Olympic Medalist Ilona Maher Didn't Recognize Giants QB Jaxson Dart at Party

Maher, a bronze medalist, had no idea who Dart was when they met at a Super Bowl party hosted by Giants RB Cam Skattebo.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:34pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football game in progress, with the players reduced to angular, overlapping shapes in shades of blue, red, and white, representing the colors of the New York Giants.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the disconnect between elite athletes from different sports, even at the highest professional levels.NYC Today

Former Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher recently recalled a story about meeting New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart at a Super Bowl party hosted by Giants running back Cam Skattebo. Maher did not recognize Dart and had to ask him if he played football and what team he was on, not realizing he was the Giants' starting QB. Maher's friend had a similar interaction with another Giants quarterback, Jameis Winston, at the same party.

Why it matters

This story highlights the disconnect that can sometimes exist between professional athletes, even high-profile ones like NFL quarterbacks, and the general public. Despite Dart's success as the Giants' starting QB in his rookie season, Maher, an accomplished athlete herself, had no idea who he was. This speaks to the challenges athletes can face in gaining mainstream recognition, even when they are stars in their own sport.

The details

Maher recalled meeting Dart at Skattebo's party, describing him as an 'attractive guy, young looking.' She asked if he played football, and he awkwardly confirmed he was the Giants' quarterback. Maher's friend had a similar interaction with Giants QB Jameis Winston at the same party, asking him 'Do you know ball?' Dart is heading into his second season with the Giants after a successful rookie campaign in 2025 where he won 4 games as the starting QB, throwing for 2,272 yards and 15 TDs.

  • Maher recently recalled the story about meeting Dart at Skattebo's Super Bowl party.
  • Dart is heading into his second season with the Giants in 2026.

The players

Ilona Maher

A former Olympic bronze medalist who did not recognize Jaxson Dart at a Super Bowl party.

Jaxson Dart

The starting quarterback for the New York Giants, who was not recognized by Maher at a party hosted by Giants running back Cam Skattebo.

Cam Skattebo

A running back for the New York Giants who hosted the Super Bowl party where the Maher-Dart encounter took place.

Jameis Winston

Another New York Giants quarterback who was not recognized by Maher's friend at the same party.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

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

What’s next

As Dart heads into his second season with the Giants, he will look to build on his successful rookie campaign and continue establishing himself as the team's starting quarterback.

The takeaway

This story highlights the challenges professional athletes can face in gaining widespread recognition, even when they are stars in their own sport. Despite Dart's success as the Giants' starting QB, an accomplished athlete like Maher had no idea who he was, underscoring the disconnect that can exist between athletes and the general public.