Feb. 20, 2026, 11:01 a.m. ET
The New York Giants have gone through another coaching and front office overhaul this offseason, with John Harbaugh hired to be the new head coach, equipped with unprecedented and far-reaching power.
That has not only reignited the fan base but also raised expectations. The team won just four games last season after early-season predictions had them winning anywhere between seven and eight games.
The 4-13 finish prompted major changes. Head coach Brian Daboll and his staff are gone, except for Charlie Bullen (run game coordinator/outside linebackers), Tim Kelly (tight ends), and Chad Hall (wide receivers).
General manager Joe Schoen’s authority has been curtailed as well. Harbaugh will not report to Schoen, but to ownership, and the team hired Dawn Aponte, the NFL’s chief football administrative officer since 2017, as their senior vice president of football operations and strategy, reporting directly to Harbaugh.
These changes, as well as some subtractions among the ranks, provide the Giants with a fresh outlook operationally, and many believe that will translate to more wins on the field.
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This year’s win total is the same as it was last year at this time, an over-under of 7.5 wins. The expectation is, however, that they cover that number and more.
FOX Sports midday host Colin Cowherd has been quite accurate the past several seasons when it comes to predicting which teams will make a jump back into contention. This year, he’s taking the Giants.
The Giants willnot have a clear path by any means in 2026. The NFC East is predicted to be as tight a division as ever, with Philadelphia’s win total projected at 10.5, followed by Dallas (8.5), Washington (7.5) and the improved Giants.
The Giants will be playing a fourth-place schedule in 2026, but their overall strength of schedule is ranked 16th in the league this year, with an opponent average winning percentage of .493.
