The New York Giants will face two potential Super Bowl contenders in Weeks 1 and a pair of and will not have huge receiver Malik Nabers in both recreation.
Yet, the Giants nonetheless face enhanced expectations to succeed in Year 1 beneath John Harbaugh, which might be the most important impediment dealing with them because the 2026 season opens with rookies reporting in West Virginia on Thursday.
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The Giants had been purchasing in the bargain-basement part of the top coach division for the previous decade earlier than lastly shelling out on Harbaugh’s five-year contract.
Still, the Giants have solely gained seven video games in the previous two seasons, and are averaging lower than 5 wins per yr over the previous 9. That does not simply flip in a single day.
The Giants Have Enhanced Expectations in 2026
Jaxson Dart and the Giants offense completed in the highest 5 in speeding in 2025 and averaged 20+ factors per recreation, even with a substandard group of wideouts after Nabers blew out his knee in Week 4.
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The Giants beat two playoff groups, the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, and had three others (Denver, Chicago and Green Bay) on the ropes earlier than their ultra-skilled, underachieving protection relinquished late-game leads.
So four-to-five additional wins is absolutely on the desk this yr, particularly a full season of Dart at quarterback, a extra favorable schedule and a no-nonsense coach in Harbaugh.
“New York added a Super Bowl-winning coach with John Harbaugh to work with a young quarterback in Jaxson Dart,” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan wrote. “That combination alone has some thinking the Giants will have an immediate turnaround. (Reminder: They won just seven games in the past two seasons combined.)”
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Aside from Harbaugh, the Giants have a lot younger expertise that is able to blossom. But how the brand new coaches develop Dart, Nabers, Abdul Carter, plus 2026 first-round picks Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa, will go a good distance towards figuring out their success this yr.
“Throw in that they had two top-10 draft picks who are expected to contribute immediately and it’s supposed to instantly produce more wins,” Raanan wrote.
There Are Questions About the Giants in 2026
The Giants over 7.5 wins is without doubt one of the hottest picks in the playing sphere this offseason.
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So that provides to the potential expectations. But there are main inquiries to reply.
Can Dart keep on the sphere? Will offensive coordinator Matt Nagy hold back the offense? Will Carter develop into the game-wrecker everyone expects? Can operating again Cam Skattebo be elite? Can the Giants receivers be respectable with out Nabers? Can Dart throw the ball deep?
So eight-plus wins is on the desk, and the Giants make a compelling playoff darkish horse in the wide-open NFC. But issues do not change in a single day, even with a famous person head coach like Harbaugh.
This story was initially revealed by Athlon Sports on Jul 23, 2026, the place it first appeared in the NFL part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.