How the New York Giants can shock the NFC East in 2026.
The New York Giants may have had the most important offseason addition in 2026.
When John Harbaugh’s departure from the Baltimore Ravens was announced, he immediately become the number one head coach candidate in 2026.
He would end up being hired by the New York Giants as they hope to bring the good times back to one of the league’s most successful organisation.
Harbaugh spent 18 years with the Ravens organisation, where he had an 180-113 record in the regular season and 13-11 record in the postseason.
He guided the Ravens to the playoffs in 12 of these 18 years, going on to win Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans.
The end of his tenure turned sour, but as a fresh voice as a Giants organisation, this could be the recharging of the batteries that Harbaugh needed.
Joining an organisation that has been deprived of success since shocking Tom Brady and the Patriots in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI, here’s how the Giants could shock the NFC East in 2026.
Keeping an offensive trio healthy
The Giants had a difficult 2025 season, where they finished with a 14-3 record and head coach Brian Daboll was fired on November 10th. Despite this, they had positives to take away from the season. No part of the team caused more a buzz in the Big Apple then the duo of quarterback Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo.
Both Dart and Skattebo missed time with injury, as did star wide receiver Malik Nabers, the latter who missed all but four games.
In fact, the trio of Dart, Skattebo and Nabers only played one game together, this being their 21-18 win over the Los Angles Chargers where Nabers suffered a season ending ACL injury. With Harbaugh now in charge and all three available and healthy, this could be an offense that causes teams problems in 2026.
Dart recorded 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns and five interceptions in 12 starts during his 2025 rookie year. He also tallied up 487 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
In eight games across his 2025 debut campaign, Skattebo recorded 410 rushing yards, five rushing yards, 207 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns whilst bringing a lot of fun and energy to the locker room. In his 2024 rookie year, Nabers had 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.
This is an offense that will excite their fanbase and the majority of the NFL, but it all hangs on the balance of all three players staying healthy which has proven not to be a guarantee.
An exciting blend on defence
It is not only the offense that showed signs of life in 2025. Linebacker Bobby Okereke finished 10th for total tackles, seventh for solo tackles.
Only Myles Garrett, who broke the single season record, had more sacks (23) than Brian Burns (16.5), who was tied for seventh for forced fumbles (3).
The Giants also have some exciting young talent, including Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Whilst they did lose safety Dane Belton, who had 120 total tackles, five passes defended and three forced fumbles, they added in linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a three-year $36 million deal.
Edmunds brings a wealth of experience to the Giants defense, with 900 career tackles and two Pro Bowl selections.
This is a defense that did allow the 26th most points in 2025, but there is enough potential in that side of the ball that could cause problems for the rest of the NFC in 2026.
Taking advantage of their division rivals’ shortcomings
The NFC East saw two teams in the Conference Championship in the 2024 season, and the Philadelphia Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy.
A year later and the Eagles were the only team to make the playoffs from the division.
There were 27 combined wins between the other three teams, as the Cowboys finished second with just seven wins.
Issues started to appear for the Eagles in 2025,as the relationship between quarterback Jalen Hurts and head coach Nick Sirianni appeared more and more strained. The same can be said for their relationship with AJ Brown, who appears all but likely to leave the franchise.
Issues were there aplenty for the Washington Commanders, who finished with a 5-12 record a year removed from a storybook season.
The Dallas Cowboys had a 7-9-1 record in 2025 and failed to find true consistency. Between Week One and Week 10 they failed to win back-to-back games. They then follow three straight wins with three straight losses.
After all, there had not been a repeat NFC East winner since 2004 until the Eagles secured the division last season. None of the other three teams have shown enough to be certain of a successful season in 2026.
Whilst the Eagles will be the favourites, the Giants will be a team to watch in 2026.
Andy Davies