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New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh returned to his alma mater on Saturday to deliver the keynote address at Miami (Ohio) University’s commencement for the Class of 2026.
Speaking at Yager Stadium — the same field where he played defensive back for the RedHawks and where a statue now honors his place in the program’s Cradle of Coaches — the 1984 graduate also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
Harbaugh, who led the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons and won Super Bowl XLVII, drew directly from his January firing to offer the graduates a candid lesson in resilience.
“There are going to be tough times,” he said. “You might get a call with some bad news. Maybe about your job. Maybe they will tell you they don’t want you anymore, and it’s time to move on. That happens. In those moments, I hope you will find resilience and rejoice in all the good you still have and all the people who still care for you — that you will come to understand there is a great opportunity on the next horizon of your life.”
He told the crowd that life is best lived going forward but best understood looking back, and that toughness is both a talent and a decision.
"Toughness is a talent. Toughness is a decision," Harbaugh said. "If you decide that you are willing to make the choice to be tough, know that the doubters, the discouragers, the detractors have no power over you when you make that choice. You cannot be defeated. I hope you’ve begun to learn from your experiences while it is true that we can’t control everything, you can control a whole lot. In truth, you can control almost everything. The only things we aren’t given to control in our life are the outcomes. Who wins and loses? Man, have I ever come to learn that in the National Football League."
The coach closed by invoking his family’s signature question — “Who has it better than us?” — and reminded graduates they control far more than they realize, even when outcomes remain uncertain.
With Giants training camp approaching and the season opener set for Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys, Harbaugh’s message carried the weight of fresh experience and long-earned perspective.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' John Harbaugh delivers commencement for Miami (Ohio) University
Continue reading...
Speaking at Yager Stadium — the same field where he played defensive back for the RedHawks and where a statue now honors his place in the program’s Cradle of Coaches — the 1984 graduate also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
Harbaugh, who led the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons and won Super Bowl XLVII, drew directly from his January firing to offer the graduates a candid lesson in resilience.
“There are going to be tough times,” he said. “You might get a call with some bad news. Maybe about your job. Maybe they will tell you they don’t want you anymore, and it’s time to move on. That happens. In those moments, I hope you will find resilience and rejoice in all the good you still have and all the people who still care for you — that you will come to understand there is a great opportunity on the next horizon of your life.”
He told the crowd that life is best lived going forward but best understood looking back, and that toughness is both a talent and a decision.
"Toughness is a talent. Toughness is a decision," Harbaugh said. "If you decide that you are willing to make the choice to be tough, know that the doubters, the discouragers, the detractors have no power over you when you make that choice. You cannot be defeated. I hope you’ve begun to learn from your experiences while it is true that we can’t control everything, you can control a whole lot. In truth, you can control almost everything. The only things we aren’t given to control in our life are the outcomes. Who wins and loses? Man, have I ever come to learn that in the National Football League."
The coach closed by invoking his family’s signature question — “Who has it better than us?” — and reminded graduates they control far more than they realize, even when outcomes remain uncertain.
With Giants training camp approaching and the season opener set for Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys, Harbaugh’s message carried the weight of fresh experience and long-earned perspective.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' John Harbaugh delivers commencement for Miami (Ohio) University
Continue reading...
