John Harbaugh bringing palpable ‘optimism’ to Giants

As the New York Giants look to shake up the Meadowlands in the upcoming season and bring success, fans are hoping that new head coach John Harbaugh can be the one to bring them that. While players have been loving what Harbaugh has already brought to the Giants, this team insider gives insight into how the team is feeling ahead of the season.

ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry would speak on “NFL Live” and was asked about the feeling around the New York organization and how there is an immense feeling of “optimism.” The team is liking how Harbaugh is already instilling a tough and sizeable culture, proven by the NFL Draft, like drafting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.

“I can tell you the optimism is real,”  Thiry said. “They love what John Harbaugh has brought there. The expectation is this is going to be a bigger, more physical team. In fact, John Harbaugh saying around there is, ‘We’re building giants.’ We saw them do that through the draft, adding some bigger bodies. We’ve seen them do that through free agency, adding some bigger bodies there, and they’ve really seen that kind of play out on the field through the offseason program.”

"The optimism is real. They love what John Harbaugh has brought there."@LindseyThiry on the New York Giants' expectations pic.twitter.com/cmEKdLuAM1

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 12, 2026

The two Giants players who are fitting into John Harbaugh’s style 

Thiry would continue on how the Giants feel about the current team under Harbaugh, and mentioned specifically how quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo are leading the way.

“I’m told Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo that they really are fitting so far into the signature Harbaugh toughness and the style he wants them to play. Obviously, the biggest question in there, as optimistic as they are, is whether or not Malik Nabers will be good to go, but I was reminded, they have OBJ [Odell Beckham Jr.], so he’s a fan favorite, and someone that they can help help kind of bridge the gap,” Thiry said.

On the topic of Nabers and his knee injury, Thiry said New York has “cautious optimism” that he’ll be ready for Week 1, which is on Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys.

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