John Harbaugh sits down with Giants.com for a weekly conversation about the latest at 1925 Giants Drive. We pick up with the head coach after Thursday's practice, giving the Giants just three more days until the season opener against the Cowboys on Sunday night.
Q: What's the first week like for the head coach right now as you batten down the hatches? Is it a mad dash or a calm because you know you put in the work?
Harbaugh: I'd say it's probably mostly the latter, mostly the calm. It seems like it takes a while to get to the game because you put in so much work and you do feel like you've prepared and we're ready, but you want to take care of the process every day. But you're also anxious to get there and get a gauge of where you're at. After that, it picks up steam real quick.
Q: When the schedule comes out in May, I'm sure there's a million thoughts that go through your head. You get a big Week 1 target. Is it something that you could really set your sights on?
Harbaugh: I think you set your sights on what the challenge is. I mean, whoever it was, it would have been big, would have been huge because it's the opener and it's what we would be setting our sights on. But this presents different challenges because it's the Cowboys, it's a rivalry, it's at home, it's Sunday Night Football. All those things present certain challenges, but these are the kinds of challenges that your guys, pro football players, this is what they do it for. These are the settings that they want to play in.
Q: Do you lean into rivalries to give your team an edge?
Harbaugh: I don't think you really have to. I think it's there and you understand how important it is. It's not something I think you've got to really lean into too much just because everybody understands what it is. If you felt like you did [need to], you could, you would, but with our guys, nothing needs to be said.
Q: A lot of rookies will be making their debuts. You beat the Bengals at home in your head coaching debut in 2008. What do you remember from that game?
Harbaugh: I remember just hoping I didn't screw it up. Just don't be the guy that screws it up. That was my thought, my advice to self, don't mess that game up.
Q: You ran the ball over 40 times…
Harbaugh: And Joe Flacco had a [long one.]
John Harbaugh has 193 total victories as a head coach, including postseason and a Super Bowl title.
Win No. 1 - September 7, 2008 - Ravens 17, Bengals 10
Win No. 2 - September 21, 2008 - Ravens 28, Browns 10
Win No. 3 - October 19, 2008 - Ravens 27, Dolphins 13
Win No. 4 - October 26, 2008 - Ravens 29, Raiders 10
Win No. 5 - November 2, 2008 - Ravens 37, Browns 27
Win No. 6 - November 9, 2008 - Ravens 41, Texans 13
Win No. 7 - November 23, 2008 - Ravens 36, Eagles 7
Win No. 8 - November 30, 2008 - Ravens 34, Bengals 3
Win No. 9 - December 7, 2008 - Ravens 24, Redskins 10
Win No. 10 - December 20, 2008 - Ravens 33, Cowboys 24
Win No. 11 - December 28, 2008 - Ravens 27, Jaguars 7
Win No. 12 - January 4, 2009 (Wild Card Round) - Ravens 27, Dolphins 9
Win No. 13 - January 10, 2009 (Divisional Round) - Ravens 13, Titans 10
Win No. 14 - September 13, 2009 - Ravens 38, Chiefs 24
Win No. 15 - September 20, 2009 - Ravens 31, Chargers 26
Win No. 16 - September 27, 2009 - Ravens 34, Browns 3
Win No. 17 - November 1, 2009 - Ravens 30, Broncos 7
Win No. 18 - November 16, 2009 - Ravens 16, Browns 0
Win No. 19 - November 29, 2009 - Ravens 20, Steelers 17 (OT)
Win No. 20 - December 13, 2009 - Ravens 48, Lions 3
Win No. 21 - December 20, 2009 - Ravens 31, Bears 7
Win No. 22 - January 3, 2010 - Ravens 21, Raiders 13
Win No. 23 - January 10, 2010 (Wild Card Round) - Ravens 33, Patriots 14
Win No. 24 - September 13, 2010 - Ravens 10, Jets 9
Win No. 25 - September 26, 2010 - Ravens 24, Browns 17
Win No. 26 - October 3, 2010 - Ravens 17, Steelers 14
Win No. 27 - October 10, 2010 - Ravens 31, Broncos 17
Win No. 28 - October 24, 2010 - Ravens 37, Bills 34 (OT)
Win No. 29 - November 7, 2010 - Ravens 26, Dolphins 10
Win No. 30 - November 21, 2010 - Ravens 37, Panthers 13
Win No. 31 - November 28, 2010 - Ravens 17, Buccaneers 10
Win No. 32 - December 13, 2010 - Ravens 34, Texans 28 (OT)
Win No. 33 - December 19, 2010 - Ravens 30, Saints 24
Win No. 34 - December 26, 2010 - Ravens 20, Browns 10
Win No. 35 - January 2, 2011 - Ravens 13, Bengals 7
Win No. 36 - January 9, 2011 (Wild Card Round) - Ravens 30, Chiefs 7
Win No. 37 - September 11, 2011 - Ravens 35, Steelers 7
Win No. 38 - September 25, 2011 - Ravens 37, Rams 7
Win No. 39 - October 2, 2011 - Ravens 34, Jets 17
Win No. 40 - October 16, 2011 - Ravens 29, Texans 14
Win No. 41 - October 30, 2011 - Ravens 30, Cardinals 27
Win No. 42 - November 6, 2011 - Ravens 23, Steelers 20
Win No. 43 - November 20, 2011 - Ravens 31, Bengals 24
Win No. 44 - November 24, 2011 - Ravens 16, 49ers 6
Win No. 45 - December 4, 2011 - Ravens 24, Browns 10
Win No. 46 - December 11, 2011 - Ravens 24, Colts 10
Win No. 47 - December 24, 2011 - Ravens 20, Browns 14
Win No. 48 - January 1, 2012 - Ravens 24, Bengals 16
Win No. 49 - January 15, 2012 (Divisional Round) - Ravens 20, Texans 13
Win No. 50 - September 10, 2012 - Ravens 44, Bengals 13
Win No. 51 - September 23, 2012 - Ravens 31, Patriots 30
Win No. 52 - September 27, 2012 - Ravens 23, Browns 16
Win No. 53 - October 7, 2012 - Ravens 9, Chiefs 6
Win No. 54 - October 14, 2012 - Ravens 31, Cowboys 29
Win No. 55 - November 4, 2012 - Ravens 25, Browns 15
Win No. 56 - November 11, 2012 - Ravens 55, Raiders 20
Win No. 57 - November 18, 2012 - Ravens 13, Steelers 10
Win No. 58 - November 25, 2012 - Ravens 16, Chargers 13
Win No. 59 - December 23, 2012 - Ravens 33, Giants 14
Win No. 60 - January 6, 2013 (Wild Card Round) - Ravens 24, Colts 9
Win No. 61 - January 12, 2013 (Divisional Round) - Ravens 38, Broncos 35 (2OT)
Win No. 62 - January 20, 2013 (AFC Championship Game) - Ravens 28, Patriots 13
Win No. 63 - February 3, 2013 (Super Bowl XLVII) - Ravens 34, 49ers 31
Win No. 64 - September 15, 2013 - Ravens 14, Browns 6
Win No. 65 - September 22, 2013 - Ravens 30, Texans 9
Win No. 66 - October 6, 2013 - Ravens 26, Dolphins 23
Win No. 67 - November 10, 2013 - Ravens 20, Bengals 17
Win No. 68 - November 24, 2013 - Ravens 19, Jets 3
Win No. 69 - November 28, 2013 - Ravens 22, Steelers 20
Win No. 70 - December 8, 2013 - Ravens 29, Vikings 26
Win No. 71 - December 16, 2013 - Ravens 18, Lions 16
Win No. 72 - September 11, 2014 - Ravens 26, Steelers 6
Win No. 73 - September 21, 2014 - Ravens 23, Browns 21
Win No. 74 - September 28, 2014 - Ravens 38, Panthers 10
Win No. 75 - October 12, 2014 - Ravens 48, Buccaneers 17
Win No. 76 - October 12, 2014 - Ravens 29, Falcons 7
Win No. 77 - November 9, 2014 - Ravens 21, Titans 7
Win No. 78 - November 24, 2014 - Ravens 34, Saints 27
Win No. 79 - December 7, 2014 - Ravens 28, Dolphins 13
Win No. 80 - December 14, 2014 - Ravens 20, Jaguars 12
Win No. 81 - December 28, 2014 - Ravens 20, Browns 10
Win No. 82 - January 3, 2015 (Wild Card Round) - Ravens 30, Steelers 17
Win No. 83 - October 1, 2015 - Ravens 23, Steelers 20 (OT)
Win No. 84 - November 1, 2015 - Ravens 29, Chargers 26
Win No. 85 - November 22, 2015 - Ravens 16, Rams 13
Win No. 86 - November 22, 2015 - Ravens 33, Browns 27
Win No. 87 - December 27, 2015 - Ravens 20, Steelers 17
Win No. 88 - September 11, 2016 - Ravens 13, Bills 7
Win No. 89 - September 18, 2016 - Ravens 25, Browns 20
Win No. 90 - September 25, 2016 - Ravens 19, Jaguars 17
Win No. 91 - November 6, 2016 - Ravens 21, Steelers 14
Win No. 92 - November 10, 2016 - Ravens 28, Browns 7
Win No. 93 - November 27, 2016 - Ravens 19, Bengals 14
Win No. 94 - December 4, 2016 - Ravens 38, Dolphins 6
Win No. 95 - December 18, 2016 - Ravens 27, Eagles 26
Win No. 96 - September 10, 2017 - Ravens 20, Bengals 0
Win No. 97 - September 17, 2017 - Ravens 24, Browns 10
Win No. 98 - October 8, 2017 - Ravens 30, Raiders 17
Win No. 99 - October 26, 2017 - Ravens 40, Dolphins 0
Win No. 100 - November 19, 2017 - Ravens 23, Packers 0
Win No. 101 - November 27, 2017 - Ravens 23, Texans 16
Win No. 102 - December 3, 2017 - Ravens 44, Lions 20
Win No. 103 - December 17, 2017 - Ravens 27, Browns 10
Win No. 104 - December 23, 2017 - Ravens 23, Colts 16
Win No. 105 - September 9, 2018 - Ravens 47, Bills 3
Win No. 106 - September 23, 2018 - Ravens 27, Broncos 14
Win No. 107 - September 30, 2018 - Ravens 26, Steelers 14
Win No. 108 - October 14, 2018 - Ravens 21, Titans 0
Win No. 109 - November 18, 2018 - Ravens 24, Bengals 21
Win No. 110 - November 25, 2018 - Ravens 34, Raiders 17
Win No. 111 - December 2, 2018 - Ravens 26, Falcons 16
Win No. 112 - December 16, 2018 - Ravens 20, Buccaneers 12
Win No. 113 - December 22, 2018 - Ravens 22, Chargers 10
Win No. 114 - December 30, 2018 - Ravens 26, Browns 24
Win No. 115 - September 8, 2019 - Ravens 59, Dolphins 10
Win No. 116 - September 15, 2019 - Ravens 23, Cardinals 17
Win No. 117 - October 6, 2019 - Ravens 26, Steelers 23 (OT)
Win No. 118 - October 13, 2019 - Ravens 23, Bengals 17
Win No. 119 - October 20, 2019 - Ravens 30, Seahawks 16
Win No. 120 - November 3, 2019 - Ravens 37, Patriots 20
Win No. 121 - November 10, 2019 - Ravens 49, Bengals 13
Win No. 122 - November 17, 2019 - Ravens 41, Texans 7
Win No. 123 - November 25, 2019 - Ravens 45, Rams 6
Win No. 124 - December 1, 2019 - Ravens 20, 49ers 17
Win No. 125 - December 8, 2019 - Ravens 24, Bills 17
Win No. 126 - December 12, 2019 - Ravens 42, Jets 21
Win No. 127 - December 22, 2019 - Ravens 31, Browns 15
Win No. 128 - December 29, 2019 - Ravens 28, Steelers 10
Win No. 129 - September 13, 2020 - Ravens 38, Browns 6
Win No. 130 - September 20, 2020 - Ravens 33, Texans 16
Win No. 131 - October 4, 2020 - Ravens 31, Washington Football Team 17
Win No. 132 - October 11, 2020 - Ravens 27, Bengals 3
Win No. 133 - October 18, 2020 - Ravens 30, Eagles 28
Win No. 134 - November 8, 2020 - Ravens 24, Colts 10
Win No. 135 - December 8, 2020 - Ravens 34, Cowboys 17
Win No. 136 - December 14, 2020 - Ravens 47, Browns 42
Win No. 137 - December 20, 2020 - Ravens 40, Jaguars 14
Win No. 138 - December 27, 2020 - Ravens 27, Giants 13
Win No. 139 - January 3, 2021 - Ravens 38, Bengals 3
Win No. 140 - January 10, 2021 (Wild Card Round) - Ravens 20, Titans 13
Win No. 141 - September 19, 2021 - Ravens 36, Chiefs 35
Win No. 142 - September 26, 2021 - Ravens 19, Lions 17
Win No. 143 - October 3, 2021 - Ravens 23, Broncos 7
Win No. 144 - October 11, 2021 - Ravens 31, Colts 25 (OT)
Win No. 145 - October 17, 2021 - Ravens 34, Chargers 6
Win No. 146 - November 7, 2021 - Ravens 34, Vikings 31 (OT)
Win No. 147 - November 21, 2021 - Ravens 16, Bears 13
Win No. 148 - November 28, 2021 - Ravens 16, Browns 10
Win No. 149 - September 11, 2022 - Ravens 24, Jets 9
Win No. 150 - September 25, 2022 - Ravens 37, Patriots 26
Win No. 151 - October 9, 2022 - Ravens 19, Bengals 17
Win No. 152 - October 23, 2022 - Ravens 23, Browns 20
Win No. 153 - October 27, 2022 - Ravens 27, Buccaneers 22
Win No. 154 - November 7, 2022 - Ravens 27, Saints 13
Win No. 155 - November 20, 2022 - Ravens 13, Panthers 3
Win No. 156 - December 4, 2022 - Raven s 10, Broncos 9
Win No. 157 - December 11, 2022 - Ravens 16, Steelers 14
Win No. 158 - December 24, 2022 - Ravens 17, Falcons 9
Win No. 159 - September 10, 2023 - Ravens 25, Texans 9
Win No. 160 - September 17, 2023 - Ravens 27, Bengals 24
Win No. 161 - October 1, 2023 - Ravens 28, Browns 3
Win No. 162 - October 15, 2023 - Ravens 24, Titans 16
Win No. 163 - October 22, 2023 - Ravens 38, Lions 6
Win No. 164 - October 29, 2023 - Ravens 31, Cardinals 24
Win No. 165 - November 5, 2023 - Ravens 37, Seahawks 3
Win No. 166 - November 16, 2023 - Ravens 34, Bengals 20
Win No. 167 - November 26, 2023 - Ravens 20, Chargers 10
Win No. 168 - December 10, 2023 - Ravens 37, Rams 31 (OT)
Win No. 169 - December 17, 2023 - Ravens 23, Jaguars 7
Win No. 170 - December 25, 2023 - Ravens 33, 49ers 19
Win No. 171 - December 31, 2023 - Ravens 56, Dolphins 19
Win No. 172 - January 20, 2024 (Divisional Round) - Ravens 34, Texans 10
Win No. 173 - September 22, 2024 - Ravens 28, Cowboys 25
Win No. 174 - September 29, 2024 - Ravens 35, Bills 10
Win No. 175 - October 6, 2024 - Ravens 41, Bengals 38 (OT)
Win No. 176 - October 13, 2024 - Ravens 30, Commanders 23
Win No. 177 - October 21, 2024 - Ravens 41, Buccaneers 31
Win No. 178 - November 3, 2024 - Ravens 41, Broncos 10
Win No. 179 - November 7, 2024 - Ravens 35, Bengals 34
Win No. 180 - November 25, 2024 - Ravens 30, Chargers 23
Win No. 181 - December 15, 2024 - Ravens 35, Giants 14
Win No. 182 - December 21, 2024 - Ravens 34, Steelers 17
Win No. 183 - December 25, 2024 - Ravens 31, Texans 2
Win No. 184 - January 4, 2025 - Ravens 35, Browns 10
Win No. 185 - January 11, 2025 (Wild Card Round) - Ravens 28, Steelers 14
Win No. 186 - September 14, 2025 - Ravens 41, Browns 17
Win No. 187 - October 26, 2025 - Ravens 30, Bears 16
Win No. 188 - October 30, 2025 - Ravens 28, Dolphins 6
Win No. 189 - November 9, 2025 - Ravens 27, Vikings 19
Win No. 193 - November 16, 2025- Ravens 23, Browns 16
Win No. 191 - November 23, 2025 - Ravens 23, Jets 10
Win No. 192 - December 14, 2025 - Ravens 24, Bengals 0
Win No. 193 - December 27, 2025 - Ravens 41, Packers 24
Q: That was the start of his era with you, and now the same begins with Jaxson Dart. Where is the line between the importance of the quarterback-head coach relationship and him just being one of 53 on the roster?
Harbaugh: To me it's both, but everybody understands it. He is one of 53. He's part of the team. He's a teammate. He's a player. The guys like Jaxson, Joe [Flacco], Lamar [Jackson], they all understand that so well. That's why the players love them so much. But the other side of the coin is he's the quarterback. He's got to know the most. He's got to do the most. He has the most impact probably on the game of anybody. So, that part of it is just kind of understood. But those guys, man, they've been doing it their whole life. They embrace it.
Q: You talked yesterday how you marvel at the quarterback position as a former defensive back. How much of a former player is in you still?
Harbaugh: For the sake of our team, hopefully not very much.
Q: But with the way you view the whole operation.
Harbaugh: For me, as a player, being a player at any level does give you the ability to put yourself in the players' shoes. At least you've been out there. You know what it's like to try to go make a tackle, to be in – for me – in coverage, and I probably spend more time with the DBs as a position group than any other group because I feel more strongly about some of the techniques. I feel strongly about the O-line, the D-line and certain things, but the DBs, it's like – I coached it too – but I feel like I think I know what I'm talking about here. Even if I don't, you feel like you do. But I can see why quarterback coaches gravitate toward coaching quarterbacks. If you played the position, you tend to want to coach them.
Q: What's the plan with the leadership council (which consists of Jaxson Dart, Andrew Thomas, Jameis Winston, Brian Burns, Chris Manhertz, Tremaine Edmunds, Jordan Stout and Jevón Holland) and game captains?
Harbaugh: To me, the leadership council, this was in talking to the players, the leadership council is something we've always done. We've never had season captains before in Baltimore just because, mainly, over time the players didn't want it. Ray [Lewis] didn't want to do it and then lately Lamar didn't want to do it. I know they're doing it there now, which is great, but I kind of always deferred to the guys on that part of it. It wasn't something that we had done. We always had the game captains. Everybody has a chance to be a captain basically based on the fact that you played well and you've earned the right to do that week to week. Maybe we hit a good place because we just decided that, well, those guys were all voted in to be on the leadership council. Therefore, they were voted as the leaders. It would make sense to have the title of captain, so that's what we did for the season. With that, we'll still have game captains and that'll be separate from that group. This week, Chauncey [Golston] is on there. He's not on the leadership council, but he's a game captain (along with Andrew Thomas, Brian Burns and Jordan Stout). And you'll see a bunch of guys who aren't on the leadership council that'll be game captains.
Q: How does that get presented to them?
Harbaugh: Cool moment. We do it in the first team meeting on Wednesday when we open up the meeting to present the opponent. We announce the captains, put a big picture on the screen and the guys cheer. I'll tell you, I don't care who it is, the biggest star or not, they cherish that moment when they get named a game captain.
Q: Is that a vote from the staff, you, the players?
Harbaugh: The coaches pick. Not all me. It's the coaches' pick. I'll go to the defensive, offensive and special teams coaches, but I get veto power.
Q: This week, you extended Jon Runyan Jr. in addition to Jameis Winston. You were asked about Jameis the other day but not Runyan. You don't hear too much from him or about him. Is that a good thing for a lineman?
Harbaugh: They don't really need to be in the news too much. I think most of them appreciate that.
Q: He had the relationship with your brother going back to Michigan. What does he bring to the team?
Harbaugh: He's always been a very steady player. He's always been a guy that hasn't been a high-profile guy. He's not flashy. In offensive line terms, he's not a flashy player. He's just a reliable, get-the-job-done guy, which probably is the greatest compliment that you can give an offensive lineman.
Q: You started the three interior linemen in the preseason finale and made it a point that you wanted to get their communication down. How important is that trio to everything you want to do?
Harbaugh: So important. My dad would always say in baseball you've got to be strong down the middle. I think it's true in football, too. Those guys are the tip of the spear of your offense.
Q: Players always talk about getting that first hit out of the way. Is there an equivalent for a head coach to start a season?
Harbaugh: Yeah, there is. It's weird. Like the first kickoff, right before the kickoff, the butterflies are going. Once you see the kickoff, you get to stop, and then the offense or defense runs on the field, it's like all right, settle in, get the first stop, get the first score. I think for the guys it's the first hit. For a coach, it's the first of each thing. For the head coach, you're offense, defense and special teams, so I think you've got to wait for the first of each thing before you can actually settle in.
Q: I wanted to end with the importance of Sept. 11th and get your memories of that day. You have a whole generation of players that were born after it.
Harbaugh: Well, when we went to the 9/11 Memorial in the spring. I told them everybody in my generation knows where they were. It's like the Greatest Generation, they all knew where they were for Pearl Harbor. My generation knows where they were for 9/11, and so I told them where I was. I told them the whole story, working for the Eagles, getting ready to play. I remember not realizing the magnitude of it as much until the news reports started coming in and just being like everybody else, astounded, dumbfounded. I happened to see the second [plane] because Carol Wilson, Carol Cullen at the time, who was Andy Reid's administrative assistant, she came down, she said, "You've got to turn on your TV. Something's happening in New York. Turn on the TV." So I turned it on and I'm working and I'm watching for about 20 minutes and I just happened to look back at the TV and I see the second tower get hit. I remember it like it was yesterday. I could not believe it was a big plane because everybody thought at the time it was a smaller plane. It looked like a hole in the first tower. I never even thought something like that was possible, but then over the years reading, I've read a lot, my wife reads even more than I do, she knows all about 9/11. And to me it's the individual stories that make 9/11. It's the heroes. I get choked up even thinking about it because of the people in this nation. The fact of the matter is there's no country that's ever done more for the world than this country, the people, the American people, and still do every single day. To me, that was demonstrated on 9/11 in all the thousands of acts of heroism that ordinary, quote unquote, people did in the most traumatic moments when their lives were at stake, on the line, the sacrifices they made. And that's what we're honoring on Sunday night in MetLife. I'm just grateful to be a part of it.
