beyond the back page John Harbaugh promised his Giants would have to earn their roles — he wasn’t lying By Jared Schwartz Published Aug. 26, 2026, 7:40 a.m. ET John Harbaugh looks over his Giants during a during a training-camp practice on Aug. 17, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Almost every coach claims to uphold it. Not all actually do.
Basing decisions on meritocracy can be tricky when there are big contracts, high draft picks and entrenched roles involved. But the best teams are often the ones that best adhere to that standard.
John Harbaugh, since taking over the Giants, has stressed its importance.
“We say football is the true meritocracy,” Harbaugh said earlier this month. “[Former Ravens assistant coach] Jerry Rosburg used to say, ‘No royalty.’ That’s the way it works in sports. The best player is the player that plays the best. The best team is the team that plays the best. They prove it on the field. That’s what merit is all about.”
