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Editor's note: This is Part 13 of 26 in Art Stapleton's New York Giants summer series Q&A
The New York Giants have a Super Bowl winner and possible Hall of Famer at head coach in John Harbaugh, with whom the entire team can strive for a championship standard the franchise has failed to meet for far too long now.
The standing ovation for Harbaugh from the assembled Giants fans inside Beacon Theatre back in May for the team's Town Hall event was only just the beginning.
And Harbaugh, their head coach set to usher in yet another new era for the franchise in its 102nd year, certainly knew how to play to his audience moments later.
With chants of "Cowboys suck" ringing out around him, Harbaugh was asked by a fan if he could promise the Giants were done being kicked around by their NFC rivals and most hated foes: the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders.
That's when Harbaugh with 193 career victories rallied a fan base with a pledge that felt an awful lot like a battle cry he will repeatedly deliver between now and the start of the season.
"I could [not] care less about what's happened last year or the year before that or 10 years before that," Harbaugh said. "All I care about is tomorrow's practice, because if tomorrow's practice is the way it's supposed to be, that will be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys' ass."
26 QUESTIONS: See our growing list of Giants questions for 2026 season
For now, there are far more questions than answers. But we hope to set the table for the summer and beyond with 26 questions that will define the 2026 Giants season.
Much was expected of Tyler Nubin when he was first safety selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The timing is right with the Giants for this third-year pro to reach his potential.
Nubin has oozed confidence and leadership since the ex-University of Minnesota Golden Gophers star was taken with the No. 47 overall pick in the second round and the Giants considered him tops at the position in the Class of 2024.
His blend of personality and physicality was undeniable, and you can see those who matter gravitate to him. There is an edge and an explosiveness to his game, not to mention a purposefulness to his approach that behind the scenes the Giants have been raving about from the moment he walked through their doors.
Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown predicted that Nubin could emerge as "the alphas of alphas," just because of the way he leads. But the first two seasons for the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder have not gone as planned.
The addition of Jevon Holland as Nubin's new running mate on the back end last year was significant, and Holland is a talented playmaker in his own right. With potentially their most complete safety tandem since Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips on the way to Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants believed the combination of Holland and Nubin would alter the way teams play them.
And if opponents refuse, it'll play to the advantage they have on the back end.
That game-changing impact never revealed itself, however. Enter Harbaugh and a new coaching staff within Dennard Wilson's Ravens-influenced system, and the Giants have not given up on Nubin and why he was touted as a true ball hawk with 13 career interceptions in college.
Abdul Carter is an obvious answer to this breakout question, and Darius Alexander is going to get chances up front. There is, of course, Arvell Reese, and the playmaking ability in the middle as a rookie will command attention.
But we'll go with Nubin, a playmaker that has been searching for that much of two seasons as a Giant. He has the size and length teams look for in the secondary, but his instincts are what sets him apart. His study habits and understanding of opposing offenses should allow for Nubin to get to spaces where young players probably should not.
As a rookie, Nubin admits that he was thinking too much, and that slowed down his ability to react and attack. Last season, with the Giants' defense struggling with consistency, Nubin was lost in fired DC Shane Bowen's passive scheme. Harbaugh and Wilson will expect more from Nubin and Holland, and they won't hesitate to move them around.
The presence of Ar'Darius Washington, Elijah Campbell and Jason Pinnock should put enough pressure on Nubin and Holland to come out of the gates firing. Wilson and secondary coach Donald D'Alesio are eager to make things happen on the back end. Don't be surprised if Nubin stands out this summer with a more confident approach to the game.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Who will be the breakout defensive player for the 2026 NY Giants?
Continue reading...
The New York Giants have a Super Bowl winner and possible Hall of Famer at head coach in John Harbaugh, with whom the entire team can strive for a championship standard the franchise has failed to meet for far too long now.
The standing ovation for Harbaugh from the assembled Giants fans inside Beacon Theatre back in May for the team's Town Hall event was only just the beginning.
And Harbaugh, their head coach set to usher in yet another new era for the franchise in its 102nd year, certainly knew how to play to his audience moments later.
With chants of "Cowboys suck" ringing out around him, Harbaugh was asked by a fan if he could promise the Giants were done being kicked around by their NFC rivals and most hated foes: the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders.
That's when Harbaugh with 193 career victories rallied a fan base with a pledge that felt an awful lot like a battle cry he will repeatedly deliver between now and the start of the season.
"I could [not] care less about what's happened last year or the year before that or 10 years before that," Harbaugh said. "All I care about is tomorrow's practice, because if tomorrow's practice is the way it's supposed to be, that will be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys' ass."
26 QUESTIONS: See our growing list of Giants questions for 2026 season
For now, there are far more questions than answers. But we hope to set the table for the summer and beyond with 26 questions that will define the 2026 Giants season.
Question #13: Who will be the breakout player on Giants' defense?
Much was expected of Tyler Nubin when he was first safety selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The timing is right with the Giants for this third-year pro to reach his potential.
Nubin has oozed confidence and leadership since the ex-University of Minnesota Golden Gophers star was taken with the No. 47 overall pick in the second round and the Giants considered him tops at the position in the Class of 2024.
His blend of personality and physicality was undeniable, and you can see those who matter gravitate to him. There is an edge and an explosiveness to his game, not to mention a purposefulness to his approach that behind the scenes the Giants have been raving about from the moment he walked through their doors.
Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown predicted that Nubin could emerge as "the alphas of alphas," just because of the way he leads. But the first two seasons for the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder have not gone as planned.
The addition of Jevon Holland as Nubin's new running mate on the back end last year was significant, and Holland is a talented playmaker in his own right. With potentially their most complete safety tandem since Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips on the way to Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants believed the combination of Holland and Nubin would alter the way teams play them.
And if opponents refuse, it'll play to the advantage they have on the back end.
That game-changing impact never revealed itself, however. Enter Harbaugh and a new coaching staff within Dennard Wilson's Ravens-influenced system, and the Giants have not given up on Nubin and why he was touted as a true ball hawk with 13 career interceptions in college.
Abdul Carter is an obvious answer to this breakout question, and Darius Alexander is going to get chances up front. There is, of course, Arvell Reese, and the playmaking ability in the middle as a rookie will command attention.
But we'll go with Nubin, a playmaker that has been searching for that much of two seasons as a Giant. He has the size and length teams look for in the secondary, but his instincts are what sets him apart. His study habits and understanding of opposing offenses should allow for Nubin to get to spaces where young players probably should not.
As a rookie, Nubin admits that he was thinking too much, and that slowed down his ability to react and attack. Last season, with the Giants' defense struggling with consistency, Nubin was lost in fired DC Shane Bowen's passive scheme. Harbaugh and Wilson will expect more from Nubin and Holland, and they won't hesitate to move them around.
The presence of Ar'Darius Washington, Elijah Campbell and Jason Pinnock should put enough pressure on Nubin and Holland to come out of the gates firing. Wilson and secondary coach Donald D'Alesio are eager to make things happen on the back end. Don't be surprised if Nubin stands out this summer with a more confident approach to the game.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Who will be the breakout defensive player for the 2026 NY Giants?
Continue reading...
