The Baltimore Ravens are eating well after looking at their 2026 schedule. They have an easier path, which should help them potentially make a run back to the playoffs under new head coach Jesse Minter. The same can’t be said for their former head coach, John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh’s New York Giants don’t have an overly difficult schedule. According to strength of schedule, they have the 16th easiest schedule; not too difficult, not too easy. However, Harbaugh has some tough stretches in front of him.
In Week 1, Harbaugh is thrown right into the fire, squaring off against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The following week, his team plays the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football. That’s two primetime games against the top two offenses from last season. And the Giants have a late-season gauntlet awaiting them. It’s a brutal gut check to start Harbaugh's post-Ravens tenure.
John Harbaugh stares down harsh reality to kick off post-Ravens career
Ravens fans will be keeping a close eye on Harbaugh in 2026. Despite enjoying a very successful time in Charm City, his tenure ended on a bit of a sour note in the eyes of the fanbase. Hesitancy to change his ways played a big role in a shockingly disappointing season, which culminated in his firing.
Since joining the Giants, Harbaugh’s taken a number of former Ravens with him. He was a bit of a thorn in Baltimore’s side this offseason, and it’s for that reason that there’s a ton of attention placed on New York. And that troubling start and end to the 2026 campaign could be a bit of a reality check for Harbaugh.
Yes, the 63-year-old coach joins an exciting up-and-coming team. However, it could be a struggle to find success in year one of his Giants career. This team went 4-13 last year. Harbaugh has his work cut out for him, and the schedule is doing him no favors. They draw games against the Cowboys and Rams early on, then play the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles, all within the final six weeks. Talk about trial by fire.
Sure, there’s a lot of potential between guys like Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers, and that defense is littered with talented pieces, but it’s fair to say the Giants are still a year away. Sure, the Harbaugh addition will boost their floor; however, after what we saw from him in 2025, that ceiling might not be too high. Even with an impressive resume, he has a lot to prove.
Ultimately, there’s a real possibility that Harbaugh turns things around in the Big Apple. He’s a Hall of Fame-caliber head coach after all. The schedule release made an already challenging task to get his team going in the right direction even more challenging, though. It’s a bitter pill for him to swallow, and Ravens fans will be watching to see how he fares.
Add us as a preferred source on Google