John Harbaugh has brought his preference for afternoon practices from Baltimore to the New York Giants, a schedule he believes better prepares players for game-day demands and reduces injury risk.
Harbaugh noted that NFL games are typically played in the afternoon or evening, not the morning. Over time with the Ravens, he found that bodies are often still recovering from the previous day’s work, making it difficult to reach peak performance and readiness early in the day.
The Giants’ routine reflects that approach. Players begin with strength, conditioning, and mobility work from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Meetings follow, then a tempo period known as ACT. That session features a controlled jog-through with exaggerated technique rather than a full walk-through.
A final 15- to 30-minute preparation window comes immediately before the main practice, designed to get bodies fully ready for the work ahead.
“The idea is to have them ready for what they’re going to have to do, whatever the level of practice is, so they would perform at the highest level that we think they physically can and so we can keep them safer,” Harbaugh told reporters.
He emphasized that the staff is not rushing to finish practice so players can relax. The priority is maximizing the quality of the session itself.
The schedule shifts when the team faces extreme heat. In places such as Miami or Houston, morning practices become the practical choice. That is why the Giants planned a morning session the day (closed to the media) before traveling south, giving players a chance to adjust before joint work with the Dolphins.
Harbaugh’s method prioritizes physical readiness, performance, and long-term durability over convenience, a philosophy he has refined across multiple seasons and is now applying in New York.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants’ John Harbaugh explains afternoon practice philosophy
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Benton, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
