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Maybe New York Giants fans have taken the Eli Manning-Tom Coughlin era for granted.
From November 21, 2004 to January 3, 2016, this was the only quarterback-head coach tandem that Big Blue had. Since then, including interims, they have had 17 – and just five this season.
The Giants organization today looks unfamiliar compared to years past, but with the hiring of John Harbaugh, Eli Manning believes the franchise could get back to what it’s supposed to be.
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New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks during the press conference announcing his hiring at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. (Ed Mulholland/Imagn Images)
“It couldn’t have gone better,” Manning told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview regarding Harbaugh’s hiring. “I knew the Giants had to hire a new coach, you just say, ‘Hey, you need someone with head coaching experience and a guy who’s been in this situation, who’s going to know how to deal with the New York media, who’s going to kind of take over as CEO of not only the team, but the whole organization and the whole building around the Giants. The problem is that person probably doesn’t exist. He’s not here.’
“And then all of a sudden there’s John Harbaugh sitting there. It’s just incredible, a person who’s had a lot of success in the NFL. It just couldn’t be a better fit. I’m so excited for him, I’ve had long conversations with him about this, and I think he’s going to do an incredible job and he’s excited about getting the Giants back on track.”
Owner John Mara has taken the brunt of the criticism, understandably, regarding the Giants’ continued downward spiral, even dating back to the Manning era. Manning was benched for Geno Smith in 2017, ending his Iron Man streak.
The following April, the Giants, fresh off a 3-13 season, drafted Saquon Barkley over Josh Allen and Sam Darnold (Lamar Jackson was picked 32nd) in an attempt to get Manning one more ring. Then there were the hires of general managers Dave Gettleman and Joe Schoen and the coaching hires of Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge and Brian Daboll. During that time, they were also criticized for ignoring a domestic violence case involving former kicker John Brown, and other draft picks fell through.
Despite the apparent mistakes, no one wants the Giants to win more than Mara, and Manning knows it – admittedly, it’s a foul.
Eli Manning of the New York Giants poses with John Mara during a press conference announcing the quarterback’s retirement on January 24, 2020 at the Quest Diagnostic Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)
ELI MANNING TAKES YET ANOTHER JOB AS HE TEASES POSSIBLE OLYMPIC APPEARANCE
“That’s why I wanted to join this franchise over 20 years ago, because you saw their commitment to doing everything in their power to win a championship. That’s all they care about is being a great team. That was my idea of them before I came to the Giants. And after being this organization for the last 20 years, I can confirm that that’s all they care about,” Manning said.
“They do everything for the players, for the coaches, for the people in the building that are there, and there’s a reason why people have worked there for 30 or 40 years. It’s family. And the Maras and the Tisches, that’s all they care about, is putting out a great product, having the best coaches, having the best players, doing everything they can to win games. That’s their passion, that’s the New Giants York. And if they make a mistake, it’s because they want something too much, they’re too committed and they take it on. They’re passionate about the Giants and that attitude is contagious. You hope that every player that comes in has the same passion and commitment to the team, and I know they want to do everything they can to get them back on track.
Since winning Super Bowl XLVI to cap the 2011 season, the Giants have only made the playoffs twice, winning one game. It’s obvious there’s a lack of culture in East Rutherford, and culture usually comes with winning. But Manning thinks Harbaugh can restore that.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after being introduced during a press conference at the NFL Football Practice Facility. The event took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
“I think it just comes down to a belief and everyone has to have it. It’s not just about a few key players. It’s about everyone in the building saying, ‘Hey, what we’re building here, what we’re doing is okay.’ Everyone is held responsible. I think that’s what you need from this head coach, is to hold everyone accountable, everyone to a high standard and not let anything else be accepted. Just the importance of doing common things exceptionally well. Being in practice, having a good plan on how we’re going to get better every week in the offseason and dealing with all those things, bringing everyone together and creating this, this tight-knit group that kind of believes that no matter what situation you’re in, whether you’re down or up, you’re going to have the ability to come back and win football games and overcome tough times.
“It’s never easy. It’s not supposed to be easy. You want to make it difficult, and it should be difficult at all times, but that’s what prepares you for those difficult situations throughout a game and a season.”
