Giants’ surprising free agency decision reveals just how serious John Harbaugh is about adjusting the offensive philosophy in 2026
New York is hosting running back Najee Harris on visit as Harbaugh’s run-heavy offensive vision takes shape.
The New York Giants are exploring a surprising free agent addition, hosting former Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris on a visit. The move is somewhat telling about how head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy intend to run the offense in 2026, prioritizing the ground game to support young quarterback Jaxson Dart.
At first glance, running back doesn’t look like a position of need for the Giants. New York already has Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary, and depth options like Dante Miller and Eric Gray. That’s a crowded backfield on paper, but not enough for Harbaugh.
Run-first identity under Harbaugh
The visit makes more sense when you consider the offensive philosophy Harbaugh and Nagy want to install. The Giants are building a run-centric attack, and the early returns from the preseason opener showed how committed the coaching staff is to establishing that identity, with 27 rushing attempts and 21 passes. Taking the burden off Dart is the priority, and that requires a stable of backs who can absorb heavy workloads.
That’s also why the team added Greg Roman to the coaching staff as a senior offensive assistant. Roman’s track record of building rushing attacks aligns with everything the Giants are doing schematically, and a player like Harris fits that mold.
What Harris brings to the table
Harris played four seasons for the Steelers as a former first-round pick and surpassed 1,000 yards in each of those campaigns. He’s not necessarily a hyper-efficient runner, but he is dependable and capable of absorbing the pounding that comes with a larger role within the offense. For a team building around volume rushing, that’s an ideal profile to look for.
Harris is returning from an Achilles injury that limited him to three game appearances last season for the Chargers, but he is now fully recovered. The Giants are essentially testing what Harris still has at this stage of his career. If the burst and durability check out, he could offer legitimate depth behind the team’s established options.
There’s also a familiarity component here. Harris spent last season with Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers in Los Angeles, which gives John Harbaugh a direct line of intel on what type of person and worker Harris is. How Harris attacked his recovery and how he approached training camp before suffering the injury left a strong impression. That’s enough for the Giants to feel comfortable with Harris’s off-the-field mindset and work ethic, two traits Harbaugh values in his locker room.
Quarterback move
The New York Giants also signed veteran quarterback Jake Haener, a former fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints who also spent some time earlier this year with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Giants now carry four quarterbacks on the 90-man roster, as Haener will be behind Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston, and Brandon Allen.
