The rumors weren't just smoke this time. Honestly, for a franchise that has felt like it’s been stuck in a permanent "rebuilding" spin cycle since 2016, the news hitting the wires this week feels like a total seismic shift.
The New York Giants are effectively ending the Brian Daboll era by landing the biggest whale on the market: John Harbaugh.
It’s a massive five-year deal, reportedly worth north of $100 million. That makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the history of the sport. But if you’ve followed the "Big Blue" circus over the last few years—the 4-13 records, the revolving door of coordinators, the offensive identity crises—you know the Mara family wasn't looking for a bargain. They were looking for an adult in the room.
The Harbaugh Effect and the Todd Monken Rumors
Basically, the Giants didn't just want a coach; they wanted a culture transplant. Harbaugh spent 18 years in Baltimore. 18 years! In NFL time, that’s an eternity. Most people didn't think he'd actually leave the Ravens, even after a disappointing 2025 finish, but once he was out, the Giants moved with a speed we rarely see from this front office.
They flew him in on a private jet. They fed him a massive meal involving fried zucchini and limoncello tres leches. They didn't let him leave the building until the framework was set.
But here is the real kicker: Harbaugh isn't coming alone.
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The strongest NFL rumors New York Giants fans are tracking right now involve the coaching staff. It looks almost certain that Todd Monken is following him from Baltimore to be the offensive coordinator. This is huge for one reason: Jaxson Dart.
Why the Offense is the Priority
Dart, the 2025 first-round pick, is the guy the Giants are betting the farm on. He showed flashes of being a dual-threat monster last year, but he needs a system that doesn't leave him hung out to dry. Monken is the guy who helped Lamar Jackson win an MVP. He’s the guy who knows how to blend a physical run game with a vertical passing attack.
If the Monken deal goes through—and insiders like Dianna Russini are saying it’s the plan—it likely means the end of the road for interim coach Mike Kafka in New York.
The $24 Million "Spring Cleaning"
You can't pay a coach $20 million a year and keep a bloated, underperforming roster. The rumors around East Rutherford suggest a massive purge is coming to free up cap space. The Giants are currently sitting on a measly $5 million in breathing room. That’s not enough to fix a leaky secondary or add a veteran receiver.
Here is who is likely on the chopping block:
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- Bobby Okereke: The veteran linebacker was a captain, but his play took a massive dip in 2025. Cutting or trading him clears $9 million.
- Devin Singletary: With Tyrone Tracy and Cam Skattebo looking like legitimate NFL starters, Singletary’s $5 million price tag is just too high for a backup role.
- Graham Gano: Age and injuries have finally caught up. Ben Sauls went perfect in his late-season audition, making Gano a prime candidate for retirement or a release.
- James Hudson: The backup tackle was, to put it bluntly, a disaster when he had to fill in. Moving on saves another $5 million.
If Joe Schoen pulls the trigger on all four, the Giants suddenly have $29 million to play with in free agency. They’re going to need every penny of it.
The Daniel Jones Situation (Yes, Still)
It’s weird to talk about the Giants and not have Daniel Jones as the main character, but he’s currently an Indianapolis Colt—well, an injured one. Jones suffered a brutal Achilles tear in December, ending what was actually a pretty impressive "redemption" season in Indy.
Why does this matter for the Giants? Because the "Indiana Jones" experiment proved that the Giants' previous failures weren't entirely on the QB. It puts more pressure on the new staff to prove they can develop Jaxson Dart better than the previous regime did with Jones.
Draft Rumors: Protecting the Investment
The 2026 NFL Draft is where things get interesting. The Giants have the No. 5 overall pick.
While everyone wants a shiny new toy like Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate, the buzz behind the scenes is that Harbaugh might want to build from the trenches out. Remember, this is a guy who loves "man ball."
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Malik Nabers is coming off an ACL tear. Wan’Dale Robinson is a free agent who might be too expensive to keep. The roster is thin. Don't be surprised if the Giants use that high pick on a blue-chip tackle or a dominant edge rusher like Abdul Carter to pair with Brian Burns.
There's also some chatter about Keith Abney II, the cornerback from Arizona State. The Giants' secondary was a sieve last year. Paulson Adebo can't stay on the field, and while Cor’Dale Flott has been a nice surprise, they need a true lockdown corner.
What to Watch For Next
The next 48 hours are critical. If you're looking for the most impactful moves, keep an eye on these specific milestones:
- Staff Finalization: Watch for Anthony Weaver's name. Harbaugh reportedly wants him as the Defensive Coordinator. Weaver has been a hot name for head coaching jobs, so if the Giants land him, it’s a massive win.
- The Tag Window: The Giants have to decide if they’re going to let Jermaine Eluemunor walk. He was one of the few bright spots on the offensive line last year.
- The "Harbaugh Budget": Ownership reportedly gave John a "significant budget" for his assistants. This means we might see the Giants poach high-level position coaches from other winning programs by simply outbidding them.
The era of "trying to figure it out" seems over. With John Harbaugh at the helm, the Giants are signal-calling that they are done being a punchline. It’s a high-stakes, high-cost gamble, but for a fan base that has seen four coaches in less than a decade, stability is worth the price.
Ensure you're monitoring the official team transactions over the weekend; the "smirk emoji" tweets from the team's account usually precede the actual contract filings by about six to twelve hours. If the Monken and Weaver hires become official by Monday, the Giants will have arguably the most experienced coaching staff in the NFC East before the Super Bowl even kicks off.