The New York Giants are sure hoping that the John Harbaugh hire can have an Andy Reid-like impact on the franchise. The Giants have made the playoffs just twice in the last decade, and the Kansas City Chiefs were in a similar situation before they kick-started the second act of Reid's career in 2013.
Harbaugh was one of Reid's top lieutenants in Philadelphia before landing with the Ravens, so he made sure to pick his old mentor's brain about the change. During his introductory press conference, the 63-year-old revealed the words of wisdom Reid gave him now that he's no longer in Baltimore.
"Andy [Reid's] a man of few words. His four words to me were, 'Change can be good.' How about we sign up for that right now, what he did in Kansas City."
His message was clear: change can be good. And it certainly can, even if he doesn't accomplish as much, he still has a chance to prove he's still capable of competing at a high level while bringing the Tom Coughlin-like culture back to East Rutherford.
We know how things went in Kansas City, as Reid's work with Patrick Mahomes helped the Chiefs win three Super Bowl rings. It's no secret Harbaugh wants to add another Lombardi Trophy to his mantle, so as long as he sees the move to New York as a blessing, which it is for all parties.
John Harbaugh is hoping to do for the Giants what Andy Reid did for the Chiefs
The veteran head coach spent nearly two decades with the Ravens, so of course, coaching another team will take some getting used to. He's going from Lamar Jackson to Jaxson Dart, and the roster isn't as talented yet, but the end goal is the same: give this fanbase what they've been waiting for.
Reid was able to turn the Chiefs' fortunes around instantly, taking them to the playoffs a season after they had the worst record in the NFL. Even though 2025 was a complete disaster, the 67-year-old led them to the playoffs in 11 of his 13 seasons at the helm, which is the sort of stability the Giants need.
Harbaugh took the Ravens to the playoffs in six of the last eight seasons, so he could be on his way to emulating the path of his good friend. He believes this young roster is immediately built to compete, and in all honesty, it is, because the only missing piece of the puzzle was the perfect head coach.
If the Giants won nine straight NFC East titles, seven straight AFC Championship games, and made the Super Bowl five times under Harbaugh as the Chiefs did, it would make this hire a rousing success, but that's a high bar to clear. I'll even accept consistent playoff appearances going forward.