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New York Giants 2026 Season Preview
The 2025 season was supposed to be the year the Giants finally turned the corner. Instead, ownership decided the Brian Daboll experiment had run its course. New York started 2-8 through its first 10 games. It marked the third consecutive year Daboll's team stumbled out of the gate that poorly.
On November 10, the Giants fired the coach who had won Coach of the Year honors three seasons earlier. Mike Kafka finished the season as interim coach and went 2-5. New York finished 4-13, marking its third straight losing season and another year without a playoff appearance.
The collapse hurt even more because New York entered the season with the NFL's toughest schedule. That brutal slate included six home games against teams that made the playoffs the previous year. The Giants also lost a ridiculous number of close games.
By Daboll's firing, the team had blown four double-digit leads in four separate road losses. Giants fans also had to watch a familiar face thrive elsewhere in Indianapolis. Daniel Jones was in the middle of his best season. His success became a painful reminder of how far the Giants had fallen since their 2022 high point.
Enter John Harbaugh
On January 20, the Giants introduced John Harbaugh as their 21st head coach in franchise history. Baltimore had dismissed Harbaugh after 18 seasons with the Ravens. Harbaugh brought 180 regular-season victories, the 14th-most in NFL history. He also led Baltimore to a Super Bowl XLVII title, 12 playoff appearances, and six division championships.
He signed a five-year deal worth more than $100 million. The contract also came with a significant organizational change. He and general manager Joe Schoen now report directly to team ownership rather than to each other. Harbaugh said both sides wanted the structure, although getting it right required real negotiation.
Harbaugh built his staff with several experienced coaches. The Giants hired Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator after he previously coached the Bears. Nagy won the 2018 Associated Press Coach of the Year award while in Chicago.
Dennard Wilson took over as defensive coordinator, ending Shane Bowen's run in that role. Giants fans had wanted a change after the defense fell well below expectations in 2025. Chris Horton became special teams coordinator and also serves as assistant head coach.
Former Titans head coach Brian Callahan joined as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He'll play an important role in developing Jaxson Dart during his second season.
The Dexter Lawrence Trade
The Giants made their biggest and most controversial roster move when they traded Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence anchored New York's defensive front for seven seasons and played through an injury throughout 2025. However, he recorded just half a sack, 31 tackles, and one interception. Those numbers fell far below what Giants fans had grown accustomed to seeing.
Lawrence made three Pro Bowls and recorded 30.5 sacks and 103 quarterback hits during his Giants career. His quarterback-hit total ranks third in franchise history behind Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul. Contract talks stalled again, even with Harbaugh in the building. Lawrence requested a trade on April 6 and sat out the offseason program.
Less than two weeks later, New York sent him to Cincinnati for the Bengals' No. 10 overall pick. The deal gave the Giants two top-10 selections in a draft already considered thin on talent.
The Draft Day Surprise
Nobody in the Giants' draft room expected outside linebacker Arvell Reese to remain available at No. 5. Many, however, thought Mansoor Delane, Sonny Styles, or Caleb Downs would be New York's target. Instead, Reese fell directly into the Giants' lap, and they didn't hesitate to select him.
Some analysts considered Reese the best overall player. By August, sportsbooks had him among the top five candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Harbaugh has described Reese as a positionless defender.
He'll line up beside Tremaine Edmunds as an off-ball linebacker but should also receive opportunities on the edge. Reese can rack up tackles while also creating pressure and generating sacks.
Five picks later, New York addressed another glaring weakness. The Giants used the No. 10 pick from the Lawrence trade on Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. He can play tackle and guard, giving New York much-needed versatility. Mauigoa has a high floor and plenty of upside.
The Giants hope he doesn't become another Evan Neal.
New York selected cornerback Colton Hood No. 37 in the second round. He brings more energy, size, and athleticism to the secondary. Receiver Malachi Fields joined a wide receiver room that desperately needed help in the third round.
Sixth-round linebacker Jack Kelly turned heads throughout the preseason. He could carve out a backup role immediately. Kelly could give New York excellent value that late in the draft.
Dart's Sophomore Season
Jaxson Dart photo courtesy New York Football Giants
Jaxson Dart's rookie season provided plenty of promise. Across 14 games, he threw for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He finished with a 91.7 passer rating.
Dart also rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns, giving him 24 total scores. He finished fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting despite missing time. A concussion contributed to his absence and created controversy around Daboll. The league fined Daboll $100,000 for the medical tent situation.
Dart's decision-making as a runner remains a concern. He constantly took hard hits instead of sliding or getting out of bounds. Defenders sacked him 35 times, tied for 11th-most among quarterbacks.
His 9.36% sack rate also ranked among the league's worst. Only Geno Smith, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert posted worse rates. The Giants lost 152 yards on those sacks alone.
Some of the blame belongs to the offensive line. However, Dart also extends his legs when he doesn't need to. Harbaugh and Brian Burns have publicly pushed Dart to slide and avoid unnecessary contact.
By mid-August, coaches were already seeing progress. Dart began taking the smart way out instead of always chasing highlight plays during practices and preseason games.
If he stays healthy, there's reason to believe he'll make a significant leap in year two. He has weapons in Malik Nabers, Isaiah Likely, Cam Skattebo, and Tyrone Tracy. Callahan also gives him a quarterback coach focused heavily on his development. The running game should prevent Dart from carrying the offense with his legs on early downs.
A Deep Backfield
Speaking of the running game, it might be the deepest position group on the roster. Cam Skattebo ran like a bull during his rookie season before suffering a gruesome injury. He sustained an open tibia fracture, ankle dislocation, and torn deltoid ligament. The injuries ended his season early.
Skattebo returned for training camp and preseason work. However, Harbaugh acknowledged that he hasn't completely regained his previous explosiveness. Tyrone Tracy has led the Giants in carries during each of the past two seasons. He gives New York a proven threat as both a runner and receiver.
The Giants also made a surprising move by signing Najee Harris in mid-August. The four-time 1,000-yard rusher is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered last season in Los Angeles. Devin Singletary rounds out the group as a veteran presence. He's well past his best form but still provides useful depth.
Patrick Ricard also followed Harbaugh from Baltimore. The multi-time Pro Bowl fullback adds another dimension to the rushing attack. New York built this group to run the football early and often. That's exactly what the Giants plan to do in 2026.
Offensive Line Question Marks?
None of the ground game or Dart's arm matters if the offensive line can't hold up. It remains the biggest concern on offense. Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, and rookie Francis Mauigoa give New York a solid trio. However, Jon Runyan and John Michael Schmitz remain the weak links.
Evan Neal never developed into the right tackle that New York envisioned. The former top-10 pick has since been released. Thankfully, the Giants have a solid Plan B if Schmitz or Runyan struggles.
Marcus Mbow started two of his 13 games last season and played respectably. Recent speculation has centered around the possibility of Mbow playing center. The Giants need to find him more playing time. His ceiling isn't exceptionally high, but he provides more value than many recent Giants linemen.
Ricard and Likely should also provide additional support in gap schemes when needed. New York allowed Dart to take 35 sacks last season. The Giants surrendered 48 sacks overall.
Wide Receiver Core
The ceiling of New York's receiving corps depends heavily on health. Malik Nabers looked like a superstar during his rookie season in 2024. He caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and earned a Pro Bowl selection. A torn ACL and meniscus ended his 2025 season after only four games.
Nabers underwent another procedure in May to clear scar tissue. By mid-August, he was participating in controlled team drills with no firm return date. If he returns near his rookie form, Nabers immediately becomes one of the NFL's better receivers again.
Missing the opener, or even the first few weeks, might be the most realistic scenario. However, that shouldn't derail the Giants' season.
Behind him, Fields projects as a solid third- or fourth-option receiver rather than a star. He'll need to catch contested catches to earn more opportunities. Darnell Mooney arrives as a veteran addition, while Darius Slayton remains. Isaiah Hodgins also provides useful depth.
Jalin Hyatt still hasn't broken out. However, he’s never had a consistent role to prove himself. Odell Beckham Jr. is also back in New York. He's well past his prime but has reportedly looked sharp during the preseason.
JuJu Smith-Schuster signed in June before the Giants released him in August. The move made sense considering how far Smith-Schuster has fallen from his best seasons.
The tight end could become a strength. Isaiah Likely followed Harbaugh from Baltimore and enters the season as a potential breakout candidate. Theo Johnson also took a step forward his second season and continues developing.
The Giants also lost Wan'Dale Robinson to Tennessee after deciding not to meet his price in free agency. Daniel Bellinger followed him. New York also handed punter Jordan Stout a significant new contract. The deal shows how much the new staff values special teams.
Retooling the Defense
The defense was supposed to become a strength in 2025. Instead, it became the team's biggest disappointment. That collapse helped make the defensive coordinator change feel overdue.
With Lawrence gone, New York needed answers along the interior. D.J. Reader arrives as a proven run-stopper, while Shelby Harris provides veteran pass-rushing depth. Darius Alexander also deserves attention after quietly producing a respectable rookie season.
At linebacker, Reese and free-agent addition Tremaine Edmunds give New York significant upside. The Giants badly needed an upgrade after moving on from Bobby Okereke and other pieces. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Micah McFadden, and Jack Kelly provide additional depth.
On the edge, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter could form one of the NFL's most feared duos. Burns produced a career year in 2025. His 16.5 sacks ranked second in the NFL behind only Myles Garrett. His performance also earned him second-team All-Pro recognition.
Carter, the No. 3 overall pick in 2025, recorded four sacks and 43 tackles as a rookie. However, his underlying numbers told a different story. He generated 66 pressures and earned an 84.5 PFF pass-rush grade. Carter also led the league in pressures generated within 2.5 seconds.
If his sack total catches up with his pressure rate, Carter could make a major leap. Reese and Edmunds could also stabilize the linebacker position. If everything comes together, New York's front seven should become significantly more effective.
The secondary remains the group with the most to prove. New York's pass defense simply wasn't good enough in 2025, despite having several talented pieces. Jevón Holland, Tyler Nubin, Dru Phillips, and Paulson Adebo have all shown flashes. Now they need to become more consistent as a unit.
Greg Newsome adds competition and depth at cornerback. Deonte Banks, once a first-round pick, has settled into a backup and special teams role. He never developed into the full-time starter New York envisioned.
Where This Leaves the Giants
New York's 2026 schedule represents a step down in difficulty from last season. The Giants faced the NFL's toughest strength of schedule in 2025. This year's schedule still ranks among the league's tougher slates. However, it's no longer the gauntlet New York faced last season.
For the first time in years, the Giants appear to have a foundation and a clear direction. They have a Super Bowl-winning coach with a track record of building physical, disciplined teams. They also have a talented young quarterback who showed significant upside as a rookie.
New York possesses one of the NFC's deepest backfields. The Giants also have a pass-rushing duo capable of wrecking opposing game plans. The receiving corps could become dangerous if Nabers returns to full strength.
Plenty can still go wrong. The offensive line needs answers at multiple positions. The secondary must also prove it can hold up against better passing attacks.
A step forward is mandatory after three consecutive losing seasons. Seven or eight wins would represent significant progress. Nine or 10 victories could put New York firmly in the Wild Card race.
That type of turnaround would make Harbaugh's hiring look like exactly the move ownership needed. A playoff berth certainly isn't guaranteed.
But for the first time in several years, Giants fans can reasonably hope for one instead of merely fantasizing about it.
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