The John Harbaugh era is only one game old, and the New York Giants already look like a different team than the one that took the field under previous coaches. The 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football" might have finally signaled the start of a far more fruitful period of Giants football after a rough decade. The victory snapped numerous droughts.
It was the Giants' first win in a season opener since 2022 and the first Week 1 home win since 2010. It also marked the team's first win in a season-opening primetime game against the Cowboys, improving the Giants to 1-8 in such matchups. Time will tell if Sunday's impressive win is a harbinger of a successful first year for Harbaugh.
But until proven otherwise, it sure seemed like a paradigm shift for this franchise. Here are five reasons why the Giants are a different team under Harbaugh's tutelage than under his recent predecessors. There is no excuse for a "Tiffany franchise" such as the Giants to find itself mired in an extended period of poor coaching.
These destination jobs should always command the best in the business. For the first time since Tom Coughlin left at the end of the 2015 season, the Giants have one of those heralded leaders. A revolving door of four underwhelming coaches is now closed.
Harbaugh slammed it shut when he landed in the Big Apple, bringing Super Bowl experience and 12 postseason appearances. That résumé is much closer to that of the Coughlins and Bill Parcells in franchise history than the Brian Dabolls and Pat Shurmurs of the last decade. If you want to get back to the Super Bowl, hiring a man who has already won it is a pretty ideal place to start.
Among the concerns surrounding Lamar Jackson when Harbaugh's Ravens drafted him was that he would not develop the passing skills necessary to maximize his supreme running ability. Well, he sure did, and two MVPs later, his arm talent suggests he'll have plenty of career longevity. Without comparing Jaxson Dart to the most electric running quarterback in NFL history, it is fair to wonder if Harbaugh can help him reach a similar level as a passer.
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