The New York Giants are continuing to reshape their offensive identity under new head coach John Harbaugh-and they’re doing it with familiar faces. The latest addition?
Greg Roman, a longtime Harbaugh collaborator and one of the more recognizable names in recent offensive coaching circles. Roman is set to join the Giants as a senior offensive assistant and run game coordinator, bringing a wealth of experience and a clear vision for physical, ground-first football.
Roman’s arrival marks a significant piece of Harbaugh’s early puzzle in East Rutherford. It’s also another signal that the Giants are leaning heavily into continuity and proven chemistry, especially with coaches who’ve thrived in Harbaugh’s system before.
Roman and Harbaugh have history-lots of it. Their connection dates back to 2009 when Roman joined Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Stanford as offensive coordinator.
That partnership carried over to the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, where Roman helped craft a power-run offense that complemented a dominant defense and took the Niners to a Super Bowl appearance.
After Jim Harbaugh returned to college football in 2015, Roman kept moving. He took over as offensive coordinator in Buffalo, then reunited with the other Harbaugh brother-John-in Baltimore in 2017. Roman climbed the ladder there too, going from senior offensive assistant to assistant head coach, and eventually taking over as offensive coordinator in 2019.
That 2019 season was Roman at his best. He built an offense around Lamar Jackson that was not only electric but historic.
The Ravens led the league in rushing, Jackson won MVP, and Roman’s creative run schemes were at the center of it all. But the magic faded over time.
The Ravens’ offense regressed in each of Roman’s four seasons calling plays, and in 2022, he stepped away from the team.
Two years later, Roman resurfaced with Jim Harbaugh again-this time with the Los Angeles Chargers-where he served as offensive coordinator. But the reunion was short-lived. After a Wild Card loss to the Patriots, the Chargers opted for a reset, and Roman was let go.
Now, he’s back on the East Coast and back with a Harbaugh, this time helping John Harbaugh establish a new era in New York. His title-senior offensive assistant and run game coordinator-suggests he’ll have a strong hand in shaping the Giants’ rushing attack, a phase of the game that’s been inconsistent in recent years.
This hire also comes just days after the Giants brought in Matt Nagy from the Kansas City Chiefs to be their offensive coordinator. With Nagy and Roman now both in the building, the Giants are blending two contrasting offensive minds: Nagy, who comes from a pass-heavy, spread-style system under Andy Reid; and Roman, who’s made his name with tight formations, motion-heavy run concepts, and quarterback-centric ground games.
That mix could be exactly what the Giants need. After three straight losing seasons, the franchise is clearly looking for a culture shift-and Harbaugh is building a staff that reflects that.
Roman brings a physical identity and deep knowledge of offensive structure. He’s not just a run-game guy; he’s someone who’s helped mold MVPs and playoff-caliber units.
For a team that’s struggled to find its footing on offense, Roman’s presence offers a clear direction: get tough, get physical, and control the line of scrimmage. If Harbaugh is aiming to make the Giants a team that wins in the trenches, Roman is a natural fit to help lay that foundation.
It’s early in the Harbaugh era, but with Roman and Nagy both on board, the Giants are stacking experienced minds who’ve been in big moments and built successful systems. The road back to relevance won’t be easy, but the blueprint is starting to take shape-and it’s one that leans heavily on experience, familiarity, and a commitment to doing the dirty work in the run game.