The New York Giants have made headlines by hiring former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh as their new head coach. This significant move came after a prolonged negotiation process, ultimately marking a major event in the NFL this January.
Industry insiders view the Giants” acquisition of Harbaugh as a substantial victory. In a recent piece by Jeff Howe from The Athletic, a group of nine coaches and executives evaluated the head-coaching hires from this winter, ranking the Giants” decision to bring in Harbaugh as the top choice. Harbaugh garnered six first-place votes and a total of 42 points, far surpassing the Atlanta Falcons” hiring of former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, which received one first-place vote and 25 points.
One former head coach praised Harbaugh, stating, “Great coach. He has gotten the needed power in that organization. He will win.” This reflects Harbaugh”s unique position, where he reports directly to Giants co-owner John Mara, rather than going through general manager Joe Schoen. This shift in the organizational structure has already led to internal changes quickly after Harbaugh”s arrival.
A rival executive noted that “Harbaugh seems like a really good fit” for the Giants. Another executive elaborated on the significance of this fit, saying, “This isn”t a comment on the coach. It”s a comment on the match, the fit within the organization to be able to execute what they”re trying to do. These guys are all really good coaches. Do they have the resources? Does it fit with the personnel side? All that stuff is probably more important than whether he can coach.”
Harbaugh has expressed on multiple occasions that a key factor in accepting the position was the potential of quarterback Jaxson Dart, a projected first-round draft pick in 2025. The Giants also boast a roster filled with young talent, including wide receiver Malik Nabers, edge-rusher Abdul Carter, and running backs Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Cam Skattebo. Howe reported that league evaluators generally have a positive outlook on Dart”s future. With an improved roster over the past year, Harbaugh has a promising young core to work with as he steps into his new role with the Giants.
