Longtime Baltimore Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard had been around John Harbaugh long enough to have an idea of what the New York Giants’ culture could look like.
As for what it has looked like, Ricard remains especially impressed. Speaking with reporters this week, the six-time Pro Bowler praised this year’s Giants team as “hungry” and shared how much he admires his teammates’ humility, especially following last Sunday’s upset win over the NFC East rival Cowboys.
In hindsight, at least for Ricard, the character they showed against Dak Prescott and the Cowboys wasn’t overly surprising. The three-time All-Pro recalled his new teammates staying in the locker room for hours following their initial OTA practices this past spring.
“I'm like, ‘Wow, New York City is right across the river, right there, and guys would rather be in the locker room hanging out two hours after,’” Ricard said.
Patrick Ricard just said plenty about the culture John Harbaugh has built with the New York Giants
As we’ve previously noted, the term “culture” has become an overused buzzword among fans and media. The Browns, Raiders, and Jets have been awful for so long because they have a “losing culture.” Conversely, Harbaugh’s arrival in New York brought a “winning culture” to the Giants, and so forth.
What Harbaugh actually brought to the Giants was a plethora of coaches and players who either followed him directly from Baltimore or had spent time with him beforehand. He inherited a potential franchise quarterback and a veteran core eager to leave the losing behind them.
Talent absolutely played a role in the Giants losing 38 of 51 games from 2023-25, but Brian Daboll was eventually exposed as someone unfit to be a head coach. Look no further than his decision to interfere while Jaxson Dart was in the blue medical tent last October or how he handled the rookie’s health during that November collapse to the Bears. Ownership finally realized it needed to send Daboll packing, if only for the sake of Dart’s future.
When you look at the roster Harbaugh has built, you’ll quickly notice how many players accept whatever role they’re given. Odell Beckham Jr. played 11 snaps without a target in Week 1, yet he didn’t take to social media or vent to the media. He’s simply glad to be in uniform again. Rookie Arvell Reese moved from edge rusher to linebacker upon being drafted, and he rewarded the Giants with a QB hit and a tackle for loss last weekend.
By no means is Harbaugh a perfect coach, and his failure to even reach a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson will be a pivotal part of his legacy. With regard to the Hall of Fame, he’s the coaching version of “That Guy Rocked” rather than someone who is all but guaranteed to earn a bronze bust down the line.
Next Monday presents a pivotal test for Ricard, Harbaugh, and the Giants. They've started 2-0 only twice since 2010, and both seasons ended with a playoff berth. Beating the Rams — and on the road, no less — would show that there’s far more to this year’s team than a so-called “winning culture.”
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