John Harbaugh and the New York Giants have finalized a five-year contract that makes him the franchise’s 22nd head coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday.
**At a Glance
- Harbaugh, 63, was dismissed by Baltimore on Jan. 6 after 18 seasons, 180 wins, 12 playoff trips and a Super Bowl title.
- The Giants have burned through six coaches and posted eight losing records since Tom Coughlin’s exit in 2015.
- New York owns the No. 5 pick in the 2026 draft and fields a young core led by rookie QB Jaxson Dart and RB Cam Skattebo.
- Why it matters: Harbaugh’s résumé with quarterbacks and special-teams roots could stabilize a once-proud organization that has missed the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons.
Harbaugh wasted no time embracing the spotlight. “This is the New York Giants,” he told ESPN. “I’m proud and honored to be the head coach of this historic franchise, and especially excited to work with the Mara and Tisch families. But most of all, I can’t wait to get started with the great players on this football team to see what we can accomplish together.”
From Ravens to Big Blue
The Ravens let Harbaugh go after a divisional-round exit, ending the NFL’s second-longest active tenure behind Bill Belichick. His 180-113 regular-season mark ranks 12th in league history, and the February 2013 championship run with Joe Flacco remains Baltimore’s lone Super Bowl triumph.
Harbaugh began as a special-teams coordinator in Philadelphia before Baltimore promoted him in 2008. Nine of his former assistants have since become head coaches, evidence of a coaching tree that will now branch into the NFC East.
Decade of Dysfunction
Since parting with Coughlin, the Giants have cycled through:
- Ben McAdoo (2016-17)
- Steve Spagnuolo (interim 2017)
- Pat Shurmur (2018-19)
- Joe Judge (2020-21)
- Brian Daboll (2022-mid 2025)
- Mike Kafka (interim 2025)
The ledger: two playoff appearances, one postseason victory, eight losing records. Daboll departed with a 20-40-1 mark; Kafka closed 2-5 but won the final two games to create modest momentum.
Youth Movement in Place
Despite the gloom, general manager Joe Schoen has assembled a foundation that excites the new coach:
- Jaxson Dart, rookie QB, 24 total touchdowns
- Cam Skattebo, rookie RB, 7 total touchdowns
- Malik Nabers, second-year WR, age 22
- Andrew Thomas, LT, age 26
- Brian Burns, DE, age 27
- Abdul Carter, OLB, age 22
Harbaugh’s track record with young signal-callers offers hope. He molded Flacco into a Super Bowl MVP and coached Lamar Jackson to two league MVPs, though playoff success eluded the latter duo.
Staff and Roster Holes
Harbaugh must hire offensive and defensive coordinators; no internal retentions have been announced. The roster also faces March decisions on:
- Wan’Dale Robinson, slot receiver, set for unrestricted free agency
- Jermaine Eluemunor, swing tackle, also UFA
Team needs entering the 2026 draft include offensive line depth, perimeter receiving help and outside cornerback. The Giants hold five picks in the first three rounds, including the No. 5 overall selection**.
Contract Details
While financial terms were not disclosed, the five-year pact gives Harbaugh security rare for a first-time Giants coach. Ownership has not committed to a five-year deal since Coughlin’s 2004 extension.
What’s Next
Harbaugh will address local media early next week, then pivot to the Senior Bowl and combine circuit. The new league year opens March 11, followed by the draft April 23-25 in Nashville.
