Why the NY Giants are Poised for a 2026 Turnaround Under Harbaugh

The New York Giants don't have very many places to go but up after winning just four games last season.

But after a significant organizational reset that brought in John Harbaugh, there is an overflow of optimism that the Giants will be among the teams to rise from the ashes.

"New coach John Harbaugh has made clear he wants to make the playoffs in his first year with Big Blue, and the roster is certainly improved with the arrival of players like tight end Isaiah Likely, who followed Harbaugh north from Baltimore. Likely will be a reliable weapon for Jaxson Dart and Darnell Mooney should stretch the field," noted NFL.com’s Judy Battista.

Harbaugh alone won’t make the difference, as the Giants' roster needed an infusion of talent in areas in which it was lacking.

New York added linebacker Tremaine Edmunds on a three-year deal with the hopes of improving both the run defense and the coverage at the second level, particularly against tight ends.

They also brought in receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin, and tight end Isaiah Likely to give them more flexibility in the passing game, and signed fullback Patrick Ricard to infuse some thunder into the power rushing game.

They added Greg Newsome, a former first-round draft pick by Cleveland, to pair with Paulson Adebo at cornerback, as well as additional depth in the secondary and a totally revamped special teams group.

All of these moves have reignited hopes that Harbaugh’s proclamation that the Giants will contend for a postseason berth in 2026 could come to fruition.

Giants Can Make Playoff Push This Season

New Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh | Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Giants hired Harbaugh after 18 mostly successful seasons with the Ravens. Harbaugh made the playoffs in 12 of those 18 years, including winning Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers.

That doesn't automatically mean that the Giants will inherit the Ravens' success, but having that culture come to East Rutherford is a positive sign in the right direction.

The roster still needs a lot of work, but several free-agent acquisitions have led many to believe the Giants should be better than they were a year ago.

Ever since making it to the playoffs in 2022, the Giants have won 13 games in three seasons. This recent history, combined with offseason moves, suggests the Giants have a strong chance of being better than they were a year ago.

Jaxson Dart is in his second year and is being coached by the same person who made Lamar Jackson a two-time league MVP. Dart's dual-threat ability should fit well with Harbaugh's offensive philosophies.

On top of that, the team has a top-five pick and could go in a number of different directions to boost their team.

There's a good chance the Giants could go with one of the top defensive prospects in the draft, like linebacker Sonny Styles from Ohio State or LSU cornerback Mansour Delane, but the team could also make a splash and select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.

There's a lot to like about where the Giants are going, and the fact that they have several reasons for optimism keeps the air light inside the building. That is the best possible environment for improved change, and with the expectations not very high, the Giants have even more of a chance to exceed them.

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