Giants begin new era, hire John Harbaugh as head coach
John Harbaugh, the prize of available head coaching candidates this offseason, is heading to the New York Giants.
The 63-year-old former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens agreed to a 5-year contract to coach Big Blue, CBS News New York has learned.
The team confirmed the news Saturday evening, posting on social media, "The Harbaugh era starts now."
Harbaugh interviewed with the Giants on Wednesday in New Jersey.
He was one of several known candidates the Giants interviewed, a list that included former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, and Mike McCarthy, who previously led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl title and the Dallas Cowboys to a playoff berth.
Giants welcome Harbaugh as head coach
"We are proud to name John Harbaugh as the next head coach of the New York Giants," team president John Mara said in a statement. "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."
"John is a proven winner whose teams are disciplined, resilient, and prepared," Giants chairman Steve Tisch said in a statement. "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."
"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," general manager Joe Schoen said in a statement. "We are excited to work with John in moving this team in the right direction."
"I want to thank John Mara, Steve Tisch, Chris Mara, and Joe Schoen for the opportunity to lead the New York Giants," Harbaugh said in a statement, in part. "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."
He continued, "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."
What to know about John Harbaugh
During his 18-year run with Baltimore, Harbaugh won 180 regular-season games, 13 playoff games and the Super Bowl XLVII championship.
He was fired earlier this month after the Ravens finished 8-9 and missed the postseason, a fate secured by a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the final game of the season.
Under Harbaugh, the Ravens made the playoffs 12 times and were known for toughness, professionalism and accountability, traits the Giants hope to develop after going 4-13 in 2025 and missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Prior to taking over as head coach in Baltimore, Harbaugh served as the special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles for nine seasons before taking over as defensive backs coach in 2007.
When Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens, he had no head coaching experience at any level, including college. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Morehead State, Cincinnati and Indiana, from 1987-97.
John Harbaugh is the older brother of current Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
What Harbaugh is inheriting with the Giants
Despite their struggles over the last nine seasons, a period that included just one playoff appearance, the Giants remain a very attractive destination because they are one of the NFL's legacy franchises, due in large part to their three Super Bowl titles and a history that dates to 1925.
The Giants also have some talent at key positions, most notably quarterback. Rookie Jaxson Dart took over as the starter in Week 4 and quickly showed off his dual-threat skills. The 25th overall pick in the draft finished with 2,272 passing yards, with 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also ran for 487 yards and nine scores.
New York navigated most of its lost season without two key starters on offense. Receiver Malik Nabers, who had 109 receptions, 1,204 yards and seven TDs as a rookie in 2024, suffered a knee injury in Week 4 and was lost for the season.
Bruising running back Cam Skattebo, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 draft, had 617 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns before he went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 6.
Defensively, linebacker Brian Burns, who signed a five-year, $141 million contract as a free agent in 2024, was a standout this season, finishing with 16.5 sacks.
Those bright spots aside, the Giants overall were a middling team on offense, averaging 22.4 points, and among the worst in the league on defense, allowing 25.8 per game.