Coach John Harbaugh sits down with Giants.com for a weekly conversation about the latest at 1925 Giants Drive.
Q: How did your time with the Eagles under Andy Reid shape your coaching career?
Harbaugh: It was amazing. It was a big step coming from college. At that time there was only one special teams coach, so it was just you. And there's a lot of pressure, a lot of scrutiny. They had been struggling on special teams under Ray [Rhodes], and then Ray hired me, so that was that. Then Andy came in and you felt like you had to prove yourself again because Andy was a new coach. They had asked him to keep me, and he did, which is nice. But you've got to prove yourself. First year we struggled and then we drafted [Donovan] McNabb and then Doug Pederson was the starter. Then the second year, man, it just started a run of incredible success. We went to three straight Pro Bowls because we lost three straight championship games (back then the losing team's coaching staff in the conference championship would coach in the Pro Bowl), which is crazy, and then finally broke through to the Super Bowl. It was life-changing and just being around Andy because I saw a different kind of personality than I had been around as far as coaches, just a real, just a thoughtful guy, a normal guy.
Q: He famously has a "don't judge" notecard on his desk. That seems pretty relevant to a lot of your current players who are having big years here, probably none more than Deonte Banks. How has that philosophy carried you throughout the years?
Harbaugh: I'm a big believer in that. In some ways, you're always a product of your own experiences. Football is a metaphor for life. So for me, I was a player who struggled for playing time and all those kinds of things, so I always had a heart for that because you talk about scars, those things, they just become part of who you are. They strengthen you, but I always had a heart for guys that weren't quite where they wanted to be and wanted to make sure that they got every opportunity, knew where they stood, and you try to be in their corner and help them. Then Sean Landeta (an All-Pro punter and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Giants who went on to play under Harbaugh in Philadelphia) gave me great advice one time. He said basically the only thing a player really at the end of the day wants to know from his coach, other than what you can do to help him be better, of course, but mainly is: are you on my side? Are you in my corner? Do you want me to do well? Are you rooting for me? So I took that from Sean Landeta back then. That was really a big cool thing. And Andy was all about that. Then the "don't judge" is such a good thing because human beings are judges, we're all judges and we do judge. But you've got to be intentional about that because if not, you miss who people are. Why do you want to judge? What are you judging? Like you're going to put a label on him? Is it yours to say this person is this, he's that, he's a this, he's a that, what are we talking about here?
Q: You often cite football being a metaphor for life. When did you start thinking of football that way?
Harbaugh: It's always an evolution of thinking, but we grew up with it. In our house, our dad's a coach, so you live and die with it, especially when you get to be like 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 years old. Your whole life is your dad's team. It actually is life, not just a metaphor.
Q: What do you remember from the other side of this rivalry with the Eagles and Giants?
Harbaugh: The fans. The fans jump out. The games were great. Of course, I remember the Eagles' side then. We had the Brian Westbrook punt return [in 2003]. That was big. I was always proud of that. There were various plays, but the fans.
Q: You had a chance to be a fan over the bye week and watch a full slate of NFL games. Does it give you perspective?
Harbaugh: It was fun. It's fun. It does give you perspective, and you hear the announcers and you hear the fans. You see the fans, you see how fans watch games, and it's fun. It's really interesting. I can see why it's so popular. I mean you talk about must-see TV on a Sunday. And it goes all day.
Q: Speaking of TV, Mike Tomlin had another good quote about you after the Texans game…
Harbaugh: Oh, the one about the ax and mosquito? It's not an original (laughs). It's been said before, not about me, but just generally.
Q: Would you agree with that assessment though?
Harbaugh: I'm not quite as intentional as that. That may be true. I think his point is valid, for sure, but I'm not thinking that way. I'm just thinking about what we need to do. I just take the situation as it comes. I'm not like early in the tenure [I have to make a point]. I would do the same thing late in the tenure if it was required. But I do appreciate and acknowledge what he's saying because he's looking at it from an outside perspective.
Q: Getting into November football, is there a new skill that your team has to unlock?
Harbaugh: Everything is new. Every step of the way is going to be new this year. I think it's kind of what first years are a lot of times. Like we told them, this is November football. You've earned the right to play meaningful games in November. What does that mean? What are you playing for? I asked them, "What do they say about December football? Have you heard the old saying?" And someone got it. [Fullback Patrick] Ricard got it. "They remember what you do in December." That's right. I said that's what they remember. I said they won't really remember November too much. But without November you can't get to the point where you're playing games that are going to be memorable. That's what we're playing for right now. We're playing for the opportunity to play in memorable games, and that's why November is so important and we've earned the right to be to be playing in these games. So, it's just another notch up of value and then I just talked to them a little bit about as the season goes along, it's still one game but each game becomes worth more. It's one game, that's what this is about, but each game becomes even more valuable because there's more payoff. Later, that's why they remember what you do in December. There's more payoff. So, that's kind of cool.
Q: Malik Nabers just wrapped up October with NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors. Has it been underrated what he's doing with now three different quarterbacks?
Harbaugh: I would say so. You think about chemistry and all the different timing and all these things that we say are so important, and yet he's still getting it done no matter who's the quarterback. The quarterbacks deserve credit. They've done a great job. Jameis [Winston] did a great job. He's probably the main part of that [in October]. And then of course J.J. [McCarthy], the last five quarters. Malik's a superstar, but he's just starting. He's a budding superstar, so we all get the privilege of witnessing that from the start. That's how I look at it.
Q: Greg Newsome II was extended over the bye week. He wanted to prove it with the Giants, and he has done that. What has he meant to the team?
Harbaugh: Corners are really important. Good corners, great corners, are hard to find. They're hard to find. Even when you draft them high, you still don't know. It's true of any position, but they make such a difference. There is a compound effect of their value because if a corner can take a receiver off the field, so to speak, then that's one more person or half a person that you can commit to run defense. When you can't do that, then you've got to put another person back on pass defense, and that lightens up your run defense. It's just a basic formula and so that's why it's worth it. The other thing is you have the right kind of guys, the right mindset, and it just goes back to your thing about guys getting a chance. I mean it's so unique, too, with Greg and Tae, they get this chance because they've had the scars. To see them respond the way they have, all that is tied up in this conversation.
View photos from every win of John Harbaugh's career as head coach.
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
Win No. 194 - September 13, 2026 - Giants 28, Cowboys 20
Win No. 195 - September 27, 2026 - Giants 12, Titans 7
Win No. 196 - October 4, 2026 - Giants 36, Cardinals 24
Win No. 197 - October 25, 2026 - Giants 27, Texans 21 (OT)
The Giants Foundation 5K & Kids Run
Bring your friends, family and neighbors out to run The Giants Foundation 5K Presented by Quest® on Sunday, November 8th and finish in the end zone at MetLife Stadium!
