John Harbaugh has known Giants co-owner John Mara for years from their time on the NFL Competition Committee and felt his longing for bringing a world championship to New York.

On Tuesday, Harbaugh promised to be part of that mission as he joined the organization with a five-year deal reportedly worth $100 million.

After 18 seasons with the Ravens, Harbaugh was fired less than two weeks ago. He said he is ready to build a physical and tough roster and never considered taking a year off because he felt like he “didn’t have time.”

“What an honor,” Harbaugh said at his introductory press conference on Tuesday. “They say New York is a different kind of place. I would say it’s probably true, man. … One of the most iconic franchises in all of sports. I wanted this job. To be on the biggest stage in the biggest sport. I know the challenges, I understand the expectations.”

Harbaugh said the talent on the existing roster was part of what made the vacancy attractive. He did exhaustive research, from Eli Manning to current quarterback Jaxson Dart, and felt general manager Joe Schoen’s commitment to collaboration.

Harbaugh said it was “a joy” to talk football with Schoen, who hired Brian Daboll and then became charged with replacing him in November when Mara and co-owner Steve Tisch made a decision to part with Daboll.

Harbaugh plans to build the best coaching staff he can, which could mean taking existing coaches from the current staff, his previous staff in Baltimore and elsewhere to find “the best teachers” for Dart and others.

“You build your team around your quarterback. You build around your players and what you do well,” Harbaugh said. “I like him as a quarterback. I like him as a person, what he’s all about. He’s all about football.”

Schoen said the Giants wanted a “proven winner and elite leader” and found both in Harbaugh.

“He’s a proven winner. When we set out to do this, we knew John was going to be the perfect person for the New York Giants,” Schoen said.

Several players lined the back of the room at the press conference on Tuesday.

As for changing the culture and a timeframe for competing in the NFC, Harbaugh said the individual will required to bring together a shared mission starts immediately.

“Change can be good,” Harbaugh said of the feedback he received from a former boss, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. “One of the things, the football principles are self-evident truths. Eighteen years, 42 years whatever it is. They’re not compromised. You always have them. The methods — those things are like drawing in the dirt. Play calls, defensive schemes, blitz patterns, how you lift weights. Those things are all going to change and continue to change every single day”

–Field Level Media

John Harbaugh agreed to a five-year contract to be the New York Giants’ new head coach, according to multiple media reports on Saturday.

Multiple media outlets reported earlier this week that the contract could be worth as much as $100 million.

The 63-year-old head coach was only out of work eight days after the Baltimore Ravens fired him over the phone last week, ending their 18-year partnership after missing the playoffs.

Harbaugh was at the team facility on Wednesday for his only in-person interview after spending time with personnel executive Chris Mara on Sunday. Mara, the son of Giants co-chairman John Mara, had lunch and what he said was an informal meeting at Harbaugh’s home.

ESPN reported that Harbaugh did plenty of homework on the franchise to the extent of receiving assurances from Brian Daboll he would be working with a quality organization. Daboll was fired in November.

After leading the Ravens to the playoffs 12 times in 18 seasons on the job, Harbaugh and Baltimore went 8-9 in 2025. The Ravens missed a last-second field-goal attempt in the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a kick that would have sent them to the playoffs had it been made. But owner Steve Bisciotti said this week that even if the field goal had gone through, Harbaugh might have only stayed with the team for another week.

Harbaugh amassed a 180-113 regular-season mark as Baltimore’s coach, plus a 13-11 playoff record. He guided the Ravens to the Super Bowl championship after the 2012 season, beating the San Francisco 49ers (coached by his brother Jim) for the title.

–Field Level Media