flurry of social media activity that began Jan. 9 and continued with a cozy date night three days later, confirming what fans have speculated since October.
Instagram Debut
Ayers broke the internet for Giants devotees when she uploaded a carousel of affectionate snapshots captioned “rumor has it…” on Jan. 9. The post, which tagged Dart, featured:
- The pair gazing into each other’s eyes on what appears to be a rooftop
- A hug on the football field, presumably after a game
- Their coordinated Halloween costumes
- Multiple kissing photos showing unabashed PDA
Within minutes, comment sections lit up as followers pieced together months of clues. The upload ended weeks of playful speculation and became the couple’s informal announcement to a combined audience that stretches well into the millions.
A Prime Date Night
On Monday, Jan. 12, the new couple took their romance offline and headed to 4 Charles Prime Rib in Greenwich Village, a dimly lit, reservations-only haunt favored by celebrities seeking discretion and superb dry-aged beef. Ayers documented the evening on her Instagram Stories, sharing a quick clip of a waiter expertly slicing a burger while Dart grinned from across the table.
The low-key but stylish outing underscored a balance both have struck between public fascination and private enjoyment. Rather than a staged paparazzi moment, the clip felt spontaneous-an aesthetic that has helped Ayers amass more than 2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok with lifestyle content ranging from “get ready with me” snippets to full “day in the life” vlogs.
Timeline of a Whispered Romance
While the Instagram confirmation felt sudden, the relationship has been months in the making:
- October 2025 – Spotted together at a Halloween party, sparking initial chatter
- Dec. 1, 2025 – Ayers attended the Giants vs. Patriots game at Gillette Stadium and posed with Dart’s mother
- Dec. 14, 2025 – Responded “No but …. 😏” when a TikTok user asked if she had relocated to New York City
- Dec. 17, 2025 – Betr, the sports-gambling brand, labeled Ayers as Dart’s “girlfriend” in an Instagram post both of them liked
Each breadcrumb nudged followers closer to the truth without an explicit statement, a modern courtship dance played out in likes, tags, and strategically timed appearances.
From Draft Day to Date Night
Dart’s rookie season has been a whirlwind. Selected in the first round out of Ole Miss in April, the quarterback arrived in New York amid sky-high expectations. Despite an injury-plagued roster that limited the team to four wins, he showcased his dual-threat ability, extending plays with his legs and delivering several highlight-reel passes that offered hope for the franchise’s future.
Off the field, he’s wasted no time embracing the city’s social energy. Dating Ayers places him at the intersection of sports and influencer culture, a space increasingly populated by young athletes who understand that star power now extends beyond game day performance.
Spotlight on Ayers
A Georgia native, Ayers graduated from the University of Alabama in 2024. She first caught widespread attention in July during the Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua boxing bout, where she worked as a ring girl. The event, streamed live on Netflix from Madison Square Garden, provided a viral springboard that expanded her platform dramatically.
Since then, she’s cultivated a brand built on relatable glamour: outfit inspo, fitness routines, travel diaries, and candid snippets of everyday life. Partnering with a high-profile athlete amplifies that reach, positioning her within a new demographic of sports fans and fantasy-football enthusiasts who track everything from Dart’s passer rating to his dinner reservations.
Public Reaction
Giants supporters flooded Ayers’ comment section with alternating notes of congratulations and playful jealousy. “Our QB is winning on and off the field,” one fan wrote. Another quipped, “First the Patriots defense, now our hearts-Jaxson’s picking apart everything.”
Sports-media accounts quickly stitched together the evidence, turning the couple’s timeline into short-form content that racked up hundreds of thousands of views. The intersection of NFL fandom and lifestyle blogging has proven fertile ground for engagement, especially during the off-season when football content slows.
What Comes Next
With the 2025 season complete, Dart is expected to spend the winter rehabbing, training, and building chemistry with teammates ahead of organized team activities. Ayers, who hinted she hasn’t permanently moved to New York yet, could factor into his off-season plans, whether that means joint vacations, collaborative content, or simply cheering him on during summer workouts.
For now, the duo appears content to enjoy their newfound public status one date night-and one Instagram post-at a time.
