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Perhaps New York Giants fans took the Eli Manning-Tom Coughlin era for granted.
From Nov. 21, 2004, to Jan. 3, 2016, that was the only quarterback-head coach tandem Big Blue had. Since then, including the interims, they have had 17, and five this season alone.
The Giants organization today seems 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 at the press conference announcing his hiring at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. (Ed Mulholland/Image Images)
“It couldn’t have worked out any better,” Manning told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview about hiring Harbaugh. “I knew the Giants had to hire a new coach, and you think, ‘Hey, you need someone with experience as a head coach and a guy who’s been in this situation, who knows how to deal with the New York media, who kind of takes over as CEO of not just the team, but the entire organization and the entire building around the Giants. The problem is, that person probably doesn’t exist. He’s not out there.’
“And then all of a sudden there’s John Harbaugh sitting there. He’s just incredible, a guy who’s had great success in the NFL. He just couldn’t be a better fit. I’m very excited for him, I’ve had long conversations with him about this, and I think he’s going to do an incredible job and be excited about getting the Giants back on track.”
Owner John Mara has understandably taken the brunt of the criticism regarding the Giants’ continued downward spiral, which even dates back to the Manning days. Manning was benched for Geno Smith in 2017, ending his Iron Man streak.
The following April, the Giants, fresh off a 3-13 season, selected Saquon Barkley over Josh Allen and Sam Darnold (Lamar Jackson was picked 32nd overall) to try to get Manning one more ring. Then there were the general manager hires of Dave Gettleman and Joe Schoen and the coaching hires of Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge and Brian Daboll. During that time, they also faced criticism for ignoring a domestic violence case involving former kicker John Brown, and other draft picks have flopped.
Despite the apparent mistakes, no one wants the Giants to win more than Mara, and Manning knows it (admittedly, to a fault).
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 ON ANOTHER JOB WHILE TEASING A POSSIBLE OLYMPIC APPEARANCE
“That’s why I wanted to come to this franchise more than 20 years ago, because you saw their commitment to do everything they can to win a championship. That’s all they care about, is building 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 they can for the players, the coaches, the people in the building that have been there, and there’s a reason why people have been working there for 30 and 40 years. It’s family. And to the Maras and the Tisches, that’s all they care about, is putting out a great product, getting the best coaches, getting the best players, doing everything they can to win games. That’s their passion, they’re the New York Giants. And if they make a mistake, it’s because they want to. something with all their strength and they are very committed to it, and they recognize it. They are passionate about the Giants and that attitude is contagious. “You expect every player that comes in to have 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 their victory in Super Bowl XLVI to cap the 2011 season, the Giants have made the playoffs just twice, winning one game. There is clearly a lack of culture in East Rutherford, and culture usually comes with victory. But Manning believes Harbaugh can get that back.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after being introduced during a press conference at the team’s NFL football training facility. The event took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
“I think it comes down to a belief and everyone has to have it. It’s not just a few of the core players. It’s everyone in the building saying, ‘Hey, what we’re building here, what we’re doing is right.’ Everyone’s held accountable. I think that’s what’s needed from that head coach: holding everyone accountable, holding everyone to a high standard and not allowing anything else to be accepted. Just the importance of doing the common things extraordinarily well. To be hands-on, to have a great plan. of how we’re going to get better every week in the offseason and handle all of these things, bring everyone in and create that, that tight-knit group that 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 get through the 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.”
