The New York Giants are turning the page. Back-to-back disasters 5–14, then 4–13, are finally behind them. The franchise now has a real direction. Jaxson Dart is their quarterback, the NFL Combine is underway, and expectations have shifted. Giants fans are watching a plan take shape.
For the first time in franchise history, the head coach answers to no one above the general manager. He reports directly to ownership. That structural shift adds intrigue to what should be a routine draft cycle. Building the future here starts with one thing: communication.
Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh build draft alignment through overcommunication
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Jun 17, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen (left) and head coach Brian Daboll talk during minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Giants GM Joe Schoen spoke candidly about his relationship with new head coach John Harbaugh. He details how the two are building alignment on draft strategy and player evaluation. Communication sits at the center of it all.
Schoen emphasized that the system is familiar, but the way it’s being executed has evolved.
“The process is the same, it’s overcommunicating how we do things and how they did things in Baltimore, or how he wants it done. There’s tweaks we can make in our process that can make us better and I’m open to that.”
Joe Schoen on the pre-draft communication with John Harbaugh
"The process is the same, it's overcommunicating how we do things and how they did things in Baltimore, or how he wants it done. There's tweaks we can make in our process that can make us better and I'm open to that" pic.twitter.com/QkgYEXzNNz
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) February 24, 2026
Schoen isn’t talking about a new formula, but about clarity. He stresses transparency between the front office and the coaching staff. That’s not common in modern NFL hierarchies, especially when both parties are building a roster from scratch.
The Giants hold seven 2026 draft picks, headlined by the No. 5 overall selection. Schoen and Harbaugh aren’t working in silos. They’re building one shared vision from the start. Harbaugh has already defined the traits and physical profiles he wants at key positions. Now Schoen and his scouts must find the players who fit.
Dawn Aponte is the newly hired SVP of football operations and strategy, who reports to Harbaugh, not Schoen. That structure raises questions. Giants ownership has pushed back, insisting Schoen’s authority remains untouched.
Schoen is conducting interviews and reinforcing that this isn’t a power struggle but a partnership. Harbaugh’s presence is felt early. Schoen’s authority over the draft process remains intact. Both know that unity is crucial to effective drafting.
Giants fans know chaos. This feels different. Schon and Harbaugh speak the same language. That alignment is rare for this franchise and could quietly decide how this draft unfolds. Sometimes the best pick happens before anyone steps to the podium.