Olympic Medalist Humbles Giants QB Jaxson Dart at Teammate's Party

Ilona Maher didn't recognize the rising star QB at Cam Skattebo's Super Bowl bash.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:20pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting a football game, with players and the field broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes, conveying the conceptual idea of not recognizing famous athletes.A cubist interpretation of a Giants football game captures the disorienting experience of not recognizing star players, even at a team's own party.NYC Today

Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher recently recalled an awkward encounter at a party hosted by New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, where she failed to recognize starting quarterback Jaxson Dart. Maher said she approached Dart, who was wearing a Giants jacket, and asked if he played football and what team he was on, not realizing he was the team's quarterback. Dart then had to explain his role to Maher, who was attending the party with a friend who had a similar interaction with another Giants QB, Jameis Winston.

Why it matters

As a rising star in the NFL, Jaxson Dart's lack of recognition by an Olympic athlete at a party hosted by one of his own teammates highlights how fame and celebrity can still be fleeting, even for high-profile professional athletes. The story also provides a lighthearted glimpse into the social lives of NFL players.

The details

Maher, a pro rugby player and Olympic bronze medalist, said she approached Dart at the party and simply asked, 'Hey, what's up, man?' to which Dart replied, 'Hey.' Maher then asked if he played football, and when Dart confirmed he did, she asked what team he played for, not realizing he was the Giants' starting QB. Dart then had to explain his role to Maher. Maher's friend had a similar interaction with another Giants QB, Jameis Winston, at the same party, asking him, 'Do you know ball?'

  • The party hosted by Giants RB Cam Skattebo took place in the offseason, prior to the 2026 NFL season.

The players

Ilona Maher

An Olympic bronze medalist in rugby who attended Cam Skattebo's party and failed to recognize Giants QB Jaxson Dart.

Jaxson Dart

The starting quarterback for the New York Giants, who was not recognized by Ilona Maher at Cam Skattebo's party.

Cam Skattebo

A running back for the New York Giants who hosted the party where the awkward encounters took place.

Jameis Winston

Another Giants quarterback who was also not recognized by Ilona Maher's friend at the party.

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What they’re saying

“'There's this one guy, he's like blonde, he's [an] attractive guy, young looking. I'm like, 'Hey, what's up, man?' He's like, 'Hey.'”

— Ilona Maher, Olympic Bronze Medalist

“I'm like, you play football?… what team you play for?… what…”

— Ilona Maher, Olympic Bronze Medalist

“Do you know ball?”

— Ilona Maher's Friend

What’s next

As the 2026 NFL season approaches, all eyes will be on Jaxson Dart and the Giants to see if he can build on his promising rookie campaign and lead the team to more success.

The takeaway

This lighthearted story serves as a reminder that even high-profile athletes can still fly under the radar, especially when they're out of their usual sports context. It also highlights the social lives of NFL players and the camaraderie they share, even with athletes from other sports.