The New York Giants were solid in most areas in 2026. They had an average offense, a dangerous pass rush, and an encouraging group of young players. What could have been a competitive season was shattered by a run defense that finished as the worst in the NFL in EPA per attempt allowed.
John Harbaugh's staff has had plenty of work to do this offseason, but the primary goal on defense has to be stopping the run. Defensive line coach Dennis Johnson, who Harbaugh brought with him from Baltimore, is crystal-clear on what his unit needs to do this season.
Speaking to the New York Post, Johnson said, "The number one thing we’re gonna do on defense, come hell or high water, is stop the run. That’s what we’re gonna teach, that’s what we’re gonna preach, that’s what we’re gonna get executed. It’s on the walls in meeting rooms, it’s in most of our team meetings, defensive meetings, it’s in my position meeting. That’s where it begins and ends."
Giants know what needs to be done to fix defense in 2026
New York's run defense wasn't just bad in 2025. It was horrific. The G-Men allowed 5.3 yards per attempt, which was the worst in the NFL. Their 2,470 yards allowed, 21 touchdowns allowed, and 131 first downs allowed all ranked within the six worst in the league.
The elite pass rush that had so many fans dreaming big for the defense was rarely allowed to thrive because the Giants consistently failed to force obvious passing situations. Because of the inability to stop the run, opposing offenses were typically in control of the game. Fans were left without answers as they watched their team get pushed around the field.
The Giants knew that they needed to make changes this offseason. They completely overhauled their linebacker room, adding Tremaine Edmunds and Arvell Reese as new starters. The interior defensive line is built to stop the run with the addition of proven veteran DJ Reader.
Big Blue doesn't need to have an elite run defense to reach its goals in 2026. But if the unit can come closer to average, the rest of the team will be freed up to shine.
Clearly, stopping the run has been the primary focus within the building this offseason. While it's encouraging to see the staff taking steps to fix the issue, fans will need to see on-field results before we can declare this problem solved.
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