New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh is trying to catch up to longtime Giants coach Tom Coughlin in more ways than one. He has a long way to go before he can match, or even surpass, the two championships that Coughlin won in New York.
However, as Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart revealed on Monday night, Harbaugh has a personal routine that Coughlin knows all too well.
Speaking at the Giants’ town hall, Dart said that Harbaugh arrives at the Giants' training facility at 4:30 a.m. to work out.
Coughlin famously did the same, regularly showing up and exercising before sunrise.
“I just think that from a player perspective,” Dart explained, “when you see a coach who’s able to sacrifice a lot but has a chip on their shoulder at the same time, it’s something that we can all respect and we want to play for.”
Kudos to Harbaugh, who turns 64 in September, for maintaining such a disciplined mindset.
John Harbaugh has clearly — and quickly — earned the Giants’ respect
Enough has been said about the early expectations for the Giants, even as they work through the next chapter of their rebuild.
It’s always telling, though, when the franchise quarterback offers such praise for a coach beyond what happens when the players are on the clock.
Harbaugh has already earned rave reviews for how he handled star receiver Malik Nabers following a draft night controversy. Nabers publicly questioned the Giants’ decision to select Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese at No. 5.
The incident stemmed from Nabers not realizing the Giants intended to use Reese as an off-ball linebacker.
Harbaugh prevented things from escalating into a massive problem, telling reporters the next day that he and Nabers had a healthy conversation.
If players didn’t respect Harbaugh, then so many of his former Ravens wouldn’t have followed him from Baltimore.
That group could also include three-time Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham, who played for Harbaugh in Baltimore and seeks a reunion with the Giants; Beckham played in New York from 2014–18.
Early-morning workouts will only go so far if Harbaugh can’t quickly turn things around. The Giants only have two winning seasons since the start of 2013.
Harbaugh, Dart, and the Giants open the 2026 campaign against Dak Prescott’s Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 13.
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