New York Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh Takes A Bold Stance On Tom Brady

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after Friday's practice in East Rutherford.© X/@NFL_DovKleiman

Tom Brady has retired, but John Harbaugh still found a way to talk to him. After Friday's practice, the New York Giants head coach stared into a camera and told the seven-time champion he would not be ready. Then Harbaugh got serious. J.J. McCarthy will start Sunday against the Houston Texans, replacing Jameis Winston, with the Giants sitting at 3-2-1 after a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The backfield has changed too. Najee Harris is gone, Cam Skattebo is back, and Harbaugh says the job belongs to whoever takes it.

 A Quarterback Change For The New York Giants And A Joke For Tom Brady

Harbaugh brought up Brady while explaining how a roster move can come too early. Brady is 49 and threw his last pass in 2022, so the hypothetical was safe. Harbaugh still played it straight.

"I don't think he'd be ready the first week, as much as you might want to put him in there," Harbaugh said. "So, it wouldn't be in the best interest to play the first week."

"He is always going to be a big part of our season" John Harbaugh says Cam Skattebo had a "heck of a week of practice" https://t.co/uJMU3gNL8L

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) October 23, 2026

Harbaugh knows what Brady looked like at full strength. Brady went 6-5 against his Baltimore Ravens teams. This week, the Giants coach is more interested in a different Michigan quarterback. McCarthy took snaps in front of Winston at practice Thursday, and by Friday the decision was public.

Cam Skattebo Is Still Standing In The New York Giants Backfield

Harris started Week 6 and carried four times for two yards. After the game, he criticized the four-man rotation, and the Giants cut him. Harbaugh denied that the comments mattered.

"It was more about just, ‘All right, we're going to set a course, and it's hard to carry four backs,' " Harbaugh said.

Skattebo watched that from the sideline. He played six snaps against the Saints and touched the ball zero times. Fumbles put him there. He has four this season, tied with James Cook of the Buffalo Bills for the most among running backs, and he lost one in overtime of the 27-27 tie with the Washington Commanders.

"I got taught a lesson; I don't know if that was from them or from myself," Skattebo said.

Harbaugh has since opened the door.

"He was always going to be a big part of our season," Harbaugh said. "He had a heck of a week of practice. All the backs did."

Skattebo read Harris's release as a warning.

"Nobody's safe, it's as simple as that," Skattebo said. "If I don't perform, I know there's a possibility of me not being here."

That warning has a date attached. The trade deadline is Nov. 10, and the Giants may bring in a veteran back before then. Skattebo has Sunday to make that call harder.