Giants HC John Harbaugh opens up about working relationship with GM Joe Schoen

Previous reports shared that the five-year deal that John Harbaugh inked to become the next head coach of the New York Giants included language that guaranteed Harbaugh would report directly to team co-owner John Mara and not to general manager Joe Schoen. 

Thus, some understandably have wondered what that means regarding Schoen's future with the organization. During his introductory Giants news conference on Tuesday, Harbaugh discussed what his working relationship with Schoen will look like ahead of the 2026 season. 

John Harbaugh expects "great collaboration" with Joe Schoen

Per NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, Harbaugh said that his conversations with Schoen led him to believe the two will have "great collaboration" as they work together. 

"You get to know Joe, and we started talking ball, and what you see is a football man," Harbaugh said about Schoen. "This guy lives and breathes football. His knowledge is deep. He knows the league. He knows the coaches in the league. He knows the players in the league. ...He was impressive to me."

At least one story indicated that the Tennessee Titans remained alive in the Harbaugh sweepstakes through this past Saturday morning, in part because of how the Giants allegedly responded to Harbaugh's desire to report directly to team ownership. On Tuesday, Harbaugh insisted that particular storyline had been "overblown." 

"That's what I was used to," Harbaugh said in reference to what he experienced as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. "...We all report to the boss, and the boss is ownership. And John Mara is running football operations here. And he's running it. And I'm glad he is." 

John Harbaugh, Joe Schoen will have "phenomenally great" working relationship

Regardless of what Harbaugh said on Tuesday, the perception exists that he is now running the show as it pertains to personnel decisions made by the Giants. 

"I expect it to be phenomenally great," Harbaugh added about how he and Schoen will work together. "I think it's gonna be incredible. ...I'm gonna be leaning on him. He's gonna be leaning on me. We're gonna be leaning on everybody around us. And it's not just us. It's the whole organization." 

Giants senior player personnel executive Chris Mara, John's younger brother, has been credited for meeting with Harbaugh on multiple occasions during the hiring process and for the team landing its desired coaching candidate. After Harbaugh's news conference wrapped up, Chris Mara also met with media members.