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New York Giants head coaching search 2026: Everything you need to know

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The New York Giants are once again searching for a new head coach, their fifth full-time head coach since letting Tom Coughlin go in 2015.

Since that time, the Giants have been through full-time head coaches Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge and now Brian Daboll. They have had interim head coaches Steve Spagnuolo for four games replacing McAdoo in 2017 and now Mike Kafka taking over for Daboll.

Can Kafka, getting his first opportunity to be a head coach after interviewing for several open jobs the past three offseasons, earn the job? Will the Giants look for an experienced head coach? A first-timer? An offensive-minded coach to continue molding rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart? A defensive-minded head coach to fix their under-performing defense?

Right now, all we know is that Daboll is gone, Kafka is the interim coach and that GM Joe Schoen still has his job.

Big Blue View will have all the candidates, rumors, news, interviews and the eventual hiring for you right here.

Stay tuned!

NY Giants head coaching interview schedule​

  • Mike Kafka (Completed)
  • Kevin Stefanski (Completed)
  • Raheem Morris (Completed)
  • Antonio Pierce (Thursday night and Friday)
  • Vance Joseph (Friday — Virtual)
  • Darren Rizzi (Saturday — Russini)
  • Lou Anarumo (Pending)
  • Klint Kubiak (Pending)
  • Mike McCarthy (Monday night and Tuesday | Stapleton)
  • John Harbaugh (Pending)
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ch-rumors-candidates-interviews-news-analysis
 
Giants news, 1/10: Free agent report card, John Harbaugh, Jaxson Dart

New York Giants News


Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

Other Giant observations​

The Top Offseason Goal for Every NFL Team That Missed the Playoffs | FOX Sports​


New York Giants: Hire an experienced head coach. The pieces of a bright future are actually there. They’ve got a good, young quarterback (Jaxson Dart), a No. 1 receiver (Malik Nabers), two running backs (Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy), a strong defensive line (Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter), an experienced secondary (Jevon Holland, Paulson Adebo). That, at the very least, is a promising core.

What they need now is someone who can put it all together. They went 1-7 in one-score games this season. They blew five double-digit leads and five games in which they led in the fourth quarter. That’s more of a sign of bad coaching than a lack of talent. And while it’s easy to say “Just hire the best coach” regardless of experience, let’s face it: The Giants have been terrible at picking coaches since Tom Coughlin left. So this time, find a guy who has done it before — someone who’s had at least one season of success, who can learn from whatever mistakes he already made. The last thing they need is another coach learning on the job. This franchise has been a disaster for a decade. They can’t wait for a rookie coach to figure it out. They need a guy who knows what he’s doing, now. If they do that, the turnaround could be quick.

Simms supports Kevin Stefanski​

Phill Simms doesn't like the idea of Kevin Stefanski in New York… he LOVES it 🤩@PhilSimmsQB | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/9LSMF8l0P5

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) January 8, 2026
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Giants beware! John Harbaugh contract ‘prerequisites’ are out — and four teams interested | NJ.com​


Harbaugh, seeking more power than he had with the Baltimore Ravens, demands reportedly are 20 million a year salary, $10 million assistant coach budget, total authority over the roster and would like to select his own personnel guy.

What Brian Daboll is telling coaches about Giants’ opening, Jaxson Dart | New York Post​


Brian Daboll is praising ownership and quarterback Jaxson Dart to candidates interested in his former job, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

“I’ve actually spoken to some coaches interested in the Giants’ job who’ve had conversations with Daboll, and they’ve gotten rave reviews about this Giants job, specifically about Jaxson,” Russini said on the “Giants Huddle” podcast Thursday. “Ownership and Jaxson, again, are things he had shared with them in I guess you can call it private conversations, but everyone is collecting information. They want to know what they’re walking into here, because nobody knows unless you do it.”
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Cam Skattebo eager to help Giants on field again | Giants.com​


Skattebo, along with close friend and quarterback Jaxson Dart, will take on even bigger roles now that the “rookie” label has been officially shed.

“It’s hard to lead a team full of vets,” Skattebo said. “Vets look at rookies as rookies, so you have to kind of fight through that if you are a true leader and you fight through that for your rookie year. Things start to change when you’re a leader and start to be able to step up and take the role they’re supposed to.”
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1 Stat That Defines Every NFL Team’s 2025 Season | Bleacher Report​


New York Giants: 1-7 The Giants’ 1-7 record in one-score games was the worst in the NFC. The team had a better scoring margin (minus-58) than the playoff-bound Panthers (minus-69), but it continually fell short in big moments. Reverse their fortunes in games decided by one score and they’re in the playoffs.

Rebel pilot Jaxson Dart​

All wings report in. JD6 standing by.

Last night, quarterback for the New York Giants, Jaxson Dart lived out his Rebel pilot dream by bringing the brand new LEGO® Smart Brick to life at Sphere in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/JT9IkOSOqj

— Star Wars (@starwars) January 8, 2026
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2025 NFL All-Rookie Team highlighted by Jaxson Dart, TreVeyon Henderson | The Athletic​


Quarterback Jaxson Dart, New York Giants. A steep learning curve was to be expected as Dart made the jump from college to the NFL, but he played above expectation almost from the start. Despite making only 11 starts (and just one with a healthy Malik Nabers), Dart accounted for 24 total touchdowns (15 passing, nine rushing), easily the most among first-year players. (Cam Ward finished second with 17 touchdowns.) Several of the key rate stats also favored Dart, including EPA per dropback (0.03), touchdowns per attempt (4.4) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.0).

With 487 rushing yards, Dart’s legs also were a big part of his productivity. He finished with more rushing yards than Alvin Kamara, and the only quarterbacks to produce more yards on the ground were Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. Whether or not his play style will work long-term is a debate for a different day. For now, Dart deserves the crown as the top rookie quarterback.

Edge rusher Abdul Carter, New York Giants; James Pearce Jr., Atlanta Falcons. Despite a few speed bumps (on and off the field), Carter looked like a top-five pick down the stretch. His 66 pressures led all rookies and tied with George Karlaftis for 11th most in the league. The Athletic’s Austin Mock does a great job compiling “splash” plays for defenders (sacks, pressures, tackles for loss, third-/fourth-down stops, etc. — basically, all the negative plays for an offense). Carter led all rookies during the regular season with 82 “splash plays,” 13 more than Pearce, who ranked No. 2 among rookies.

Around the league​


Eagles-49ers Final Injury Report: Lane Johnson questionable | Bleeding Green Nation

Niners QB Brock Purdy reflects on first playoff loss to Eagles ahead of Sunday’s wild-card game | NFL.com

Davante Adams, Quentin Lake set to return for Rams’ wild-card matchup vs. Panthers | The Athletic

The first batch of names for the Cowboys DC search emerge | Blogging the Boys

Ravens complete interview with Kevin Stefanski | Pro Football Talk

OC Todd Monken faults self for decline of Lamar Jackson, Ravens | ESPN.com

BBV mailbag​


Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV on social media​


BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: @Valentine_Ed |

Threads: @ed.valentine

Bluesky: @edvalentine

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BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...grades-john-harbaugh-jaxson-dart-cam-skattebo
 
NFL Playoffs: Game times, channels, streaming, odds for Saturday’s games

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The NFL postseason kicks off Saturday with two Wild Card Weekend matchups as six teams begin their chase for a Super Bowl title. Saturday’s slate features an NFC showdown in Charlotte followed by one of the league’s oldest rivalries under the lights in Chicago.

Here’s everything you need to know to watch, stream or listen to Saturday’s NFL playoff games. Use this post to discuss the action.

No. 4 Carolina Panthers (8-9) vs. (No. 5) Los Angeles Rams (12-5)​


The Panthers host the Rams to open Wild Card Weekend, with Carolina looking to defend home turf against a veteran Los Angeles squad.

What: NFC Wild Card
When: Saturday, Jan. 10
Where: Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte, N.C.
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Announcers: Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver (field reporter), Kristina Pink (field reporter)
Streaming: FOX Sports app, NFL+
Radio: Sirius XM — National: Channel 88 | Rams: Channel 818 | Panthers: Channel 804 | Spanish Radio: Channel 832
Referee: Clete Blakeman
FanDuel Odds: Rams -10.5
Weather: 68 degress, 64% chance of rain

No. 7 Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at No. 2 Chicago Bears (11-6)​


The Bears and Packers renew their historic rivalry in prime time, with a trip to the Divisional Round on the line

What: NFC Wild Card
When: Saturday, Jan. 10
Where: Soldier Field — Chicago, Illinois
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: Prime Video
Announcers: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung (field reporter)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Radio: Sirius XM — National: Channel 88 | Packers: Channel 811 | Bears: Channel 805 | Spanish Radio: Channel 832
FanDuel Odds: Packers -1.5
Weather: 33 degrees, 41% chance of scattered snow showers.

View Link
View Link
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/general...panthers-rams-packers-bears-wild-card-weekend
 
NY Giants news: Joe Schoen in ‘direct contact’ with John Harbaugh

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New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen has reportedly been in “direct contact” with John Harbaugh as the Giants and the rest of the NFL world wait to see how Harbaugh will approach interviews with the myriad of teams interested in talking to him about their head coaching vacancies.

Long-time NFL columnist Gary Myers is reporting that Harbaugh might request that teams he agrees to meet with come to him, rather than him traveling to a number of teams. Myers said Harbaugh is expected to have his interviews lined up by Monday, perhaps even as early as Sunday.

Myers also wrote:

“The order will be crucial. I’m told if he falls in love, he could agree to a deal and potentially call off rest of meetings. Advice to @Giants: Be first in line and don’t let him out of the building, whether it’s in NY or Baltimore.“
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O’Connor told the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast on Friday that he thought Harbaugh would end up with the Giants:

“I think both parties really want each other, and I don’t see a reason why it wouldn’t work out,” Ian O’Connor, columnist for The Athletic, said on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast. “If you said I have to put down 20 bucks on a candidate today, absolutely, John Harbaugh will be the head coach of the Giants by the end of next week. That’s what I believe.”

While some reports have indicated that as many as nine teams have approached Harbaugh about their head coaching positions — more than currently have vacancies — he is expected to schedule only three to four interviews.

Harbaugh obviously understands he is driving the bus here. If you want the Giants to bring the former Baltimore Ravens’ coach to East Rutherford, N.J. it sounds like you had better hope they get the front seat on that bus.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...h-john-harbaugh-joe-schoen-contact-interviews
 
NY Giants news: Mike McCarthy to interview for head coach role Tuesday

Former Dallas Cowboys calls a play against the Washington Commanders


The New York Giants will interview former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy on Tuesday.

That report comes from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero.

It had been previously reported that the McCarthy would interview some time during the week of the 11th, but the exact day hadn’t been known. Pelissero is reporting that McCarthy is looking for the right situation, which would lead to “winning big” as soon as possible. He also adds that McCarthy is scheduled to interview with the Tennessee Titans and could emerge as a candidate for the Miami Dolphins coaching vacancy.

It’s somewhat interesting that the interview is scheduled for Tuesday, considering we’re all waiting for John Harbaugh’s interviews to be scheduled. Scheduling McCarthy’s interview for Tuesday keeps Monday open for a potential interview with Harbaugh.

It was also reported this weekend that the Giants held a virtual interview with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak on Friday.

Giants’ head coach candidates, interviews, and status​

  • John Harbaugh, former Baltimore Ravens head coach (expected)
  • Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers head coach (scheduled)
  • Kevin Stefanski, former Browns head coach (completed)
  • Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator (virtual – completed)
  • Klint Kubiak, SeattleSeahawks offensive coordinator (virtual – completed)
  • Raheem Morris, former Atlanta Falcons head coach (completed)
  • Antonio Pierce, former Las Vegas Raiders head coach (completed)
  • Darren Rizzi, Broncos assistant head coach (requested)
  • Lou Anarumo, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator (requested)
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...rthy-head-coach-candidates-interview-schedule
 
NY Giants news: Head coach interview requested with LA Rams DC Chris Shula

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The New York Giants, hot on the trail of John Harbaugh to fill their head coaching vacancy, are continuing to stockpile of lengthy list of other candidates should they need to go to Plan B.

The Giants are reportedly one of three teams that have requested an interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula. The others are the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans.

Per NFL rules, Shula is available for virtual interviews this week after the Rams defeated the Carolina Panthers in the Wild-Card round of the NFC Playoffs.

The Giants will host former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy on Monday night and Tuesday.

NY Giants head coaching interviews​

  • Mike Kafka (Completed)
  • Kevin Stefanski (Completed)
  • Raheem Morris (Completed)
  • Antonio Pierce (Thursday night and Friday)
  • Vance Joseph (Completed — Virtual)
  • Darren Rizzi (Completed)
  • Klint Kubiak (Completed — Virtual)
  • Lou Anarumo (Pending)
  • Mike McCarthy (Monday night and Tuesday)
  • John Harbaugh (Pending)

NFL head coach interview process​


NFL teams cannot simply get any candidate they want into their building for an interview and then hire that person on the spot. The Rooney Rule requires in-person interviews with at least two external minority candidates before hiring a coach. Mike Kafka, incidentally, would not count as a Rooney Rule interview for the Giants because the “external” requirement. There is also a schedule of when coaches can be interviewed. Here is the breakdown, via The Athletic:

  • Teams with open head-coaching positions were able to begin requesting interviews with candidates from other teams on Jan. 6. Those interviews must happen virtually before the end of divisional-round games.
  • Last year, the NFL recommended that teams with open head-coaching positions used this “virtual interview window” to set up initial interviews so those teams would be eligible to request a second interview with a candidate from a Super Bowl team during the bye week.
  • Note: Teams may not interview employees of other teams that didn’t make the postseason until the third day after the employer teams’ Week 18 game (for example, Jan. 7 for a game on Jan. 4, or Jan. 8 for a game on Jan. 5).

These are the interview requirements for coaches of teams in the postseason:

  • If the employer team has a bye in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after Week 18 games and must happen before the end of wild-card games.
  • If the employer team is participating in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after the team’s wild-card game and must happen before the end of the divisional-round games.

Starting the day after the divisional round ends:

  • Teams can conduct in-person or virtual interviews with candidates employed by other NFL teams whose seasons ended.
  • Teams cannot hold initial interviews with candidates employed by teams participating in the AFC and NFC championship games until the end of the employer team’s season. A candidate’s employer team may not voluntarily grant permission for those interviews.

During the bye week between conference championships and the Super Bowl:

  • Second interviews, either in-person or virtual, are allowed with head coach candidates employed by teams in the Super Bowl. The team(s) conducting the interviews must notify the employer team(s).

Contact with head coach candidates in the Super Bowl is not allowed from during the Super Bowl week until the day after the game.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...w-requested-chris-shula-la-rams-john-harbaugh
 
NY Giants news: John Harbaugh interviews for Atlanta Falcons coaching job

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John Harbaugh, thought in most circles to be the leading candidate for the New York Giants vacant head-coaching job, has completed his first interview since being fired by the Baltimore Ravens last week. It wasn’t with the Giants. Harbaugh interviewed on Monday for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching vacancy.

The Falcons fired head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot at the end of the season. Former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the team’s new president of football, and his first coup was getting an interview with Harbaugh.

Ian O’Connor of The Athletic is reporting that the interview was virtual. Harbaugh has yet to schedule any in-person interviews.

NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Harbaugh “already has been conducting preliminary and extensive phone calls with the Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders and Cardinals, per sources. He is trying to determine who to meet with later this week and into next week before making a decision. He is fully expected to coach in 2026, per sources.”

The Harbaugh Sweepstakes is officially underway. Stay tuned.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...erview-atlanta-falcons-coaching-job-matt-ryan
 
Interesting to see how this Harbaugh situation is developing. The fact that Atlanta got an interview in first has to make Giants fans a little nervous, even if most signs still point to New York being the frontrunner. Matt Ryan clearly isn't wasting any time trying to make a splash in his new role.

That said, Schefter's report about Harbaugh having "extensive phone calls" with the Giants is encouraging if you're hoping he ends up in East Rutherford. Sounds like he's doing his homework on multiple teams before committing to in-person meetings, which makes sense given how much leverage he has right now.

The McCarthy interview on Tuesday is a solid backup plan. Say what you want about how things ended in Dallas, but the guy has a Super Bowl ring and knows how to develop quarterbacks. Not a bad Plan B if Harbaugh goes elsewhere.

As for the playoff games - that Panthers-Rams line seems about right. Carolina backing into the playoffs at 8-9 against a 12-5 Rams team... that's a tough ask even at home. The Bears-Packers matchup should be fun though. Prime time, historic rivalry, potential snow - that's what playoff football is all about.

Anyone else surprised the Packers are favored on the road in that one?
 
NFL Playoffs: Game times, TV channels, streaming, odds for Texans-Steelers

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NFL Wild-Card Weekend concludes Monday night when the 12-5 Houston Texans travel to face the 10-7 Pittsburgh Steelers. Game time is 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Texans have won nine consecutive games, the longest winning streak by a team entering the playoffs since San Francisco in 2022 (10 game winning streak). Houston led the NFL in total defense (277.2 yards per game allowed) and ranked second in scoring defense (17.4 points per game against) this season. The Steelers won the AFC North for the first time since 2020.

What: AFC Wild Card
When: Monday, Jan. 12
Where: Acrisure Stadium
Time: 8:15 p.m.
TV: ESPN/ABC/ESPN Deportes; ManningCast-ESPN2
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters (field reporter), Laura Rutledge (field reporter)
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: Sirius XM — National: Channel 88 | Texans: Channel 812 | Steelers: Channel 826 | Spanish Radio: Channel 832; Westwood One — Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner, Ross Tucker (field reporter)
Referee: Craig Wrolstad
FanDuel Odds: Texans -3
Weather: 30 degrees, clear skies
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/general...v-channels-streaming-odds-for-texans-steelers
 
Mike Tomlin won’t coach Pittsburgh Steelers, or anyone else, next season

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Mike Tomlin is stepping away from coaching after 19 years without a losing season as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin is expected to take the year off entirely, or to work in television, rather than seek a coaching job in this cycle.

This, of course, means that Tomlin will not enter the fray as a potential candidate for the current New York Giants head coaching vacancy.

Tomlin’s rights will be maintained by the Steelers as Pittsburgh did not fire him, and he could be a Sean Payton-like trade candidate should he choose to re-enter coaching in 2027.

Tomlin went 193-114-2 (.628 winning percentage) from 2006-2025 with the Steelers. He never had a losing season, with three 8-8 marks being the worst of his tenure.

Players in Pittsburgh are said to be in “disbelief” at the news. The Steelers issued the following statement:

Statement from Steelers President Art Rooney II on Coach Mike Tomlin: pic.twitter.com/1g5iqKi9MN

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 13, 2026
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The Steelers are now in need of just their fourth head coach since 1969.

The Giants, meanwhile are still hot on the trail of John Harbaugh and continuing to interview a large number of candidates in the event the former Baltimore Ravens coach turns them down.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...lin-steps-down-pittsburgh-steelers-head-coach
 
NY Giants 2025 position review: Defensive line needs more talent, depth

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Dexter Lawrence needs help on the defensive line.

The New York Giants had a bad year — HOT TAKE! In August, it was obvious that the defensive line and the run defense, in general, could significantly hold the team back — that’s exactly what happened, among other things, of course. The Giants were bullied up front, and the run fits from the second level were a problem, while the back-side holes remained way too wide and unoccupied.

The end result of the issue was the firing of the head coach and defensive coordinator, and a sieve-like run defense that opposing offenses exploited. Dexter Lawerence did not seem like himself after recovering from a 2024 elbow injury, and the depth on the roster was not sufficient. Let’s take a regrettable trip down recent memory lane.

2025 in review​

The roster​


Dexter Lawrence, Darius Alexander, Roy Robertson-Harris, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Elijah Chatman, D.J. Davidson, Elijah Garcia

The Giants’ run defense was predictably abysmal in 2025. The same mistakes kept plaguing the defense: poor leverage, over-pursuit, a lack of continuity, back-side integrity, and, to be frank, an inability to hold up at the point of attack on the defensive line. The run struggles of the Giants’ defense were not solely on the defensive line, but the line was among the issues at fault.

The Giants finished 31st in yards allowed, surrendering 145 yards on the ground per game. Lawrence took a big statistical step back in play. He had just 16 STOPs in 2025; for reference, he had 25 last season and 35 in 2023, and Lawrence was the furthest thing from the problem with the position group. Lawrence led the position group with 754 snaps.

Robertson-Harris (627 snaps) was a quality addition for the Giants if his role wasn’t the clear-cut number two defensive tackle in the rotation. Alexander (394 snaps) started behind the eight-ball and struggled to anchor down all year against the run, although his pass-rushing ability flashed bright toward the end of the year. At least Alexander’s quickness at the line of scrimmage allowed him to win one-on-one matchups in the run game (he finished the year with 12 STOPs).

Nunez-Roches (242 snaps) was hurt for much of the season and is not the run defender he used to be, while Davidson (256 snaps) and Chatman (83 snaps) both had flashes as pass rushers, but shouldn’t be relied on as assets in run defense. Garcia played 44 snaps in the first four games, but was signed off the Giants’ practice squad by Atlanta.

The lack of strength in the run game was one issue, but the lack of dynamism from the interior pass rush hindered the overall skill of a talented pass-rushing group. Lawrence was off all season. Was he still solid — sure — but not nearly the player Giants’ fans were accustomed to celebrating, and fans could have done without his off-putting post-game comments throughout the season.

Lawrence had 34 pressures, Robertson-Harris had 21, and Alexander had 15 pressures. No other Giants’ defensive linemen cracked double-digits. Alexander was, though, third on the team in sacks with four, behind Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, and Nunez-Roches got home three times and celebrated extensively every time, even if the Giants were down double-digit points.

The Giants’ defensive line was disappointing, which, again, was predictable. New York has done little to fortify the line behind Lawrence after trading Leonard Williams and allowing A’Shawn Robinson to walk in free agency. The third-round selection of Alexander was not going to fix the line, nor was the singing of Robertson-Harris, who was a solid contributor.

Joe Schoen botched the defensive line group to the point where Lawrence not performing at peak Lawrence rendered the group as one of the weakest in the league. The Giants must make investments to strengthen the spine of their defense, and that starts up front on the line.

2025 Grade: D

2026 outlook​


A new defensive system can address some of the issues, but depth and another starter remain a priority. The Giants were ill-prepared too often throughout the 2025 season, and the same mistakes kept compounding. New York could look to free agency to patch up the problem. 29-year-old John Franklin-Myers or 32-year-old D.J. Reader could be veteran options for the Giants to explore. Nunez-Roches is set to be a free agent, and I have to imagine the Giants will allow the veteran to walk.

I would like to see Schoen invest in the free agent market and take the best player available in the draft. Again, the personnel will be contingent on the defensive coordinator’s vision, but talent must be infused into the defensive line unit.

New York needs both strength to anchor against DUO double-teams in the run game and a bit more juice and a deeper rotation for pass rushers. I like what I saw from Alexander regarding the latter, but the former remains a question. It’s also plausible that the Giants receive a better version of Lawrence in 2026, which would be more than welcome. Overall, this is a position group the Giants must address.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...w-dexter-lawrence-darius-alexander-joe-schoen
 
NY Giants news: John Harbaugh leaving New Jersey, won’t make decision yet

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John Harbaugh is expected to fly home after his meeting on Wednesday with the New York Giants. He will meet with the Tennessee Titans at his home on Thursday as he considers which team to become head coach of, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN said the expectation remains that Harbaugh will hear pitches from both the Titans and Atlanta Falcons before making a decision.

Russini, though, said there is still a possibility that those meetings with the Titans and Falcons do not take place.

“Keep in mind, all John Harbaugh has to do is call his agent and say he wants to move forward with the New York Giants. If that happens, the Giants can make it official, and everything else comes off the table.”
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NFL insider Tony Pauline, who now works for Essentially Sports, wrote that sources still believ Harbaugh fits the Giants “like a duck to water.”

The Giants apparently flew Harbaugh to New Jersey Wednesday on Steve Tisch’s private plane. Harbaugh met with John and Chris Mara, Tisch, GM Joe Schoen and even quarterback Jaxson Dart as the Giants rolled out the red carpet for Harbaugh, a Super-Bowl winning coach fired after 18 years at the helm of the Baltimore Ravens.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ugh-leaving-new-jersey-wont-make-decision-yet
 
Giants news, 1/15: John Harbaugh visits Giants, Jaxson Dart on Malik Nabers

New York Giants News


Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

Other Giant observations​

Coaching Carousel: Giants Willing to Offer John Harbaugh ‘Almost Anything He Wants’ | FOX Sports​


The Giants have been working on that deal since before Harbaugh was fired, according to multiple team and league sources. They seemed sure that the 62-year-old Harbaugh would be available even before his Ravens lost their season finale to the Pittsburgh Steelers and missed the playoffs, which led to the Ravens firing him the next day. Once he was available, he rocketed to the top of their list.

The Giants have also let Harbaugh know that they are willing to meet his asking price (expected to be around $20 million per year), shell out millions more for what they hope will be a top coaching staff, and make whatever improvements or additions he wants throughout their program. The source said that Harbaugh’s requests so far have been “significant,” but “don’t seem to be too extensive. But he’s worth it. You don’t get a shot at a coach like this too often. Sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes.”

Jaxson Dart: Malik Nabers is the best receiver in the NFL​

Jaxson Dart On His Dream Wide Receiver To Play With

“I got the best receiver in the league on my team right now so let’s make that CLEAR… I got the BEST receiver in the league on my team… but other than leek.. gotta get Ja’Marr out there”

Dart ➡️ Nabers Gonna Be Special🤩 pic.twitter.com/1eczFJnPAv

— MalikNabersSzn (@MalikNabersSzn) January 13, 2026
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Why is John Harbaugh atop Giants’ coaching wish list? Insights into cycle’s top candidate | The Athletic​

Building a quality staff is particularly important for a head coach who doesn’t call plays. Who are some logical coordinator candidates?

Zrebiec: Monken has other options, but he and Harbaugh have a solid relationship, so I’d think that could be in play. That would be a nice get for the Giants and the New York media. Monken is a character. Tee Martin, who has been Jackson’s quarterbacks coach and has interviewed for a few offensive coordinator openings this offseason, could get consideration.

Defensively, there are a bunch of guys with ties to Harbaugh who are available: Zach Orr, Wink Martindale, Chuck Pagano and Anthony Weaver, to name a few. Heck, maybe Harbaugh even gives Rex Ryan a call. One of Harbaugh’s closest friends in coaching is Jerry Rosburg. I’m not sure if Rosburg is looking to get back in, but if he were, he’d be an ideal fit in the assistant head coach/special teams coordinator role.
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Giants coaching search: NFL insider clarifies John Harbaugh-GM reports, ‘based on what I’ve been told’ | NJ.com​

“I don’t believe, based on what I’ve been told, that there’s a prerequisite for John Harbaugh to say, ‘I have to pick my GM.’ This is not that situation,” said NFL insider Jordan Schultz disputed reports that Harbaugh wouldn’t work with someone like Schoen. “He wants a lot of say over personnel, but he’s not going to say, ‘I can’t work with Joe Schoen.’ They have been ultra aggressive. The other part, and this is probably the most important part, is John Harbaugh is only going to go to a place where he believes he can win with a quarterback, and Jaxson Dart is someone he liked a lot he did coming out of the draft.

“With all that in mind, I’m not willing to say that the Giants is definitively where he’s going to go, but that’s what the Giants want. And I think Harbaugh is very open and excited about the idea of coming to New York.”
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One reason for optimism for every non-playoff team heading into the 2026 offseason | PFF​

New York Giants: Finally, some hope. However, for the first time in a long time, there’s hope in New York. A glimmer of hope. The Giants traded up to draft QB Jaxson Dart (68.4 grade; 30th) with the No. 25 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and the former Ole Miss quarterback showed some promise in his rookie season, completing 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 487 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Dart plays a little fast and loose, and that reckless style of play has already seen him be evaluated for multiple concussions in 2025, but there’s a lot to like about the young gunslinger.

Dart will get the chance to lead the franchise forward in 2026, and even the notion that a young, exciting quarterback could lead the Giants forward is a positive. Even in Daniel Jones’s rookie season, there wasn’t this much excitement over what he could be, but Dart possesses the traits and the grit to succeed in the NFL. Dart will hopefully be joined by WR Malik Nabers, who tore his ACL in Week 4, and HB Cam Skattebo (80.5 grade; 13th), who suffered a season-ending ankle injury, in 2026 to form a young offensive core.
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Giants 2025 defensive sizzle reel​

Every forced turnover from 2025 💥 pic.twitter.com/8NWAglp3PC

— New York Giants (@Giants) January 14, 2026
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The anxiety of being a Giants free agent waiting out this coaching search | New York Post​


Yeah, the waiting game is tough on players, too. The entire Giants front office is at DEFCON 1 as the search for a new head coach keeps moving forward.

“They got a lot to do in the building here … and I’m sure whoever they bring in will have an input as well — who they want to keep and what direction they’re going to go.”
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Ranking 2025 NFL rookie classes: Teams with most production | ESPN.com​


3. New York Giants. The Giants’ rookie class was about quality rather than quantity. First-round quarterback Jaxson Dart led all rookies in total points and ranked 18th with a 57.8 QBR, thanks partly to the value of his run plays. No. 3 pick Abdul Carter had only four sacks, but his 56 pressures led all rookie edge rushers. Third-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander had 3.5 sacks as a rotational lineman. And fourth-round running back Cam Skattebo energized the team in five starts, with 410 rushing yards, 207 receiving yards and seven touchdowns before an ankle injury ended his season.

Seventh-round cornerback Korie Black and fifth-round offensive tackle Marcus Mbow also started games but didn’t perform particularly well.

Around the league​


Eagles will reportedly consider Kliff Kingsbury, Kevin Stefanski for offensive coordinator job | Bleeding Green Nation

DaRon Bland has surgery on his foot for the second time | Blogging the Boys

Cardinals sign ex-New York Giants WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette | USAToday.com

Steelers’ Art Rooney II not ‘shocked’ by Mike Tomlin’s decision, expects move to affect Aaron Rodgers | NFL.com

Josh Allen returns to full participation at practice | Pro Football Talk

Denver Broncos’ D gets boost as Dre Greenlaw on track for Bills | ESPN.com

Jaguars forecast two-way role for Travis Hunter in 2026 with knee injury recovery ‘going as expected’ | CBSSports.com

Longtime Vikings WR Adam Thielen announces retirement after 13 seasons | The Athletic

BBV mailbag​


Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...head-coach-interview-jaxson-dart-malik-nabers
 
John Harbaugh’s NY Giants coaching staff: Examining coordinator options

Former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on the sideline during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals

Former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on the sideline during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The New York Giants came to an agreement with former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh late Wednesday night.

In doing so, the Giants immediately brought stability to a rudderless franchise and delivered true hope to the fanbase for the first time since the 2023 off-season. The veteran coach is lauded as a “culture builder” who eschews concentrating on either side of the ball in favor of overseeing the whole roster and leaving his offensive and defensive coordinators to run their units.

That, however, brings us to the question of who will run the offense and defense for the Giants. Let’s look at some of the possibilities.

Offensive coordinator​


Defense has been the fanbase’s main pain point over the last year, but the development of Jaxson Dart is paramount to the Giants’ — and Harbaugh’s — long term success. That will make the offensive coordinator hire one of the most important moves of the off-season.

Todd Monken – Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator at Baltimore is the natural first option. In fact, the current belief is that biggest obstacle to Monken becoming the Giants’ offensive coordinator is the possibility that the Cleveland Browns could hire him to be their head coach.

Monken is a creative and experienced play-caller who has had success at both the collegiate and NFL levels. He called a pair of National Championship offenses for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2021 and 2022, and also helped develop Lamar Jackson into more of a Pro Style passer in 2023 and 2024 after Greg Roman’s read-option based offense grew stale. Monken runs what is generally termed a “spread offense”, but is an amalgamation of a wide range of concepts and philosophies from both college and the NFL.

Harbaugh fought for Monken to remain in Baltimore, which is believed to be one of the reasons the Ravens fired him. So, it makes sense Harbaugh would bring him to the Giants.

Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is expected to join John Harbaugh in New York with the Giants, per source.
This has always been the plan.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 15, 2026
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Mike Kafka – The Giants’ offensive coordinator and interim head coach from 2022 to 2025 is the best option to provide stability and continuity for Jaxson Dart. In addition to his relationship with Dart, nobody knows the Giants’ offensive personnel better than Kafka, which would allow him to hit the ground running. The Giants’ offense has consistently punched over its weight class with Kafka calling it, however he’s never had the opportunity to build an offense from the ground up.

Kafka has already drawn interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions for their offensive coordinator positions.

Mike McDaniel – This is the big name pie in the sky hope. McDaniel is in high demand as an offensive coordinator and also getting interviews for open head coaching positions. That said, he’s one of the NFL’s best offensive minds, even if the Dolphins’ offense has had to overcome a plethora of injuries. McDaniel’s use of speed and motion combined with the “New West Coast” concepts popularized by Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay makes his offense one of the most challenging to defend in the NFL.

Davis Webb – The Giants’ 2017 third-round pick (and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach) is already a hot commodity on the coaching circuit. He’s pretty widely regarded as on the fast track to a head coaching role, as evidenced by the fact that he’s received several head coaching interviews this cycle. It might be a bit early for Webb to become a head coach and he might need to prove that he can build an offense and run a unit before he gets the big office. That said, Daniel Jones had his best season as a Giant with Webb as a “coach in the locker room” and Bo Nix has made the playoffs twice under his tutelage. Webb also has the distinction of being the only Giant to throw a touchdown to Kenny Golladay.

Nate Scheelhaase – The Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator is a name most Giants fans won’t be familiar with. However, he too is hot name on the coaching circuit and has the pedigree of being a “Sean McVay” coach. Scheelhaase is something of an unknown, so he could benefit from being able to build and run his own offense. Like Webb and Kafka, Stepping out of the shadow of an offensive genius could help Scheelhaase establish himself in the eyes of the NFL.

Some interesting names here. Todd Monken not a slam dunk just yet. On the defensive side…

Anthony Weaver
Charlie Bullen … https://t.co/gLeO481gOR

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 15, 2026
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Defensive coordinator​


As mentioned above, defense was the Giants’ biggest pain point last year. The team invested a huge amount of resources in the defensive side of the ball last year, but got little return for their investments. While the offensive coordinator will be instrumental in maximizing Jaxson Dart’s development and the Giants’ long-term success, this hire will be crucial for success this year.

Jim Leonhard – Leonhard is a former undrafted free agent defensive back who entered the NFL back in 2005 and did spend a year under Harbaugh in 2008 (Harbaugh’s first year as a head coach). He became a coach in college ranks in 2016 as the defensive backs coach for Wisconsin. He quickly became the Badgers’ defensive coordinator in 2017 and was their interim head coach in 2022. Leonhard made the jump to the NFL in 2024, when he was hired as the Denver Bronco’s defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator. He added the title of “Assistant Head Coach” in 2025 and was quickly linked to the Giants after Harbaugh agreed to become the Giants’ head coach.

Charlie Bullen – Bullen didn’t get much time as the Giants’ interim defensive coordinator, and much of his work was spent fixing bad habits that took hold under Shane Bowen and recommitting the Giants to sound fundamentals. Eventually his efforts began to pay off and we saw the team play faster and much more sound football. At the same time, he was much more aggressive than Bowen and many of the Giants’ disappointing players began to play up to expectations. He’s received requests to interview for defensive coordinator jobs, and is viewed favorably by the NFL.

Antonio Pierce – Pierce has never been a defensive coordinator at the NFL level, though he was the defensive coordinator under Herm Edwards at Arizona State. That said, the Giants had him in for a head coaching interview and there seems to be renewed interest in AP around the NFL. Pierce was the coach on the field in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense and understands the culture of what an aggressive and winning Giants defense looks like.

Drew Wilkins – Wink Martindale has been floated as a possible option, but we don’t know how many bridges he burned after the 2023 season or what Wink’s relationship with John Harbaugh is like. However, Wilkins has a long relationship with Harbaugh and is a familiar face for the Giants. Wilkins was the outside linebackers coach under Martindale and coached from 2011 to 2021 under Harbaugh in Baltimore. He was also Kayvon Thibodeaux’s coach when he had an 11.5-sack season in 2023. Now Wilkins is a coach under Chris Shula with the Los Angeles Rams, and he brings a very intriguing mix of experience and relationships.

Anthony Weaver – Anthony Weaver has already gotten some interest around the NFL, most notably as a head coaching candidate for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Weaver was a former second-round pick as a defensive end and has been a coach in the NFL since 2012 when he was hired as an assistant defensive line coach under Rex Ryan for the New York Jets. Weaver spent three years (2021 through 2023) under John Harbaugh as a defensive line coach, run game coordinator, and assistant head coach.

Jonathan Gannon – Gannon has slipped below the radar after being fired by Arizona Cardinals. But while he wasn’t a good head coach, he is a brilliant defensive mind. Gannon’s defense helped carry the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2022 and he created one of the NFL’s most unique defenses in Arizona after being hired as their head coach in 2023. Gannon is nominally a disciple of Vic Fangio, but evolved and iterated on the scheme with Arizona’s personnel. He could be an interesting option given the Giants’ versatile defensive talent.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-monken-jim-leonhard-mike-kafka-mike-mcdaniel
 
NY Giants 2026 NFL Draft: 10 prospects to watch at the Senior Bowl

A view down the line of scrimmage between the American and National teams at the 2025 Senior Bowl

A view down the line of scrimmage between the American and National teams at the 2025 Senior Bowl.

There is a clock ticking for the New York Giants and their new head coach John Harbaugh. The inexorable process that is leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft is under way. And while the Giants have their next head coach, they need to get a coaching staff together.

January 14th was the hard deadline for underclassmen to declare for the upcoming draft. The Panini Senior Bowl also released its final (barring withdrawals or late invites) roster with declarations made. Senior Bowl practices will be begin on January 27th, and the Giants will want the overall structure of their coaching staff in place when they descend on Mobile.

Coaches take a much more active role in scouting starting at the Senior Bowl, and having offensive and defensive coordinators in place is crucial for helping the team focus their efforts efficiently.

We don’t know yet what schemes the Giants will call in 2026, but we do know the players that will be at the Senior Bowl and take a quick look at some of the players to watch.

American Team​


Full Roster

Ja’Kobi Layne (WR, USC) – If the Giants opt to pass on a receiver in the first round, Lane is an intriguing name for the second round. He probably won’t be a star or a “WR1” if Malik Nabers goes down or isn’t ready, but he is a big, physical receiver who can tilt 50/50 balls in his favor, keep the chains moving on third down, or be a factor in the Red Zone.

Jalon Kilgore (S, South Carolina) – Kilgore is an interesting option for the Giants with Dane Belton entering free agency. He was best described as a “nickel defender” for the Gamecocks, lining up all over their Back 7, though he’s listed on the Senior Bowl roster as a safety — indicating that’s where the NFL views him. Kilgore is a good athlete at 6-foot-1, 211 pounds (unofficial), with enough speed to cover ground in zone coverage as well as hip fluidity to cover in the slot.

J.C. Davis (OT, Illinois) – Davis is a stoutly built tackle (listed at 6-foot-5, 335 pounds), and the NFL may ask him to move to guard. However, he’s also been a remarkably dependable blocker for Illinois, with upside in both run blocking and pass protection. He isn’t on the national radar yet and lands as a fourth-round prospect on Pro Football Focus’ draft board and a fifth-rounder on the Consensus Big Board. However, he could climb dramatically if he has a good week of practice.

Caleb Banks (iDL, Florida) – Banks has a real chance to be a first round draft pick. He’s a powerful defensive tackle (6-foot-6, 330 pounds) who also has some pass rush chops and upside. He missed most of the season with an injury, but he returned for Florida’s final two games and has a golden opportunity to put him right back in the conversation for the top interior defenders in the draft.

Davison Igbinosun (DB, Ohio State) – Igbinosun played cornerback almost exclusively for the Buckeyes, however is listed as a “DB” on the Senior Bowl roster, which could be a sign that the NFL thinks the 6-foot-2, 195 pounder has the versatility to play multiple positions. He was very good in both man coverage and run defense last year, allowing a completion percentage of just 42.6, with 10 passes defensed and 2 interceptions, as well as amassing 53 tackles.

National Team​


Full Roster

Cole Payton (QB, North Dakota State) – Payton has a chance to make himself a lot of money down in Mobile. Payton is a dense quarterback at 6-foot-2, 233 pounds, and finished the year with 2,719 yards with 16 passing touchdowns and four interceptions, as well as 777 rushing yards (136 carries, 5.7 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns on the ground. The depth chart at quarterback is wide open after now that Dante Moore has gone back to college, and Payton could climb draft boards. If not, he may be an option as a developmental backup quarterback for the Giants.

Emmaneul Pregnon (OG, Oregon) – We’ve highlighted Pregnon a few times already in Oregon’s various games, and the spotlight remains on for the Senior Bowl. He could be a real option for the Giants at the top of the second round to plug a hole at guard and continue to build their offensive line. He’s big, powerful, and an effective run blocker and pass protector.

Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech) – If the Giants want to look for an option at nose tackle to play behind Dexter Lawrence, Hunter could draw their eye. The 6-foot-4, 330 pounder is a rock in the middle of a very good Texas Tech defense. He’s almost impossible to move one-on-one, and also has the power to collapse the pocket as a pass rusher. Hunter doesn’t have Dexter Lawrence’s explosiveness, but he did generate 20 hurries this year, as well as a pair of sacks and 4 hits.

Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech) – Rodriguez probably won’t be the first defensive player drafted this year, but he was voted the best defensive player in the country as well as the best linebacker. The Bednarik, Nagurski, and Butkus award winner has mediocre size (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) but he absolutely stuffed the stat sheet, to the tune of 128 tackles, 11.0 tackles for a loss, one sack, seven forced fumbles, six passes defensed, and four interceptions.

Chris Jonson (CB, San Diego State) – Johnson’s is a name to know as the process unfolds. The 6-foot, 195 pound corner was a black hole this year, allowing a passer rating of 16.1, with nine passes defensed, and four interceptions — two of which he returned for a touchdown. He also had 49 total tackles and three tackles for a loss in addition to his work in coverage. He’s an instinctive and fluid corner who can play man and zone, and is a willing run defender as well.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/senior-...6-nfl-draft-10-prospects-to-watch-senior-bowl
 
Giants news, 1/16: John Harbaugh reaction, coordinator candidates

New York Giants News


Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

Other Giant observations​

Landing John Harbaugh is a win the Giants’ whole organization badly needed | The Athletic​

Despite all of their recent losing and dysfunction, the Giants have maintained their status as a storied franchise, especially in the eyes of an old-school football lifer like Harbaugh. Losing him to the likes of the Tennessee Titans or Atlanta Falcons would have been a devastating blow at a fragile time for the franchise.

Landing Harbaugh was the best possible outcome when the Giants set out on the unpredictable path of a coaching search. It’s the biggest win for the franchise in a long time. And now, with Harbaugh on board, the belief is many more wins will follow.
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SI’s Albert Breer on what won over John Harbaugh​

💻 @AlbertBreer

What ultimately sold John Harbaugh on the #NYGiants?#NFL pic.twitter.com/DTMwS13bxJ

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 15, 2026
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Mike Lupica: John Harbaugh hire begins a new era of Giants football | New York Daily News​

The Giants know exactly what they’re getting. And he knows the kind of chance here to put the Giants back on top, become the first coach ever to win a Super Bowl with two different teams, unless Sean Payton beats him to it with the Broncos. Because of everything that has happened to them lately; because of the way they have fallen down; and after the general managers and coaches who have come and gone since the last Super Bowl over the Patriots, this is as important a hire as the Giants have ever made, all the way back to old Tim Mara.

More than anything else, closing out the bidding on Harbaugh before he even met with the Titans or with the Falcons, sends out this loud message, and not just to the fan base, but to the rest of the league: He is taking his talents to North Jersey because he’s decided the Giants are worthy of those talents, not just for coaching but for culture building as well. And you better believe that even if Joe Schoen is staying on as general manager, going forward the football business at MetLife Stadium will run through the office of the new coach.
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John Harbaugh instantly changes Giants perception, creates blueprint toward relevance | SNY.tv​

With the coaching search complete, owners John Mara and Tisch (who was among the biggest advocates for the Giants hiring Harbaugh) can finally exhale — and perhaps even enjoy this weekend’s playoff games. Two in particular. On Sunday, New England faces Houston. Later, Chicago meets the Rams. A year ago, those teams won four and five games, respectively. Both believed they were close. Both found the right coach — the Patriots with Mike Vrabel, the Bears with Ben Johnson — and made immediate strides. Now, they’re on to the second round of the playoffs.

The Giants believe they can do the same. Their roster remains imperfect. Dart needs more weapons. The offensive line requires real solutions, not short-term patches. The defense, despite recognizable names, fell well short of expectations a season ago. Still, with Harbaugh in charge, the task ahead no longer feels overwhelming.

At minimum, the Giants finally have a path forward. And for the first time in a long time, there is a legitimate reason to believe in a blueprint toward relevance.
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The Big Picture: How John Harbaugh Brought Credibility and Hope to Giants Overnight | FOX Sports​

To be honest, it’s hard to think of a more significant moment in Giants history than the moment when John Harbaugh, a Super Bowl-winning coach, clearly the prize of this year’s carousel, made the decision to accept the generous offer that the Giants were so desperate to give him. As the new head coach of the New York Giants — the news is expected to become official sometime on Thursday — he brings instant credibility. He carries a feeling of hope.

And sure, they might have been in good hands with Kevin Stefanski too, or Mike McCarthy or some hotshot coordinator who is staring at a long and storied career. But none of them — none — would have come close to creating the buzz and excitement that Harbaugh did. Not a single other coach would have brought this kind of seismic change.
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Boomer on the ceiling for the Dart/Harbaugh combo​

Boomer says John Harbaugh and Jaxson Dart should be the NFL's next great head coach/QB tandem: pic.twitter.com/7bohWzRMuR

— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) January 15, 2026
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John Harbaugh made this move to find out if the Giants were the right fit | NJ.com​


One person who gave some insight was former quarterback Eli Manning. It’s been reported that Manning reached out to Harbaugh, but according to reporter Gary Myers, it was actually the opposite.

“Harbaugh initiated things by reaching out to Peyton to get Eli’s phone number and texted asking to talk,” Myers wrote on X. “Eli then called him. Sources say Manning told Giants owner John Mara two months ago that the team needed a HC with experience who had seen all there is to see in the NFL and could take control of the building. Two months ago, the ideal person didn’t exist. Then Harbaugh fell into their lap.”
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Inside the Meal That Sealed the Deal for the Giants and John Harbaugh | SI.com​


As the most critical meal in New York Giants history wound down Wednesday night, Tim Salouros, the owner of Elia restaurant in East Rutherford, N.J., walked into his private dining room in the old wine cellar and looked out at a contingent that included general manager Joe Schoen, senior executive Chris Mara and highly sought after NFL coach John Harbaugh.

“After they were done eating, I told them, I know there’s a lot of tension in the room but, as a fan, please sign,” Salouros told Sports Illustrated Thursday morning. “And if you’re not going to—I have a back door and I’ll show you out that way.” Everyone laughed. The room looked perfect—the owner described the ambiance as “festive” and “celebratory”—and Salouros, despite hearing that Harbaugh had other head coaching interviews after this one, knew the Giants had landed their dream head coach when Harbaugh smiled on his way out and said: “I know I’ll be seeing you again soon.”
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John Harbaugh’s first 100 days: The blueprint to rebuild the Giants | CBSSports.com​

Realistic turnaround timeline After the 2025 NFL postseason set a record with five teams that had 11-plus losses the year prior — the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers — there will be Giants fans who think a playoff berth in 2026 is achievable. The NFC East will be a tough hill to climb, with the Eagles still full of talent and the Cowboys likely a playoff team if they can avoid being the NFL’s worst scoring defense, as they were in 2025.

It will be interesting to see whether Harbaugh’s proclivity for late-game collapses follows him to New York, because the difference in one-score games can make or break a team’s record. In 2025, the Giants were 1-6 in one-score games while Harbaugh’s Ravens were just about as bad at 1-4. Baltimore blew 26 leads of 10 or more points under Harbaugh from 2008 to 2025, the most in the NFL. Twelve of those came in the last five seasons, which is five more than any other team in the league in that span. Harbaugh will bring coaching competence and stability, but time will tell whether that will be enough to elevate the Giants back to regular playoff participants.
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How John Harbaugh has fared against Giants’ NFC East rivals | New York Post​


The Super Bowl-winning head coach spent 18 years with the Ravens, and before his firing last week, he racked up plenty of success against the Giants’ rivals in the NFC East. Harbaugh went 10-5 against the Cowboys (4-1), Eagles (3-2) and Commanders (3-2) while serving as the bench boss in Baltimore. He’s 13-11 in the postseason, winning the Super Bowl in 2013 over his brother Jim Harbaugh, who was coaching the 49ers then.

Jameis Winston on Cam Skattebo​

I could listen to Jameis talk about Cam Skattebo for hours @hbomax pic.twitter.com/z6aWqJ08FW

— New Heights (@newheightshow) January 14, 2026
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5 Ravens free agents who could follow John Harbaugh to New York Giants | USAToday.com​


The New York Giants are bringing in former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to run the show next season, but will they bring in some of his players to help ease the transition?

Here are five players who played for the Ravens that might interest the Giants in free agency this offseason: Center Tyler Linderbaum, Tight end Isaiah Likely, Offensive tackle Joseph Noteboom, Outside linebacker David Ojabo, and Fullback Patrick Ricard.

2026 NFL Draft: Team needs for all 32 NFL teams | PFF​


New York Giants Positions of need: WR, G, T, CB. Outside of Andrew Thomas, who earned a 90.3 PFF grade, the Giants experienced inconsistency across the offensive line. While multiple positions could be upgraded, right tackle stands out as a priority with Jermaine Eluemunor set to enter free agency. Although Eluemunor struggled as a run blocker, his PFF pass-blocking grade on true pass sets (72.3) leaves the door open for a potential extension. Should he depart, New York will need to find a reliable tackle to protect quarterback Jaxson Dart.

2026 NFL Mock Draft: How does Dante Moore’s decision affect Round 1? | The Athletic​


5. New York Giants: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State. The Giants will be drawn, understandably, to Caleb Downs’ potential impact on the back end of the defense, or to the chance to address their offensive line with Francis Mauigoa. But Tyson would add an immediate offensive playmaker who could help a young quarterback take the next step in his development. Obviously, expected new head coach John Harbaugh will influence this selection.

Around the league​


Eagles HC Nick Sirianni wants to continue ‘to evolve as an offense’ | NFL.com

Eagles offensive coordinator search reportedly includes Charlie Weis Jr. | Bleeding Green Nation

Washington Commanders hire D.J. Williams as new QB coach | Hogs Haven

NFL playoffs: Sam Darnold added to injury report ahead of Divisional Round | SB Nation

Fred Warner ruled out, Ricky Pearsall questionable for 49ers-Seahawks | Pro Football Talk

Broncos’ Bo Nix thrived with games on the line in 2025. Can he do it in the playoffs? | The Athletic

Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes: ‘I want to be ready for Week 1’ | ESPN.com

BBV mailbag​


Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV on social media​


BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: @Valentine_Ed
Threads: @ed.valentine | Bluesky: @edvalentine
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ch-hiring-reaction-coaching-staff-jaxson-dart
 
NY Giants news: ‘Reporting structure’ holding up John Harbaugh signing

gettyimages-2253379534.jpg


John Harbaugh has yet to sign a contract to become head coach of the New York Giants nearly 48 hours after reports broke that he had accepted the job. On Friday evening, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said that “reporting structure” and other organizational issues are holding up the deal.

“It does not sound like this is about money,” Rapoport said. “It sounds like it’s more about reporting structure and who is able to do what and how the whole organization is set up.”
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Rapoport said it “seems like there was something lost in translation” because these are issues that would generally be ironed out before any word that a job had been accepted.

“There’s a lot to be handled. It sounds like they are trying to handle it, but smooth sailing it has not been,” Rapoport said.
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Ian O’Connor of The Athletic, who has been out front on this story since Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens, summarized the situation this way:

“My understanding is John Harbaugh and Chris Mara are forming a pretty good bond since their Sunday lunch & meeting at Harbaugh’s house. Chris remains confident this gets done. Still a chance the Giants announce in the coming hours tonight, but no need for Harbaugh to rush it.”
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Long-time NFL columnist Gary Myers offered this from his sources:

— “Everything is going fine. There are no issues. No hangups. There is no rush. If it doesn’t get done until Sunday, what’s the difference?” from ultra-reliable source a few minutes ago.

— Length and money still being discussed despite reports of 5-year $100M deal. They will come to terms that makes both sides comfortable.

— Power, final personnel say between Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen is no issue. Harbaugh is comfortable with the arrangement. Schoen would be foolish not to lean on Harbaugh, so I expect it will be a collaboration.

— The contract is a hefty 30-40 pages. Lots of billable hours for the attorneys.

Press conference will be Tuesday.
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There remains a belief that the Giants will formally introduce Harbaugh as their head coach on Tuesday.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...act-negotiation-signing-joe-schoen-chris-mara
 
NY Giants news: Mike Kafka interviews for Eagles offensive coordinator role

New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka calls a play against the Washington Commanders


New York Giants offensive coordinator and interim head coach Mike Kafka interviewed for the Philadelphia Eagles vacant offensvie coordinator job, per a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

It isn’t particularly surprising that Kafka is getting attention as an offensive coordinator candidate. He’s a respected offensive mind who is respected around the NFL. Kafka has received head coaching interviews every off-season since becoming the Giants’ offensive coordinator, and the Giants’ offense has played above it’s talent level under him.

It also isn’t surprsing that the Eagles would show interest in Kafka. After all, he has significant experience with dual threat quarterbacks after coaching Daniel Jones and Jaxson Dart. Kafka was also originally drafted by the Eagles back in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and he both played and coached under Andy Reid.

The Eagles have also interviewed former Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll (who has also interviewed for the Tennessee Titans’ coaching vacancy).

NFL Insider Pete Schrager reported on the Bill Simmons podcast that Kafka remains in the mix for the Giants offensive coordinator position, saying,

“But Mike Kafka, who was the interim coach and the offensive coordinator last year. I got from pretty good people. He’s still in the mix for offensive coordinator of the New York Giants. It’s the rare, like, alright, so I was offensive coordinator, new head coach. And I was the interim head coach. Still might be the OC because Dart actually showed a lot of flashes with him.”
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It’s expected that Todd Monken will be the favorite to be the Giants’ offensive coordinator under John Harbaugh. However, there will still be a hiring process and Monken is a candidate for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position. With that in mind, it’s possible that Kafka could win the job outright thanks to the work he’s already shown with Jaxson Dart, or he could become the frontrunner if Monken is hired by the Browns.

That, of course, is contingent on Kafka not being hired by the Eagles before the Giants begin interviewing for their own offensive coordinator role.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...elphia-eagles-offensive-coordinator-interview
 
What the NY Giants are saying about the hiring of John Harbaugh

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It took more than two days after John Harbaugh had reportedly accepted the job as head coach of the New York Giants to finalize the deal. Harbaugh has now signed on the dotted line. Here is what the Giants were saying in their official announcement of the hiring.

Co-owner and team president John Mara:

“We are proud to name John Harbaugh as the next head coach of the New York Giants. Joe Schoen presented us an outstanding group of candidates, which allowed us to be deliberate and confident in this decision. Through numerous conversations, John consistently stood out for his conviction and vision for leading a winning organization, and we welcome him and his family to the Giants.”

Co-owner and chairman Steve Tisch:

“John is a proven winner whose teams are disciplined, resilient, and prepared. His passion for the game, his ability to connect with players, and his experience leading at the highest level made him an outstanding fit for us, and we’re excited to move forward together.”

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General manager Joe Schoen:

“Throughout our conversations, John stood out for his clarity, competitiveness and approach for building a sustainable winning program. He has a strong track record of developing players, building cohesive staffs, and setting a clear standard of accountability. We are excited to work with John in moving this team in the right direction.”

Harbaugh:

“I want to thank John Mara, Steve Tisch, Chris Mara, and Joe Schoen for the opportunity to lead the New York Giants,” said Harbaugh. “To serve as this franchise’s head coach is a tremendous honor. I come from a football family, and I have deep respect for the history and tradition of this organization.

“I’m excited to begin assembling our staff and getting to work building our team. I would like to sincerely thank Steve Bisciotti and the Baltimore Ravens organization for 18 remarkable years, including the opportunity to become a head coach in the National Football League.

“My family and I are grateful for the welcome we’ve already felt, and we look forward to becoming part of the Giants family.”

The Giants will formally introduce Harbaugh as their head coach at noon on Tuesday.

John Harbaugh Coaching Experience

1984-86: Western Michigan – Graduate Assistant

1987: Pittsburgh – Tight Ends

1988: Morehead State – DBs/Special Teams/Strength & Conditioning

1989-94: University of Cincinnati – Special Teams/TEs/OLBs/RBs

1995-96: University of Cincinnati – Assistant Head Coach

1997: Indiana University – DBs/Special Teams Coordinator

1998-2006: Philadelphia Eagles – Special Teams Coordinator

2007: Philadelphia Eagles – Secondary

2008-25: Baltimore Ravens – Head Coach

John Harbaugh Coaching Record

2008*: Baltimore Ravens 11-5 (.688)

2009*: Baltimore Ravens 9-7 (.563)

2010*: Baltimore Ravens 12-4 (.750)

2011**: Baltimore Ravens 12-4 (.750)

2012***: Baltimore Ravens 10-6 (.625)

2013: Baltimore Ravens 8-8 (.500)

2014*: Baltimore Ravens 10-6 (.625)

2015: Baltimore Ravens 5-11 (.313)

2016: Baltimore Ravens 8-8 (.500)

2017: Baltimore Ravens 9-7 (.563)

2018**: Baltimore Ravens 10-6 (.625)

2019**: Baltimore Ravens 14-2 (.875)

2020*: Baltimore Ravens 11-5 (.688)

2021: Baltimore Ravens 8-9 (.471)

2022*: Baltimore Ravens 10-7 (.588)

2023**: Baltimore Ravens 13-4 (.765)

2024**: Baltimore Ravens 12-5 (.706)

2025: Baltimore Ravens 8-9 (.471)

Totals: 180-113 (.614)

*Made postseason

**Won division

***Won division and Super Bowl
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...g-statements-john-mara-steve-tisch-joe-schoen
 
NFL Playoffs: Game times, TV channels, streaming, odds for Sunday’s games

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The Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs concludes on Sunday with the Houston Texans facing the New England Patriots in the AFC and the Los Angeles Rams meeting the Chicago Bears in the NFC.

Use this thread to discuss all of Sunday’s playoff action.

No. 5 Houston Texans (13-5) at No. 2 New England Patriots (15-3)​


New England defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 16-3, on Wild Card Weekend to secure their first postseason win since Super Bowl LIII (Feb. 3, 2019, against the Los Angeles Rams). Houston earned its first road playoff win in franchise history with a 30-6 win at Pittsburgh and advanced to the Divisional playoffs for the third straight season, the longest such streak in team history.

What: AFC Divisional playoffs
When: Sunday, Jan. 18
Where: Gillette Stadium
Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN/ABC
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters / Laura Rutledge (field reporter)
Streaming: ESPN+/ESPN Deportes
Radio: Sirius XM — National: Channel 88 | Texans: Channel 812 | Patriots: Channel 821| Spanish Radio: Channel 832 ; Westwood One — John Sadak, Jason McCourty
Referee: Shawn Smith
FanDuel Odds: Patriots -3
Weather: 34 degrees. A chance of snow before 2 a.m.. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (13-5) at No. 2 Chicago Bears (12-6)​


Last week, Chicago overcame an 18-point deficit – the largest comeback in Chicago postseason history – and scored 25 fourth quarter points – the third-most ever in a playoff game – to defeat Green Bay, 31-27, for its first postseason win since the 2010 NFC Divisional round (Jan. 16, 2011, against Seattle). In the Wild Card round, the Rams earned their first road postseason victory since the 2021 Divisional Playoffs (Jan. 23, 2022, at Tampa Bay) with a 34-31 win over the Panthers.

The two teams have not met in a postseason game in 40 years. The last meeting came when the Bears defeated the Rams 24-0 in the 1985 NFC Championship Game.

What: NFC Divisional playoffs
When: Sunday, Jan. 18
Where: Soldier Field
Time: 6:30 p.m.
TV: NBC
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark / Kaylee Hartung (field reporters)
Streaming: Peacock
Radio: Sirius XM — National: Channel 88 | Rams: Channel 818 | Bears: Channel 805 | Spanish Radio: Channel 832; Westwood One — One: Kevin Harlan, Ross Tucker
Referee: Shawn Hochuli
FanDuel Odds: Rams -3.5
Weather: 18 degrees. A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/general...els-streaming-odds-texans-patriots-rams-bears
 
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