By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-18 14:27:04 | Updated at 2026-08-20 01:36:06
1 day ago
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart's girlfriend has revealed the truth behind the viral videos of NFL players with their significant others at training camps.
The signal caller raised eyebrows when he was pictured kissing his girlfriend, Marissa Ayers, at practice while in full pads as she walked onto the field to greet him earlier this month.
But he hasn't been the only one. Madison Beer and Justin Herbert, who recently announced their engagement, were filmed getting cozy on the sidelines, before Joe Burrow did the same in a rare public appearance with his on-off girlfriend, Olivia Ponton.
The appearances have sparked speculation with many furious fans claiming the presence of loved ones at practice is a distraction to the players.
However, Ayers, who has been dating Dart for around 10 months, hit back at the criticism in a recent TikTok video.
'It's like, why are the girlfriends there? It's to bring the families together,' Ayers said.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart's girlfriend has hit out at recent criticism
Dart raised eyebrows when he was pictured kissing his girlfriend, Marissa Ayers, at practice
'Just kind of gives everyone a chance to meet and hang out and bond and just be a part of it.
'Where the kids can go, they see their dads. It's so cute.'
She explained that partners and family members speak to the players during a 10-minute break before the NFL stars get back to action.
'So it's not like they're hanging out,' Ayers continued.
'Like, trust me, they're locked in. Trust me, they are locked in. It's literally the quickest Like, 'hey, love you, good job.'
'[I'm] here to support you. It's a chance for us to be supportive before the season.'
The presence and the attention drawn to it comes with the NFL focusing on 'scaling up its female-focused content', per FOS , with WAGs being used as part of a 'coordinated content rollout.'
Ian Trombetta, the NFL's SVP of social and influencer marketing, said: 'On the league and club level, we've engaged our players' families and loved ones for years.
Ayers explained that partners and family speak to the players during a 10-minute break
The social media influencer and model has been dating the NFL star for around 10 months
'Whether it's training camp, weekly practice or a major event like the Super Bowl , we look for authentic opportunities to highlight our players and the people who are part of their journey. The content is authentic, genuine and relatable, and that's resonated strongly with women and young fans, who are key growth audiences for the NFL.'
Body language expert Judi James recently suggested to the Daily Mail that Dart looked aware of his teammates as he interacted with Ayers, conscious of the image he was portraying.
She said: 'The core PDA pose here is less romantic and more sensual or flirty as Jaxson spreads his legs wide to indulge in a rather cut-looking 'guppy' kiss, with lips puckered and pushed forward and meeting in a face-to-face lighter touch than a proper mouth kiss.
'There are some signals of possible wariness from Jaxson here too as he looks around as they chat, as though still mindful of the rest of the team or any return to training.'
