New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium
Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
With the New York Giants now led by head coach John Harbaugh, there is no doubt there are high expectations for the team coming into the 2026 season. As Harbaugh looks to start a new era for the Giants, co-owner Chris Mara would reveal his honest expectations for the team.
According to The New York Daily News, Mara said to ESPN Radio on Friday that he doesn't “hope” that they win a ton this upcoming season, but that he expects it.
“The way I look at it is, we’ve used the word hope in the last 10, 12 years, whatever it might be. And I think the hope now has turned into expectations,” Mara said. “At least for me it has. I don’t hope we win this year. I expect it. And I think everybody else does, too.”
“Listen, we haven’t played a regular season game yet,” Mara continued. “But so far, everything I’ve seen about him is all I heard when we interviewed him. It’s all come out, and we’re expecting great things.”
Chris Mara speaks more on hiring Giants' John Harbaugh
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Mara would reflect on hiring Harbaugh to be the Giants' next head coach, saying that the goal was to get a coach “that had instant credibility,” had a Super Bowl in his resume, and more, and “fortunately for us, Baltimore fired him.”
“He’s a very competitive guy,” Mara said. “And the thing I like about him the most — and the thing we’ve found out of about him — he can be the toughest guy you’ll ever talk to, and he’s very demanding. But once those demands are over and they’re met, everything starts from scratch.”
“He’s very smart, he knows people, he knows how to treat people,” Mara continued. “And I just feel there’s this competitive aura about him that makes the players fall in line, if you will. They respect his background. They respect his winning culture.”
At any rate, Mara is hoping that Harbaugh can improve New York after finishing with a 4-13 record last season, as the upcoming season starts on Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys.