John Harbaugh set the tone for what’s to come with his introductory press conference as head coach of the New York Giants on Tuesday.
A sizable Giants contingent showed up for the presser. Multiple current and former players were on hand.
Harbaugh opened by hitting all the right notes about the Giants franchise and the New York market:
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is a big part of the team’s future. He exceeded expectations as a rookie, throwing for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 starts.
Dart’s development will be a key facet of Harbaugh’s job.
“I’m excited about Jaxson Dart,” he said. “… You build your team around your quarterback. I like the way he plays. I like his talent, but more than that, I like who he is and what he’s about.”
The dynamic between Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen is likely to be a running storyline over the next few years.
The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor reported Harbaugh met privately with Giants executive Chris Mara to discuss how the organization will operate. Harbaugh sought and received a commitment for a “coach-driven model” where he reports directly to ownership rather than the general manager.
“We all report to the boss. And the boss is ownership,” he said Tuesday.
Still, Harbaugh wants to work collaboratively with Schoen and sang his praises:
The Giants lost 27 games between 2024 and 2025, and they’ve made the playoffs just twice since their 2011 Super Bowl title.
Hiring Harbaugh, who has a .614 winning percentage in the regular season, was a sign of intent from ownership. He made it clear he wants to change the culture in New York, and he believes the pieces are there to get started.
The one clear concern with Harbaugh is that he struggled to get the Ravens over the hump after their Super Bowl triumph. He has four playoff wins since 2012. Baltimore also missed the playoffs altogether this season.
Perhaps Harbaugh’s best days as a coach are behind him.
The 63-year-old thinks a change of scenery could be beneficial and cited Andy Reid’s success with the Kansas City Chiefs as an example:
The start of the 2026 NFL season is roughly eight months out.
Through free agency and the NFL draft, Harbaugh will have an opportunity to put his imprint on the roster, but it’s going to be a long time before we see what his Giants squad actually looks like on the field.
Based on the general atmosphere at his press conference, fans might already be counting down the days.