John Harbaugh hasn’t wasted any time putting his stamp on the New York Giants. Less than a week into his tenure as head coach - and with full control of football operations - Harbaugh is already reshaping the organization from the top down. And the message is loud and clear: this is his team now.
The latest move? A significant shift in the Giants’ medical and training department.
Ronnie Barnes, who’s been a fixture with the franchise since 1976, is stepping aside as head trainer. At 73, Barnes isn’t being shown the door entirely - he’s transitioning into more of an emeritus role, still overseeing the department but no longer calling the day-to-day shots.
A new head trainer will be brought in, and it’s expected that Harbaugh will tap into his deep Ravens connections to fill that spot and restructure the staff.
This is no small change. Barnes has been the Giants’ head trainer since 1980 and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor just two years ago.
His influence inside the building has been immense, and his longevity speaks volumes. But Harbaugh is clearly not here to preserve the status quo.
He’s here to build something new - his way.
That became even more evident a day earlier, when Harbaugh parted ways with longtime front office executive Kevin Abrams. Abrams, a former assistant GM, had been with the Giants since 1999 and was one of the few remaining links to previous regimes.
Harbaugh didn’t hesitate. One press conference in, and he’s already clearing house.
It’s not just about titles or personnel moves - it’s about control. The Giants gave Harbaugh a five-year, $100 million deal, and with it, they handed him the keys to the entire football operation.
Technically, Joe Schoen remains the general manager, but make no mistake: Harbaugh is running the show. Final say on personnel decisions?
That’s his. Authority over staffing, structure, and football philosophy?
Also his.
Ownership is backing him fully. While John Mara continues to oversee the Giants’ day-to-day business operations - even as he battles cancer - he and his brother Chris are giving Harbaugh the freedom to reshape the organization as he sees fit.
That kind of trust isn’t given lightly. It’s earned - and Harbaugh’s track record in Baltimore gave the Giants enough confidence to go all-in.
These early moves may feel jarring to some - especially given the legacy figures involved - but they’re not surprising. Harbaugh is a culture-setter.
He’s not afraid to make bold decisions, and he’s certainly not afraid to make changes if he believes they’ll help build a tougher, more competitive football team. That starts with the people in the building - and clearly, he’s wasting no time identifying who fits into his vision and who doesn’t.
So far, the Harbaugh era in New York is off to a decisive start. And if these first few days are any indication, the Giants are going to look - and operate - very differently moving forward.