Jan. 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET

The New York Giants have officially hired John Harbaugh as their next head coach after a week of back-and-forth negotiations.

The hiring is being lauded around the league as a positive one and a move the Giants desperately needed to make after another 4-13 finish in 2025.

Former NFL star wide receiver Torry Holt told Kay Adams that the Giants finally got themselves a leader, but “they must allow him the time, and if they do, will see success in New York.”

Another former NFL wideout, Nate Burleson, who is an NFL analyst and television studio host, believes that Harbaugh can come in and get the Giants back on the winning track and turn young quarterback Jaxson Dart into “a superstar.”

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“Harbaugh knows what it’s like to work with young quarterbacks and help them turn into superstars,” the former NFL player said.

“Joe Flacco won a Super Bowl, a young Joe Flacco with Harbaugh, and also Lamar Jackson came in very talented, but helped him become the Super Bowl MVP twice over.”

Outside of Harbaugh’s Super Bowl success, Burleson also points out that his old-school way of coaching is exactly what the young Giants team needs, emphasizing that this is a “win now” situation — not a rebuild.

“It’s win now or hit the road, Jack.”

Another former wide receiver turned talking head, Harry Douglas, also believes that Dart was a determining factor in Hargaugh choosing the Giants.

“John Harbaugh’s the best coach I know, the best coach I’ve ever seen,” his brother, Jim, who is not a bad coach himself, said last week. “Whatever team he goes to is going to be formidable. I just hope it’s in the NFC. … He’ll be attacking, with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind, the next opportunity.”

“He is the true definition of a CEO, when you’re talking about a head coach, and what that role really does entail,” said ESPN’s Louis Riddick, a longtime critic of the Giants.

Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan knows what it’s like to face Harbaugh. He believes that Harbaugh is the “best coach in the NFL.”

“Whoever gets John Harbaugh, look out, NFL. If you’re a team, you’re hoping he doesn’t land in your division,” said Ryan.

The Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders are surely taking note. Harbaugh has a pretty good track record against them.