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Harbaugh Era Begins: Giants Host Cowboys in Opener
11 May
Summary
- John Harbaugh takes over as Giants coach for the 2026 season opener.
- The Giants will face rivals Dallas Cowboys on September 13th.
- Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart leads the Giants' new era.
The 2026 NFL season will commence with a fierce NFC East rivalry as the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys on September 13th. This matchup signals the highly anticipated debut of head coach John Harbaugh, who previously led the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons. The Giants are ushering in a new chapter with young quarterback Jaxson Dart, a 2025 draft pick, after a disappointing 4-13 record in the prior season.
The Cowboys, under second-year coach Brian Schottenheimer, have focused on strengthening their roster. Recent draft picks include defensive back Caleb Downs, defensive end Malachi Lawrence, and linebacker Jaishawn Barham. Key offensive player George Pickens recently signed his franchise tag, and his long-term contract status with quarterback Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb remains a talking point.
This historic rivalry matchup will be the 13th time the Giants and Cowboys have opened their seasons against each other. Historically, the Cowboys have dominated these opening contests, winning 11 of the previous 12 encounters. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC.
