Giants GM Joe Schoen walked out onto the Beacon Theatre stage in Manhattan on Monday night to a lukewarm reception with some subdued claps, cheers and boos.

Then Giants play-by-play man Bob Papa introduced John Harbaugh, and the fans in attendance sprung to their feet for a roaring and extended standing ovation for their new head coach.

“Stop the run!” one fan yelled. Another fan trashed the Baltimore Ravens for firing Harbaugh, which brought a smile to the coach’s face.

A third fan said he was excited for Harbaugh’s Giants to be “physical.”

“I like that guy,” Harbaugh said, beaming, looking out into the crowd.

The fan base’s desperate hope for Harbaugh’s fortunes in New York was palpable Tuesday. No doubt Chris Mara, ownership’s representative at the event, could feel it.

And Harbaugh gave that enthusiasm right back to the fans immediately, when he was asked how he could beat the Giants’ NFC East foes in Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington.

“I could[‘nt] care less about what happened last year, the last five years, the last 10 years,” Harbaugh said. “All I care about is tomorrow’s practice.” Because if every practice is better than the last one,” Harbaugh said, “that’s one more step toward being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys’ ass.’”

Harbaugh’s trash talk put a charge into the half-full theater. Running back Cam Skattebo also got the people going later when he said he’ll be “ready to go” for Week 1 and predicted 300 carries for 2,000 rushing yards and a Super Bowl in 2026.

“Every team I ever joined, I won a championship the second year,” Skattebo said.

But the fans are too aware of how spring optimism can quickly turn into fall disappointments, so they were prepared to hold some of the Giants accountable.

When one fan asked Jaxson Dart and Skattebo what they’d learned from their rookie seasons, a large portion of the Beacon Theater crowd yelled “slide!” at Dart.

The fans know Dart has taken too many trips to the blue concussion tent. They know the team’s fate is connected directly to his success, even with Harbaugh at the helm.

Dart admitted “the most important thing I learned is I gotta be on the field,” but it doesn’t sound like he full internalized that lesson, either.

The second-year quarterback vowed that on third down, fourth down or near the goal line, “if they’re standing in my way, I’m gonna go right through ’em.”

Those were some of the highlights of a hopeful night as the Giants work to turn around the perception and performance of their franchise.

Here are some more moments that stood out:

— Harbaugh said he is not concerned about his ability to handle the media spotlight in New York. He said the only thing that would bother him is if someone calls him or the Giants dishonest or questions their integrity. Otherwise, he said, “Who cares what the media thinks? Who cares what they say?”

— Harbaugh said of former Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who forced a trade to Cincinnati: “He can go live his life. We brought guys in who wanted to be here.” The fans cheered that response. Edge rusher Brian Burns said the Giants have “a convoy of guys” to replace Lawrence, but he also steered clear of saying the Giants wouldn’t miss Lawrence’s presence and on field leadership.

— Kayvon Thibodeaux said “s–t’s different” with Harbaugh as the Giants’ coach because “he’s testing limits.” Thibodeaux also expressed optimism that he will have a big season because he had 11.5 sacks in 2023 “when Wink [Martindale] was here” as defensive coordinator, and new coordinator Dennard Wilson’s scheme is similar. Thibodeaux’s mention of Martindale’s name drew some cheers from the crowd.

— Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and tight end Isaiah Likely both seem like they can be steadying veteran presences in the locker room. Edmunds talked about working with rookie Arvell Reese collaboratively at linebacker, rather than just dictating to the younger player. And Likely said of playing for Harbaugh, “with John, not every day is gonna be peaches and cream,” but it’s all for the right reasons and will make the team better in the end.

— Harbaugh was asked to call his favorite play in the huddle, and he described an I-formation handoff to Skattebo with fullback Patrick Ricard leading the way. Later, a fan asked Harbaugh if the Giants can establish an explosive downfield passing game, and Harbaugh described the Giants’ offensive plan as run first, with “a lot of [shot]gun and pistol” in a passing game that will emphasize getting the ball out quickly. Then if the run game is strong, play action passing from under center or shotgun on first and second down becomes a more consistent option and opens everything up.

Once Skattebo backed that up with his 2,000-yard rushing prediction, Dart joked: “I mean, it sounds like we’re not gonna be throwing the ball at all.”

— Harbaugh, asked about the Giants most underrated acquisition of the offseason, thought about it and then shouted: “The kickers!”

— Rookie right guard Francis Mauigoa was asked how he will deal with the pressure of having to protect Dart. “That’s the type of pressure you want,” he said. “I’d rather it be me than anybody else.”

— Rookie second corner Colton Hood was asked what specific players he is looking forward to shutting down, and he said his coordinator Wilson often talks about “nameless, faceless opponents.” So he doesn’t want the players thinking about facing CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens. He just wants them locked in on technique, fundamentals and winning each play. Hood laughed when he got booed for saying the quarterback he’d most like to intercept is the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, since that’s one of his favorite players. The fans wanted him to say an NFC East QB.

— Rookie defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis dropped an F-bomb in his first public appearance as a Giant. He said he called his mom when he first walked into the locker room and realized he was actually an NFL player. “We’re on the New York f–k-ng Giants!”

— Dart said Harbaugh starts lifting weights in the facility at 4:30 a.m. and is in the building before the players arrive.

— Skattebo said there are “ups and downs” in his recovery from a gruesome leg injury and surgery and “the mental part is the hardest part.” But he promised to be ready for Week 1. “I’m feeling great,” he said after sauntering onto the stage. … Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter were the two biggest names not in attendance.

— Schoen didn’t talk much, but when he did, he pointed out that the Giants had three of their player cuts claimed by other teams, and he claimed that the Giants “haven’t really had any issues” with accountability.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Harbaugh’s Giants are barely going to spend any time in New Jersey during his first training camp.

Miami Dolphins rookie head coach Jeff Hafley said Tuesday that the Dolphins will host the Giants for joint practices during the week leading up to their Aug. 22 preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium.

So that means Harbaugh’s Giants are starting training camp with a couple weeks in West Virginia, returning home briefly to prepare for their Aug. 15 preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium and then going right back down South to Florida.

That’s a grueling and uncommon ramp-up to the Giants’ Aug. 28 preseason finale at the Jets in their shared home stadium. But maybe it’s what the Giants need to bond and prepare themselves for their Sept. 13 Sunday Night Football home game against the Cowboys.