Giants finally make decision on GM Joe Schoen, and it's curious

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen. Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Giants finally make decision on GM Joe Schoen, and it's curious

By Adam Gretz | Last updated May 22, 2026 9:02 AM ET

The New York Giants have finally made a decision regarding the future of general manager Joe Schoen, and it's probably not the one anybody close to the team (or cheering for the team) anticipated.

The Giants announced on Thursday that Schoen has received a multiyear contract extension to remain in place as the team's general manager.

Giants finally make decision to keep general manager Joe Schoen

The decision to keep Schoen is, quite honestly, a baffling one on a lot of levels.

The most obvious being the fact that he has been the team's general manager since the start of the 2022 season, producing only a 22-45-1 record and just one playoff appearance (in his first year). Over the past three years, the team has lost at least 10 games every year, going 13-38. That dismal record resulted in the Giants firing head coach Brian Daboll during the 2025 season and replacing him this offseason with former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

The hiring of Harbaugh is one of the things that made it seem likely that Schoen's future might be in some question.

The New York Giants have agreed to a multi-year extension with General Manager Joe Schoen
— New York Giants (@Giants) May 21, 2026

The Giants are paying him $20 million per year and bringing him in to rebuild the culture and team. Given his resume, the price tag and the past few years, it seems logical to conclude that Harbaugh is the most powerful man in the organization outside of ownership.

Why wouldn't he be the de facto GM? If they're going to fire the former coach, why not do the same with the GM who put the team in that position? Why wouldn't they want a new voice to eventually come in with a new coach?

All logical questions.

All questions the Giants don't seem interested in at this point.

Given their recent track record, which includes just two winning seasons and only two playoff appearances since their most recent Super Bowl win 15 years ago, it is hard to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

More must-reads: