Brian Callahan is back in the mix-and this time, he’s joining forces with one of the most respected coaches in football. After a rollercoaster stint as head coach in Tennessee, Callahan is heading to New York to become the Giants’ quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator under newly hired head coach John Harbaugh.
Yes, that John Harbaugh-longtime Ravens leader, Super Bowl winner, and now the man tasked with turning around a Giants franchise that’s been stuck in neutral for far too long. Harbaugh walks into arguably the best situation among this year’s 10 new head coaching hires: a talented young quarterback on a rookie deal, a defense loaded with blue-chip talent, and now, a coaching staff quietly brimming with experience and upside.
Let’s start with Callahan. His track record in Cincinnati speaks for itself.
He helped guide Joe Burrow to a Super Bowl appearance in just his second season, fresh off a devastating knee injury and a rookie year shortened by COVID protocols. That 2021 Bengals offense wasn’t just good-it was electric.
And while things haven’t gone as smoothly for Cincinnati since Callahan’s departure, his fingerprints are all over that team’s most successful stretch in decades.
Now, he’ll try to replicate that magic with Jaxson Dart, the Giants’ promising but raw quarterback prospect. Dart has the tools-arm strength, mobility, and that fearless edge-but he’s also coming off injuries and still learning how to harness his full potential.
That’s where Callahan comes in. His ability to develop quarterbacks, tailor schemes to their strengths, and build confidence in young passers could be a game-changer for Dart’s trajectory.
But Callahan isn’t doing it alone. The Giants’ offensive staff is shaping up to be a fascinating blend of experience and redemption.
Former Bears head coach Matt Nagy is on board, bringing two Super Bowl rings from his time in Kansas City and a reputation that’s better than many give him credit for. Say what you will about his time in Chicago, but Nagy took Mitch Trubisky to the playoffs twice.
That’s no small feat.
Then there’s Greg Roman, now in charge of the run game. Roman’s known for his ground-and-pound approach, and while he’s taken heat for his pass-game concepts in the past, his work building a Lamar Jackson-led Ravens offense from scratch was nothing short of brilliant.
Dart isn’t Lamar, but he does bring a dual-threat element to the table. Roman’s experience with mobile quarterbacks could be a valuable asset here.
The Callahan-Roman pairing makes a lot of sense. Roman handles the run game, Callahan crafts the passing attack. It’s a complementary setup that gives the Giants a clear offensive identity-and more importantly, a plan.
And let’s not overlook the weapons. Malik Nabers, the team’s dynamic young receiver, is expected to be back at full strength by Week 1 after tearing his ACL.
If he returns to form, he gives Dart a true WR1 to lean on. Wan’Dale Robinson, a slippery slot receiver, is expected to return in free agency, and the Giants still hold the No. 5 overall pick in the draft-plenty of room to add another playmaker.
In the backfield, Cam Skattebo leads a deep group of pass-catching backs who can keep defenses honest.
Put it all together, and you’ve got the makings of an offense that can actually scare people. The Giants aren’t just throwing darts at a whiteboard-they’re building something with purpose.
And that’s just the offense. On defense, this team is stacked up front.
Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux form a front four that would make any offensive coordinator lose sleep. It’s a unit that can take over games, and it gives the Giants something every contender needs: the ability to win ugly when the offense isn’t clicking.
So yes, it stings a bit for Bengals fans to see Callahan land in such a promising situation. There’s a real chance the Giants could follow a similar script to the one Cincinnati wrote a few years ago: young quarterback, revamped staff, underdog energy, and a defense that can swing momentum.
Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo seem to believe it. When asked about their Super Bowl aspirations, their answer was simple: “We’ll see it soon.”
With this staff and this roster? They might not be wrong.
If you’re looking for a team to buy into before the hype train leaves the station, the Giants might be your best bet. Callahan’s arrival only adds fuel to what could be a breakout season in New York.