John Harbaugh has chosen his next team. The New York Giants and Harbaugh are finalizing a contract in the ballpark of a five-year, $100 million deal to become their new head coach. Is the contract signed yet? No, the two sides are still working on the numbers, and I’m sure there are other things to wrap up. However, barring any setbacks, Harbaugh is headed to the Big Apple. Let’s dive into what this means for both sides!
Harbaugh To The Giants
One of the most significant issues New York has faced since firing Tom Coughlin in 2015 has been the stability of their head coach. The franchise has had seven head coaches since his release. To say they’ve been in constant turmoil is an understatement. Have there been times of success, only once, where they squeaked into the playoffs and upset the 13-4 Minnesota Vikings? That’s one solid year, but still finished 9-7-1.
Adding John Harbaugh to a franchise that needs to set a culture is one of the best hires you can make. You have a plethora of talent on both sides of the ball who need direction and someone they can trust. When you look down the sideline and you see Harbaugh with the headset on, you know you have one of the best coaches in the NFL on your team.
Expectations for Giants?
When you bring in a Super Bowl-winning coach, the floor is to make the playoffs every season. Is New York in a tough division? Outside of the Philadelphia Eagles, absolutely not. The Cowboys are a flawed roster, and the Commanders are regressing by the day. Tell me why the Giants can’t contend for the NFC East and the playoffs as soon as next season.
They have plenty of talent. If Jaxson Dart is who he can be, you’ve got your franchise quarterback. Cam Skattebo impressed me in his limited action before breaking his ankle. If Malik Nabers returns anywhere close to the player he was before suffering his torn ACL, watch out. I didn’t even get to the defense. Brian Burns was second in the NFL in sacks, and you have Abdul Carter and Dexter Lawrence II alongside him. It’s one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.
Lastly, they have the 5th pick in this year’s NFL Draft. If the Giants and Harbaugh wanted to, it wouldn’t take much draft capital to move to 2-3 spots and take a player like Caleb Downs or sit at five and pick from the litter of the defensive players coming out this class. With everything on the table, it’ll be interesting to see how their offseason plays out.
My Thoughts on Harbaugh To The Giants
This is the best hire for New York. Out of all the candidates in this coaching cycle, Harbaugh will come to the Big Apple and take over. Give him the ability to build his staff however he sees fit, and great things will follow. With the Eagles’ inability to get out of their own way, it’s safe to say the division is up for grabs. I could see this being the team that doubles its win total next season. I don’t believe the Giants winning 9-10 games is out of the question.
Final Thoughts
We all knew it was more likely he would choose the Giants over any of the other teams Harbaugh planned to meet with. Of the nine teams that needed a head coach, it was the 3rd-best job, but perfect for him. Come into the franchise, set the culture, and revamp New York as he did with the Ravens when he took over. What do you think of the hire, and what are your expectations moving forward for the Giants?
