The Giants Are Built for a Worst-to-First Turnaround in 2026

With NFL training camp just around the corner, the New York Giants are getting ready for a new season.

After another disappointing season where the team finished 4-13, they made significant changes in the offseason. Perhaps the biggest change was hiring long-time Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, a proven coach who won Super Bowl XLVII. In 18 seasons with Baltimore, Harbaugh only had three losing seasons.

In free agency, the Giants brought in veterans like tight end Isaiah Likely, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, wide receiver Darnell Mooney, and defensive tackle D.J. Reader. In the NFL Draft, they had two top-ten picks, selecting Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and Miami guard Francis Mauigoa.

Big Blue already has a solid foundation of young players like Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Abdul Carter. With the new roster additions and an improved coaching staff, there is considerable optimism that New York can rebound in 2026.

Can the Giants Follow the 2025 Patriots and Bears’ Blueprint?

Last season, two teams went from worst to first in their division: the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears.

In 2024, the Patriots finished last in the AFC East with a 4-13 record. They fired head coach Jerod Mayo after one season and hired former Titans head coach and former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel to be their head coach.

That move led to immediate results, as the Patriots finished 2025 with a 14-3 record and won their division for the first time since 2019. They reached the Super Bowl but fell short to the Seattle Seahawks. New England was carried by the breakout of second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who finished second in MVP voting. 

The Bears also had a difficult season in 2024 with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. They finished 5-12 and fired Matt Eberflus mid-season after a six-game losing streak. Chicago brought in former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be their head coach.

Johnson led Chicago to their first division title since 2018 and their first playoff appearance since 2020. He helped Williams take a major leap in his second season, throwing for 3,942 yards, a franchise record. Williams also orchestrated six fourth-quarter comebacks, with one of those comebacks coming in the Wild Card round against the Green Bay Packers.

New York is similar to both these teams in several ways. The Giants have a new head coach and a young quarterback going into his second season. They brought in a new offensive coordinator in Matt Nagy, along with multiple veteran wide receivers like Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, Odell Beckham Jr., and JuJu Smith-Schuster.

If Dart can break out as Maye and Williams did in their second seasons, Big Blue will be in a good position for a quick turnaround like the Patriots and Bears from last year.

The Rest of the NFC East Won’t Make It Easy

The Philadelphia Eagles won the NFC East in 2025 with an 11-6 record. However, they had a quick playoff exit, losing in the Wild Card round to the San Francisco 49ers.

In the offseason, they traded away star receiver A.J. Brown to the Patriots after he was unhappy with his role in the offense. They replaced him with first-round pick Makai Lemon. On defense, they lost starters Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship, but added cornerback Riq Woolen to bolster the secondary. They should still be an above-average team and the favorite to repeat as division champions.

In second place was the Dallas Cowboys, going 7-9-1 last season. Their offense, backed by Dak Prescott and his two 1,000-yard receivers in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, was one of the best in the league in 2025, finishing second in total yards per game. It was Dallas’ that defense held them back, allowing the third-most total yards and the most passing yards in the league.

This offseason, the Cowboys acquired Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary via trade and safety Jalen Thompson via free agency. In the draft, they selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with their two first-round picks. If the defense becomes a serviceable unit, the Cowboys could find themselves back in the playoffs and competing for the NFC East title.

The Washington Commanders had a disappointing 5-12 season last year. After reaching the NFC Championship game in 2024-25, hopes were high going into the 25-26 season. Quarterback Jayden Daniels won Offensive Rookie of the Year and looked like a star in the making. But injuries limited Daniels to just seven games in 2025, and their defense also gave up the most total yards per game.

In the offseason, Washington signed Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson to improve their pass rush, and they drafted Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles. Like Dallas, if the defense improves, the Commanders could also be back in the playoff picture in 2026.

Ultimately, it will not be easy for the Giants to go from worst to first in a daunting NFC East this season. However, they have added a lot of talent to the roster and now have a coach who has proven he can win.

If Harbaugh can get the most out of developing young players, Big Blue can compete for the playoffs and have a chance to win the NFC East, something they have not accomplished since 2011.