Jordan RaananJan 20, 2026, 04:15 PM ETCloseJordan Raanan covers the New York Giants for ESPN and can be heard hosting on ESPN Radio. Raanan joined ESPN in 2016.Follow on X
John Harbaugh: A ‘profound honor’ to coach Giants (1:16)John Harbaugh details what it means to him to become the coach of the New York Giants during his introduction. (1:16)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants introduced John Harbaugh on Tuesday as the 21st head coach in the team’s storied history. But with 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl win on his résumé, he comes with a stronger pedigree and more power than most, if not all, of his predecessors.
Harbaugh, who spent 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, signed a five-year deal with the Giants that multiple league sources told ESPN is in the vicinity of $100 million. With that hefty salary comes extra responsibility and say on personnel issues.
He will report directly to ownership rather than general manager Joe Schoen. The Giants have traditionally had their coach report to the general manager, who would then report to ownership.
Harbaugh and Schoen will work collaboratively and cooperatively, but it’s Harbaugh who is expected to have the stronger voice given his track record of success.
The Mara and Tisch families are the primary owners of the Giants. With John Mara being diagnosed with cancer, his brother, Chris, took a more proactive role in the hiring of Harbaugh.
Chris Mara visited Harbaugh on multiple occasions, including a lunch — set up by former Giants coach Tom Coughlin — at the start of the recruitment process several weeks back. It was a premeditated approach “to act and not react.”
When all was said and done, the Giants gave Harbaugh significant power regarding personnel and the overall organization.
“I know that’s a big deal around here: ‘Final say,'” Chris Mara said. “[Harbaugh] doesn’t have final say. It’s collaborative, and he’s the first to admit that. If he has final say with everything in that building, he wouldn’t be able to do his job.
Schoen played a significant role in the recruitment of Harbaugh. Both sides said they talked multiple times and respected each other’s knowledge of football.
They see it as a good basis for a working relationship, even if Harbaugh is the more powerful of the two.
Harbaugh now can get to work. He walked into Tuesday’s news conference and toward two handfuls of Giants players in attendance, including quarterback Jameis Winston. He shook their hands and had a quick word.
It’s what Harbaugh built during his 18 seasons in Baltimore. It’s what he saw his mentor Andy Reid use as the foundation of his success in Philadelphia.
John Harbaugh: A ‘profound honor’ to coach Giants (1:16)John Harbaugh details what it means to him to become the coach of the New York Giants during his introduction. (1:16)
John Harbaugh details what it means to him to become the coach of the New York Giants during his introduction. (1:16)
CloseJordan Raanan covers the New York Giants for ESPN and can be heard hosting on ESPN Radio. Raanan joined ESPN in 2016.Follow on X
“I promise you, we all report to the boss. And the boss is ownership.”
He plans on building a new culture from Day 1. That begins with finding the right players.
Reid’s advice to Harbaugh indicated leaving Baltimore for New York might just be a positive.
“Change,” Harbaugh said Reid told him, “can be good.”