The New York Giants formally introduced John Harbaugh as the 21st head coach in franchise history on Tuesday afternoon at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford.
The press conference, held inside the fieldhouse, was a well-attended event, featuring the Mara, Tisch, and Koch families, as well as the Harbaugh family, general manager Joe Schoen, current and former Giants players, and an abundance of reporters.
Harbaugh was introduced by Schoen and then fielded questions for roughly 20 minutes.
Here are nine takeaways from the Harbaugh introductory press conference.
Reporting structure “overblown”
Leading up to Harbaugh signing his contract, many reports indicated that the reporting structure served as a main cog in negotiations. In the end, Schoen and the Giants agreed that Harbaugh would report directly to ownership — namely, CEO John Mara.
However, Harbaugh appeared to dismiss that on Tuesday, calling the reports “overblown.”
“It’s really not that important,” he said. “It’s overblown just a little bit in terms of how it works… We all report to the boss, right? And the boss is ownership. And John Mara is running football operations — and he’s running it — and I’m glad he is.”
Football, football, football…
Harbaugh made it abundantly clear that everything will be football-focused under his leadership. And while that may sound like an obvious statement, the Giants have found ways to get a bit distracted in recent years.
“To me, the number one thing is that we have to have guys that love football,” he said. “It’s football. What are we here for? What do we do? What is this building here for? It’s football.”
Harbaugh noted that everyone on the team had better love all aspects of football, from weightlifting to practice to film study, and if they don’t, they can go play somewhere else.
Fatherly influence
Harbaugh mentioned his father, Jack Harbaugh, several times throughout the press conference, attributing several quotes and processes to his old man.
“Impressed” with Schoen
Despite reports that several candidates had reservations about Schoen — including Harbaugh himself — the head coach came away “impressed” after multiple conversations with the GM.
“You get to know Joe, and we started talking ball, and what you see is a football man. This guy lives and breathes football,” Harbaugh said. “His knowledge is deep. He knows the league. . . He was impressive to me.”
Harbaugh went on to describe their conversations as a “joy.”
Championship asperations
Harbaugh has not shied away from what he expects of these Giants, and that’s winning on Day 1 with sights set on another Super Bowl championship… And then several more.
“I know the challenges, and I understand the expectations. And I know the fans are hungry for a winner,” he said. “We’re here with one mission: To earn the right to be called World Champions in New York.”
“I’m planning on Day 1. That’s what we’ll be shooting for, working for… I fully expect it to happen.”
Echoes of Coughlin
When Harbaugh spoke, you could hear some of Tom Coughlin in his messaging. He shares a similar mindset, which is what fans and players have been yearning for since Coughlin walked out the door a decade ago.
“Nothing will be taken for granted. It will always, always be all about the team. The team, the team, the team,” he said. “It will always be about that. Now it’s time to go to work.”
Overwhelming opponents
Harbaugh doesn’t just want the Giants to win; he wants them to dismantle and overwhelm opponents for 60 full minutes every single week.
“Our focus is simple: It starts with building a team that is physical and tough; that is capable of overwhelming their opponent from beginning to end — especially at the end,” he said. “That understands how to finish; that is smart and disciplined. That plays the game the way it should be played. And that everybody watching it — including those playing it — would be proud of.
“Football” Giants
These are not the New York Giants; they are the New York Football Giants.
“It’s a profound honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the New York Giants Football Giants,” he said. “My Dad taught me that they were the New York Football Giants. They weren’t just the Giants, they were the New York Football Giants.”
Most important comment
Harbaugh was comfortable at the podium, and he offered very little fluff. It was 20-plus minutes of pure substance, with one single quote coming across as the most important.
“I want this job,” Harbaugh said emphatically.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: 9 takeaways from New York Giants coach John Harbaugh’s introductory press conference
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
