John Harbaugh’s latest move in New York is drawing attention for reasons that go beyond Najee Harris’ fit as a backup.
The Giants signed the veteran running back and cleared space by releasing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, making Harris the latest former Pittsburgh Steelers piece to land in Harbaugh’s orbit. On the surface, it looks like a straightforward depth move behind Cam Skattebo. But the bigger takeaway is how closely Harbaugh keeps circling back to familiar faces.
Harris played under Harbaugh’s brother last year, and the pattern is hard to miss. Harbaugh has leaned on connections from Baltimore, bringing in players and coaches who already know his system and, in many cases, know him personally.
That kind of comfort can make sense in the NFL. It can also make a roster look narrow.
The list of familiar names keeps growing. Isaiah Likely, Pat Ricard, Daniel Faalele, and Ar'Darius Washington all played under Harbaugh in Baltimore. His staff also includes former Ravens coaches Dennard Wilson and Greg Roman, now serving as defensive coordinator and an offensive assistant, respectively.
That reach extends deeper than the sideline, too. Defensive line coach Dennis Johnson, assistant head coach Chris Horton, running backs coach Willie Taggart, and defensive pass game coordinator Donald D'Alesio all coached under Harbaugh in Baltimore.
For a coach trying to build something new in New York, that level of familiarity raises a simple question: if those same coaches and players couldn’t get to a Super Bowl with prime Lamar Jackson, why will they do so in the near future with Jaxson Dart?
Harris himself doesn’t exactly change the equation. The source material says it has been years since he was even an average running back, and his explosiveness faded along with his yards per carry in his final season with the Steelers. He later backed up Omarion Hampton for three games before tearing his Achilles.
Even as a depth addition, the argument is that there were better upside swings available. The concern isn’t just Harris. It’s the larger approach - one that looks rigid, insular, and heavily dependent on old ties.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with hiring people you know. The problem comes when familiarity starts to crowd out flexibility. And if Harbaugh keeps building this way, the same criticism that has followed his brother Jim in Los Angeles could start following him in New York, too.
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Jake Haeners arrival adds another layer to the competition after Brandon Allens rough outing put the quarterback depth picture back under scrutiny. For a team still sorting out the bottom of the roster, this is the sort of game that can quietly shape the next few weeks, with practice squad spots and depth roles hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]