John Harbaugh opens up about Super Bowl goal amid early days of Giants tenure

The New York Giants tallied just a single playoff victory from 2013 up until they hired John Harbaugh as their new head coach this past January. 

Former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin famously guided the club to Super Bowl titles in February 2008 and February 2012. During a recent chat with Ian O'Connor of The Athletic, Harbaugh shared his desire to follow in Coughlin's footsteps as Big Blue's new leader. 

John Harbaugh "consumed with" this goal for Giants tenure

"I’ve heard people say the parade in New York is the most incredible thing ever," Harbaugh said about a championship celebration. "Coach Coughlin told me that, and I have a vision, like, 'Wow, I want it. I want to see that. I want to be in that parade.' But with that being said, what I’m thinking about is what the team looks like that earns the right to be in that parade someday. What do we have to build to get there? That’s really what I’m consumed with."

Reports from January detailed how Coughlin reached out to Harbaugh about accepting the Giants' job shortly after the Baltimore Ravens fired Harbaugh on Jan. 6. While serving as the Ravens' head coach from 2008 through this past season, Harbaugh led the team to a single Super Bowl title in February 2013. 

John Harbaugh makes big claim about OC Matt Nagy

Harbaugh is reporting directly to team co-owner John Mara and not to general manager Joe Schoen in a shift for an organization that typically hasn't given a head coach such power. That said, Harbaugh suffered the first loss of his Giants tenure when former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken became the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns this winter. 

Monken was Harbaugh's first choice for the Giants' OC job, and Harbaugh ultimately selected former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for the gig. O'Connor directly asked Harbaugh if Nagy could match the expectations the coach had for Monken.

"Of course," Harbaugh responded. "Of course. I expect Matt to be the best ever. I’m hoping he’ll be the best offensive coordinator to ever coach the game; that’s what we’re shooting for." 

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart heard good things about Nagy from Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce before Harbaugh finalized his choice. Nagy may not become "the best offensive coordinator to ever coach the game" with the Giants, but he likely will prove to be the right man for the job if he helps Dart make a major leap as a second-year pro.