John Harbaugh is aiming high in Year One with the Giants.

The new Big Blue head coach, who officially put pen to paper on a five-year deal expected to be worth $100 million on Saturday, spoke to The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor about his big expectations for next season.

 

 

 

“I think the Giants roster is strong and it’s our job to make it stronger,” Harbaugh said, per O’Connor. “We are going to compete for the playoffs and for championships. I expect and want to make the playoffs next year.”

If he wants to do so, Harbaugh will need another leap from Jaxson Dart, whom he said he has spoken to “two or three times at length.”

 

 

 

Harbaugh, who spent the last eight seasons coaching Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, raved about the Giants’ young quarterback.

“… I couldn’t be more impressed with him,” Harbaugh told O’Connor. “Watched him on tape, he had a heckuva rookie season and he’s got the right mindset. That is one tough dude.”
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh on the sideline.Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during warmups before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart celebrates a touchdown.Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025,

Playoffs would be a major turnaround for the Giants, who finished 4-13, just one win more than the quartet of teams that finished with the worst record in the league.

Harbaugh said he feels “a great deal of excitement and responsibility because this is the New York Football Giants. And that’s the absolute truth.”

 

 

 

The Giants have made the postseason just twice since their Super Bowl-winning 2011 season.

Before that, Harbaugh will need to fill out his coaching staff.

Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who had worked under Harbaugh for the past three years in Baltimore, is the favorite to land the same job in New York.

 

 

 

Focus will then shift to free agency and the draft, which he will work closely with Giants general manager Joe Schoen on. Harbaugh, however, report directly to co-owner John Mara.

“We had great football talks and great life talks,” Harbaugh said of Schoen. “He’s a hard worker and I’m ready for us to roll up our sleeves.”