John Harbaugh is poised to lead his first New York Giants training camp, ushering in a new era for the franchise. Several members of his new staff, many of whom have deep ties to the Harbaugh family, have shared their optimism and observations about Harbaugh's approach and perceived renewed energy.
Willie Taggart, entering his first season as the Giants' running backs coach, highlighted the distinct qualities of the Harbaugh coaching tree, noting their ability to combine forcefulness with sincerity. Taggart, who has known the Harbaugh family for years, emphasized that John Harbaugh possesses both traits. "When you’re dealing with the Harbaughs they have them both, they know how to do them and do them both very well," Taggart said. "They’re great with people and as a player you appreciate that. You appreciate when a coach can get on you and also when a coach can pat you on the back and say you did a good job as well."
Dennis Johnson, who joined the Giants as the defensive line coach after serving under Harbaugh with the Ravens, described the opportunity to witness the team's construction from the ground level as a "blessing." Johnson, 37, noted that his previous experience with Harbaugh in Baltimore was on an established program, whereas with the Giants, he is involved in the foundational stages.
Chris Horton, who spent 12 years on Harbaugh's staff with the Ravens, including six as special teams coordinator, now holds the title of assistant head coach with the Giants. Horton, 41, observed a subtle difference in Harbaugh's demeanor during the team's introductory meetings. "Did I see a little more juice, more pop?" Horton remarked. "He’s excited. We’re excited. You know, we’re excited to be here. We’re the New York Football Giants. We’re all excited to be here. He was ready to go. He was fired up. It was an awesome team meeting."
While a snippet of Harbaugh's motivational speech to the team was released, eliciting a mixed reaction from outside observers, players reportedly appear energized by the prospect of new leadership. The Giants' decision to sign Harbaugh to a five-year, $100 million contract stemmed from a desire to revitalize the franchise after a period of losing.
Harbaugh's transition to the Giants follows 18 years with the Ravens, a tenure that ended after missing the playoffs in the 2025 regular season. His relationship with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti had reportedly grown stale. The Giants immediately prioritized Harbaugh upon his availability in the free agent coaching market.
Taggart's connection to the Harbaughs dates back to his college playing days, recruited by Jim Harbaugh to play for his father, Jack Harbaugh, at Western Kentucky. Taggart also coached under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. He later served as a head coach at five different colleges before John Harbaugh offered him his first NFL coaching assignment in 2023 with the Ravens.
"He’s John,’’ Taggart said. “He’s got a lot of energy, he’s very excited, you see it every day, his message to the team has been awesome and it’s been great to see our guys pick up on his message daily and absorb it and go out and try to deliver on how coach Harbaugh wants things done. It’s been great to see him reenergized and really getting after it with the guys."
The first official training camp practice at the Greenbrier resort is scheduled for Wednesday, marking the beginning of an intense period of 10 practices over 11 days. Coaches and staff believe Harbaugh's well-known enthusiasm and authentic approach will resonate with the players as they aim to improve the team's performance.