John Harbaugh - Head Coach, giants Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-05 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 5, 2026, John Harbaugh addressed the media during a press conference as the Giants prepared for the upcoming NFL regular season. The conference focused on the team's training camp progress and player readiness as they transitioned into the new season.
Transcript
Harbaugh: Okay, appreciate everybody being here our good good hard work day. I thought the guys did excellent job today preparation in this transition week and training camp to the regular season and We try to get better and I think we did what questions you have.
Reporter: Yeah, excuse me Malik who see a full full participants without He worked with the trainers for a little bit early then he came out and was involved in most of the team reps I It's day-to-day. He got he's kind of working through what he needs from one day to the next So he was with Valley for some period of time. He was out there for most of the team reps.
Harbaugh: They're kind of antsy now for the season to start.
Reporter: Ah, yeah, I do I think the guys are they're looking forward to playing the game. I mean they're practicing well They're not I don't they're not skipping any part of the process, you know preparing for the game Which is good because I thought they were locked in both yesterday and today really well, but they're ready to they're excited They want to go play a game.
Reporter: Real quick John the Malik the working with a trainer to start and then going into practice seems like it's different than what it's big He's been doing individuals for a while. So how is that change?
Harbaugh: I think it's just day to day. You know, that's up to the trainers. They let us know what he's what he's ready for at any certain time So it's part of the process.
Reporter: Yesterday and you guys all along I'm not set a target day for returning Do you guys as a coaching staff have to assume you're not going to have them or do you sort of have your own plan?
Harbaugh: What they're with or without, you know, it's great question about assuming because I'm just gonna like I'm gonna give you the answer That comes immediately to mind the odd couple You remember the odd couple? Oscar and Felix, you know, you know, you know the episode I'm talking about Right where he puts these in the court and Felix is defending so this himself draws up assume and switch happens when you assume But you have to plan for yeah We got a plan for every outcome exactly so we have to plan That he'll be there fully We'll have to plan that he's not there at all I want to plan that he's there for some partial amount and every kind of amount in between so it makes it tough There's no doubt about it, but you never know If a player is gonna be available or not because anything can happen, you know, things can happen first play the game last play the game whatever Then someone's gonna be ready to come in and step in so you've got just you just you don't overthink that You know, you just prepare for it. You have guys ready to play.
Harbaugh: No, I think it's more of a statement about the quarterback room, you know, we have we like we like Opportunities to have a third quarterback on the practice squad you can you can elevate them for a game They're not gonna the teams of four aren't going to elevate more than three anyway Just gives us another roster spot and in this case two more roster spots for the positions when they would have that's an advantage for Us so their room they must not have been able to think they wanted to keep all four It wasn't in their best interest to move somebody right now release somebody maybe they're too in their mind more valuable than that Maybe they'll trade, you know, maybe they'll do something different at some point in time, but That was our situation that this year it could change next year.
Reporter: Well, he told us that he said he when he wants to when he plays he wants to go You know be able to play four quarters and be healthy to do that for you guys When you decide whether Brandeis will depend on how much he can play or just being able to play in some capacity It'll depict.
Harbaugh: Well, yeah, that's isn't that the same thing how much you can play and in what capacity? I mean, that's exactly what we'll be looking at, you know Is it is it is it gonna be is it gonna be where he needs to be to help us win, you know And then he has to be confident Of course, he's got to be confident because for him to play at the level He's gonna need to play it for us to win and him protect himself and he's got to feel good about it You'll feel like he's there. He's got to know he's there. So to me that's just gonna be an ongoing conversation Right right throughout but it is with every player just most players are fine When you come back from an injury whether it's long term or even short term. Hey Where do we stand with the doctors trainers the player? How does he look on tape? You know with it. What are the numbers say? How fast is he running? Some guys, you know, they'll they'll come back with you know Like the guy the minute man with the you know The pit the leg and the deal with their head all wrapped up you see that picture before and they'll say they want to play You know, so I'm not trying to make light of it But I get I kind of am because to me it's an obvious answer.
Reporter: With that to John I kind of a question here, but it's with Malik anytime He's on the field whether he's the Malik of old or still working his way back defenses have to pay attention Like he's not a guy that you can just ignore it no matter what state he is As long as it can't reinjure or can't get worse Is there any part of that to consider that?
Harbaugh: Well like it'd be like it'd be like being questioned by the jury Like like I don't have the answer to that question because that's not the only factor So you want it to be the only factor and it's not the only factor. It's definitely a factor. It's a very good point I mean when he's out there they know he's out there and he's only gonna be out there if he can go if He can go score, you know, but it's not the only factor There's other factors, so it won't be based solely on that so you can't pin me that that one thing.
Reporter: When he is ready to go will he be on if you will a pitch count?
Harbaugh: I don't know. We'll see.
Reporter: Anything else?
Harbaugh: Jackson question, that's great. That's awesome. It's amazing Where have I seen him grow the most? It's it's hard you can't pin that one down either really because I think it's more about right now this offense, you know Beating this offense operating at next duty for every player and for sure Jackson probably the most because he's the quarterback You know and he's got the most responsibility for operating the offense and for executing and he's running the whole show So I think he's come a long way. I think it looks really comfortable in what we're doing right now But you know the next test will be a game time, you know, and we'll see how he does.
Harbaugh: Yeah, then, you know, that'll just be the beginning to like the first game is not the end of the story The first game is the beginning of the story It'll be the beginning of the story for Malik and it'll be the beginning story for Jackson and really for our whole team Going forward. So that'll be a great moment to see where we're at, you know, and then we'll figure out where we go from there.