John Harbaugh - Head Coach, giants Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-18 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 18, 2026, John Harbaugh addressed the media in a press conference for the Giants, discussing team updates and player injuries. The session followed a series of roster moves, including the placement of a key player on injured reserve and the absence of another due to personal matters.
Related analysis: Our take on what this means
Transcript
Harbaugh: A couple of things to note before we get started. Dennard had a personal family situation to deal with today. So he was out today in case you didn't see him out there. He will be back tomorrow, expected back tomorrow, we should say. But then Deebo was put on IR this morning, a short term IR with a knee issue, not a long term knee issue. But one that's gonna keep him out for a few weeks. So we made that move, but you'll see that, I think you'll see it at 4 o'clock, actually. So, spoiler, keep it moving, you know? So what questions do you have?
Harbaugh: We're in the defense with an iron on there. They call all the coaches, yeah, it was a group effort. And the same thing with the meetings. They went through the regular routine that we would have and Frank Bush did the big picture install as far as the third down red zone stuff. Mason made the third down stuff, the new defenses, but double D did the red zone. And Addison did the third down, which is how we always do it.
Harbaugh: Yeah, just the cornerback depth, kind of looking at our situation there. And with Paulson, and at this time of year, it's good to be aggressive, especially at that position. There's still some guys in the practice squad who won't last in the practice squad probably too much longer, so it was a good get for us.
Harbaugh: Yeah, it's just professional. It's not like we talk about it too much. I haven't talked to him yet about it, but I'm sure I may get a call here sometime soon.
Harbaugh: He's here, yeah, he's here, he's here. Got here just in time to go back out west?
Harbaugh: Yeah, right, back to LA, yeah. He's logging his frequent fire miles.
Harbaugh: Yeah, day-to-day, I would say, is where he's at. We'll see where he goes.
Harbaugh: Yeah, not injury-related, but just how he's handling week two. He's been great, I mean, I feel like he had two really good practices, which is pretty normal for him. New game plan, so it's second week. You know, it's kind of a process for us. It's our first time doing this as a staff together, so we're working through that part of it. You know, I have coming off the game, boom, into a, we'll have a new one next week, because we'll have a short week next week, so that'll be new for us as well. So I'd say we're still kind of working through that, navigating through all that, but it's been really good. The guy's been working super hard. He's a leader as far as that. He conducts a lot of extra meetings and things like that, so it's been good.
Harbaugh: We speed up, you know, we condense, you know, we try to do things quicker. We'll take the day off after the game, but we won't get back probably till, you know, 8 in the morning or something like that. So that'll be the day off, and then we'll game plan right on through as coaches until we get to Wednesday afternoon, and then we'll be doing sort of a walk-through on Wednesday afternoon, and then going from there.
Harbaugh: Well, no, Chad, you know, professionally, since he was playing, actually, but then also as a coach with the Bills, had a ton of respect for him, tried to hire him once or twice, you know, couldn't get him, and so I was thrilled that he decided to stay on. And then, you know, the fact that he's back in the wide receiver room was great for us. He was something that he was excited to do. I mean, I know he's got aspirations and stuff to do a lot of things, but he's such a great coach. A great football coach, great wide receiver coach, obviously played the position, so he brings that to the table. High energy, just really high level, I guess. Demanding off, demanding's the right word. Motivating, motivating's probably the better word. It really brings that level to the guys, and they've been playing accordingly. I thought the wide receivers, the level of effort from the receivers this last game was incredible. So I think Chad's responsible for that.
Harbaugh: I'd say so, you know, leadership-wise, he's got a lot of good ideas as far as leadership and the way he motivates guys and his value system. Say he's in line with that, yet he's still got that personality, you know, and kind of almost a beach guy personality, too, at the same time. It's an interesting combination. It's definitely not a military haircut.
Harbaugh: You know, all we ever need out of anybody is just your best. You know, get out there and compete your best. He's fully capable of playing at a high level. I do think he's had some nagging things that have been bothering him or, you know, slowing him down just a little bit through camp and all that. So, you know, hopefully he'll come back and kind of get through some of this stuff and play at a really high level. I mean, you know, he's a top-level corner, so you want him playing at a top level. You know, that would be the goal, for sure. That would be the idea, and that's what he, I'm sure that's what he'll be shooting for us. That's how he sees himself, too.
Harbaugh: No, I don't believe so. I don't believe so. I would say no to that right now, but don't hold me to it.
Harbaugh: Great question. Because it's a question we're asking ourselves. In all honesty, so that, I think it comes back to what he's capable of handling. He had a good workload today again, so as he's ramping up his volume and practice, which would be bringing him closer to that kind of a mindset in the games, we'll see as we get to the games, but he looks strong. He does.
Harbaugh: Yeah, he practiced today. He was out through the whole practice today, so.
Harbaugh: A.T. was out there today, full of, yeah, yeah. A.T. was more of a, you know, kind of just take, just being careful with the ankle, a little bit, giving some rest, come off the game.
Harbaugh: It's a point that is, you couldn't make strongly enough, I don't think. You know, it's the player's team, you know? So, when you talk about, it's always the player's team. The players are always the ones out there making the plays. They're the ones playing the game. They come out of the tunnel for a reason. They're the ones that are gonna be out there, you know, in the battle, so to speak, the football battle. And for them to take ownership, as you're saying, is really the most important thing because they're the guys out there that have to do it together. So, the fact that they're in there, even on their own, talking through the plays, talking through the checks, getting on the same page, you know, to me, that's like, that's really, really, really valuable thing. You know, I couldn't put a big enough price tag on it. It's really, really.
Harbaugh: Right, yeah, to me, it's just, it's in the work, you know, it's whether you do something, you know? It's what you do that matters and they come to work. They were locked in Tuesday, starting Tuesday, and they've been locked in all week. Two excellent practices. Like you said, the meetings that Art's talking about, to me, that's what I look at. I just want to see good football. And that's what we've seen this week. So, you know, we've got to take it out there Monday night against an excellent football team. You know, some people would rank them as the top team in the NFL, you know, coming into the season. So, and, you know, they're gonna burn to their saddle right now, you know, probably after the first game.
Harbaugh: I don't know. I don't know what to expect. I haven't really thought about it, honestly. But Giants fans, you know, we've got a big, we've got a huge fan base and they travel everywhere and they're all over the country. They're probably all over the world. So, I'd like to see a few in there. It'd be great.
