John Harbaugh issues challenge to Giants players about desired culture shift

A New York Giants team that has notched just one playoff victory since it won the Super Bowl in February 2012 hired John Harbaugh as its new head coach and as the true head of the franchise's football operations this past winter. 

Giants ownership clearly believes that Harbaugh, a one-time Super Bowl champion head coach, is the right leader to reestablish a winning culture for the organization. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Harbaugh explained how changing the Giants' culture will "be at the heart of what we’re gonna try to do" under his watch. 

What John Harbaugh wants from Giants players during offseason program

"Try to be excited about every single day," Harbaugh said about what he wants from his players during the Giants' offseason program, per Ben Krimmel of SNY. "Try to approach the day, as my dad would say, 'With an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.' We talked to those guys about that [Tuesday], and we had a good time, we had fun, we had great meetings. It was just a joy to be around the guys…it was just amazing."

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II clearly isn't excited about Giants players returning to the team's facility this week, as he has requested a trade amid his alleged desire to receive a lucrative contract extension. Teams around the league reportedly believe that something will "eventually get done to keep Lawrence with the Giants." That said, Harbaugh raised some eyebrows when he acknowledged that "everybody's tradeable."

John Harbaugh: Being associated with the Giants is "an honor"

"That’s what it is," Harbaugh added about trying to improve the Giants' culture. "It’s just a bunch of people coming together to build something together that is a team. And plays like a team. And plays like a team better than any other team. If you do that, then you have the chance to be the best team. ‘Cause the best team is the team that plays the best, I mighta said that in the meeting [Tuesday]. It was fun to be around the guys. It was fun to stand in front of the New York Giants today. It was an honor, and I told them that. It was an honor to stand in front of the New York Giants today and talk to the New York Giants and have them communicate back."

People within the Giants are clearly hyped about what quarterback and 2025 rookie Jaxson Dart could become while working under Harbaugh. That said, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson accumulated a postseason record as a starter of 3-5 while having Harbaugh as a head coach. 

Harbaugh will look to get Dart his first playoff victory as an NFL QB1 this coming January.