Behind Enemy Lines: Ravens Wire details what Giants are getting in John Harbaugh

The New York Giants and John Harbaugh have agreed on a five-year, $100 million deal that will make him the team’s next head coach. The official signing of that contract is imminent.

Immediately after word spread that Harbaugh would lead the Giants, reports surfaced suggesting Todd Monken would also find his way to East Rutherford, likely as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Things are already beginning to take shape.

But what should the Giants, their fans, and members of the media expect from Harbaugh? What makes him different than the «hot» coordinators the team has hired over the past decade? And why was Baltimore willing to show him the door?

Here is what Glenn Erby, managing editor of Ravens Wire, says the Giants are getting with Harbaugh.

From your perspective, why did the John Harbaugh era end in Baltimore?

Erby: Change is inevitable. After 18 years, messages grow stale, and people grow apart. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti highlighted that players at key positions weren’t improving over time, an indictment of the coaches and the development system. Add in the fact that Baltimore was 0-4 this season in games decided by five points or fewer, and overall, under Harbaugh, the Ravens are 45-61 in such games since 2008. A change needs to occur.

What should Giants fans (and media) expect from Harbaugh in terms of temperament, personality, and day-to-day operations?

Coach Harbaugh is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and I have no doubt that fans, media members, and the Giants organization will love his attitude, his energy, and his daily approach to life and being an NFL head coach. Coach Harbaugh is one of the few head coaches who, while in Baltimore, was available to meet the media daily. He’ll be accountable to criticism, stand up for his players, and instill discipline and a sense of urgency in them.

What made Harbaugh successful over his 18 years in Baltimore?

Harbaugh was an under-the-radar candidate when Baltimore hired the then-Eagles’ special teams coordinator and secondary coach to replace the legendary Brian Billick. He’s one of those rare coaches who implemented a CEO-style approach to being a head coach, and didn’t have the typical background of being an offense-minded coach or a coach with a defense-first mentality. That approach and ability to communicate well, delegate responsibility, and make big decisions made everyone else’s job easier.

What are some of Harbaugh’s weaknesses that the Giants and their fans should be aware of?

That CEO-style approach and lack of an offensive or defensive base can sometimes impede his judgment and approach. As we mentioned earlier, the fact that Baltimore was 0-4 this season in games decided by five points or fewer, and overall, under Harbaugh, the Ravens were 45-61 in such games since 2008, is unsettling and speaks to a coach who at times struggles with making adjustments on the fly and even more concerning, the ability to close games and opposing teams out. The Ravens would pummel you, get blown out every so often, but games that came down to the final minutes or scenarios where Baltimore entered the fourth quarter with big leads usually ended badly for the coach.

Assuming Todd Monken joins Harbaugh in East Rutherford, what will the offense look like?

Monken will be the most important hire, in my opinion. He’ll settle Jasxon Dart down, and Giants fans should immediately see a change in Dart’s running style and disregard for safety. The Giants are going to utilize a fullback, use two-tight end sets, and put Dart in a position to make efficient throws while feeding Malik Nabers. Look for Giants tight ends to feast in his system, and the results are clear.

In his first two years, Monken’s offense in Baltimore was among the NFL’s best, with the unit ranking first in red zone touchdown percentage at 67.9 percent, rushing yards per game at 172.1, and passer rating at 110.8. The team also ranked second in points per game with 28.4, yards per play at 6.3, and total yards per game with 397.6 during the two-year span.

The Ravens then finished the 2025 regular season with the second-best average in rushing yards per game at 156.6 and 11th in the league in points per game at 24.9. Monken and the Ravens offense cratered and regressed in 2025, but Baltimore still had the NFL’s second-best rushing attack and finished 16th in total offense at 332.2 yards per game.

2025 was a tough year for Harbaugh and the Ravens. What went wrong?

Everything you can imagine went wrong. Isaiah Likely broke his foot in training camp, taking a huge weapon away from the offense. The team started 1-5 and was decimated early by injuries and roster attrition. After getting key players back on defense, Lamar Jackson was injured, missed one quarter of the season, and went weeks without full practice.

Overall, the offense never found its explosive footing, and the defense was atrocious at times, especially after losing Nnamdi Madubike for the season. This season, Baltimore finished 24th in total defense, 30th in passing defense, 18th in scoring defense, 30th in total sacks, 18th in total turnovers, and 22nd in turnover differential. The 30 sacks were only three more than the franchise record for fewest in a single season (27 in 16 games in 2010).

Down the stretch, the Ravens defense allowed 300-plus yard performances to New England’s Drake Maye, Green Bay’s Malik Willis, and the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers — twice. In the season finale with DK Metcalf serving a suspension, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers still lit Baltimore up, going 31-for-47 for 294 yards and a touchdown in a must-win scenario.

From the outside looking in, what do you expect from a Harbaugh-led Giants team?

Fans can expect a strong rushing attack, good quarterback play, physicality on both the offensive and defensive lines, along with a stout defense. Most importantly, the Giants will be a disciplined team, and a culture will be born that should last for years to come.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Behind Enemy Lines: Ravens Wire details what Giants are getting in John Harbaugh