New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh has a clear message for the team’s running backs, stuck in a four-way timeshare that is not producing results anyone is happy with.
“Do something.”
After getting four carries for just 2 yards on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints despite starting the game, Najee Harris expressed his frustration.
“It’s hard to get in a rhythm with one or two plays. The first couple runs will be like, ‘OK, how are they playing it?’ And then the next ones will be, ‘OK, this is how you attack it.’ But if you’re getting a play here and then get taken out for a series, there’s nothing you could do. That’s why I’m saying, ‘I don’t know.’ I’ve never been through none of this before.”
At the end of a Monday Zoom call with Harbaugh dominated by the impending decision regarding whether Jameis Winston or J.J. McCarthy will be the team’s starting quarterback, I asked Harbaugh if he understood Harris’s frustratio and what, if anything, he would do about the backfield timeshare.
After the loss yesterday, Najee Harris expressed frustration with the Giants' running back usage approach:
— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) October 19, 2026
"It's hard to get into a rhythm with one or two plays…if you're getting a play here and then get taken out for a series, there's nothing you could do. I've never been… pic.twitter.com/DtA0eNqIcP
“Do understand it. Respect it. Also understand that that’s earned,” Harbaugh said. “I would love for us to be in that kind of a circumstance. A (Baltimore Ravens running back) Derrick Henry circumstance or a (Philadelphia Eagles running back) Saquon Barkley circumstance or whatever it might be. That would be great, and we haven’t. Our run game hasn’t earned that yet, and none of those guys have.”
Harbaugh had acknowledged on Sunday night that trying to split carries between four backs is not ideal.
“Now you can argue that. You can say, well, I don’t like that. I don’t like you divvying up the snaps between four backs. And I can tell you, I don’t like it either,” Harbaugh said. “One of those guys needs to step up. Somebody needs to step up and be the back. And none of those guys have done that yet. And when one of those guys steps up to be the back, then they’ll be the back. That’s your answer.”
The Giants are 22nd in the NFL averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Nearly all of their big plays in the run game have come from quarterbacks or wide receivers on jet sweeps or reverses. Cam Skattebo’s 19-yard run is the longest by a Giants’ running back this season.
Here are the rushing numbers:
- Skattebo: 81 carries, 294 yards, 3.6 yards per carry
- Harris: 31 carries, 99 yards, 3.2 yards per carry
- Tyrone Tracy: 13 carries, 40 yards, 3.1 yards per carry
- Devin Singletary: 13 carries, 39 yards, 3.0 yards per carry
“My advice would be to any player, and it’s all the guys, we had the same conversation. I’ve had the same conversation with all the running backs, the receivers, it’s no different than any position, but do the most you can with the opportunities you get,” Harbaugh said. “Make the most of those opportunities and you’re sure to get more opportunities. Do something.
“So, I get it that you want to get out there and you want to get a rhythm, but that rhythm is earned, too, and it just hasn’t happened yet. Definitely want it to happen. A couple weeks ago, we kind of went that direction and the running game was no different than it was this last game.”
Skattebo is the only back with double-digit carries in a game, and he reached that number in every game before being mostly sidelined and never touching the ball in Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. He has had mixed success, only averaging at least 4 yards per carry in one game without Jaxson Dart at quarterback. His four fumbles in five gamed led Harbaugh to look elsewhere against the Saints.
Harbaugh did not take issue with Harris expressing his frustration.
“I respect that he said that,” Harbaugh said. “I mean, I get it. Shoot, that’s how we all want it. That’s for sure and I respect that he would want that, too.”
Who Harbaugh and the Giants turn to when they hand the ball off on Sunday against the Houston Texans is anybody’s guess.
“I do know that each of the guys, because I’ve talked to all those guys, is they want to be that guy. They’re not advocating for the other guy to be that guy. They’re advocating for themself to be that guy,” Harbaugh said. “My advice is go out there and take the job when you get the ball. Take the job.”