​This is Part 7 of 26 in Art Stapleton’s New York Giants summer series Q&A. The Giants boast a Super Bowl-winning head coach and a potential Hall of Famer in John Harbaugh, a figure the entire organization can rally around in pursuit of a championship standard the franchise has long strived to reach. The ovation Harbaugh received from Giants fans at Beacon Theatre during the team’s May Town Hall event was merely the opening act, a moment that underscored the energy surrounding the new era the Giants are entering in their 102nd year. Harbaugh, poised to lead them into that fresh chapter, clearly understood how to connect with his audience in the moments that followed.
With chants of “Cowboys suck” echoing around him, Harbaugh faced a fan’s question about whether the Giants would stop getting bullied by their NFC rivals—the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Washington Commanders. In response, Harbaugh, who now has 193 career victories, delivered a rallying pledge that sounded almost like a battle cry he’ll repeat from now until the season begins. “I could not care less about what happened last year or the year before that or 10 years before that,” he said. “All I care about is tomorrow’s practice, because if tomorrow’s practice is the way it’s supposed to be, that will be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys’ ass.”
As the summer progresses, 26 questions will help shape the narrative for the 2026 Giants season. Among the most pressing topics will be the cornerback and wide receiver groups, often viewed as the team’s weakest links—especially if Malik Nabers’ ACL surgery and meniscus repair sidelined him into the regular season. On the back end, the Giants are hoping for a stronger Year 2 from Paulson Adebo and a prove-it season from Greg Newsome, while counting on the promise of second-round rookie Colton Hood and the potential breakout in the slot from either Dru Phillips or Ar’Darius Washington, or perhaps both.
But to truly understand how Harbaugh wants this offense to set the tone, there will be a heavy load placed on the running back room, which still has something to prove. Acknowledging concerns does not imply a lack of talent; far from it. The group can still be potent with Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy leading the charge, with Motor Singletary providing solid depth as a reserve. Skattebo proved to be an effective tone setter for this offense last year, contributing both on the ground and in the passing game, while Tracy has logged back-to-back seasons of 1,000 yards from scrimmage. On the surface, the backfield has the makings of a strong unit, capable of driving the team forward if the pieces come together as hoped.