Such hopes seem, at least on the surface, far from being realized.
The Giants recently finished the 2025 season with a 4-13 record. They’ve won 13 games in the past three years, just one more than Harbaugh did in 2024 with Baltimore and tied with the Ravens in the regular season in 2023. Since winning their aforementioned fourth Super Bowl in 2011, New York has made the playoffs just twice.
However, Big Blue faithful don’t have to look far for inspiration.
Just last season, the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars won their division after making head coaching changes. Both teams went from four wins to 13, and New England made it all the way to Super Bowl LX. While Harbaugh’s time in Baltimore ultimately ended due to his inability to return to the game’s biggest stage, he is well-respected as one of the NFL’s best coaches and can back it up with six trips to the postseason over the past eight years. Fresh starts can and have produced magic before, especially with a foundation like New York has.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart looks like the real deal heading into Year 2. Dart, running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers are shaping up to be one of the best trios in the league, as long as the latter two return to form from injuries. Abdul Carter endured his share of rookie growing pains, but he’s also part of a stellar trio along with pass rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Harbaugh also operates with new freedoms, reporting to ownership rather than general manager Joe Schoen, and on Friday announced his official coaching staff for the 2026 season.
While some once-expected names have been missing, such as his former offensive coordinator Todd Monken after he took over as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Harbaugh is as determined and optimistic about succeeding with his assistants as he is about building winners.
“Of course. Of course,” Harbaugh said when asked if offensive coordinator Matt Nagy could prove to be Monken’s equal. “I expect Matt to be the best ever. I hope he’s going to be the best offensive coordinator to ever coach the game; that’s what we’re shooting for.”
Optimism is high for now in the Big Apple.
That’s typical in mid-February, but so was Harbaugh turning faith into results by consistently making the playoffs with the Ravens.
The hope is that it will make it (and then some) to New York.