Giants Say Farewell to Kevin Abrams Following Harbaugh’s Arrival
In a significant shake-up for the New York Giants organization, Senior Vice President of Football Operations Kevin Abrams departed just one day after Jim Harbaugh was introduced as the team’s new head coach. Abrams had been a mainstay in the Giants front office for nearly a quarter-century, joining in 1999 and serving in executive positions since 2002. His 25-year tenure spanned four general managers—including his own brief stint as interim GM in 2017—and seven head coaches. Throughout the turbulent decade of leadership changes and disappointing seasons, Abrams had remained one of the few constants at the top of the organizational chart, making his sudden departure all the more noteworthy.
Harbaugh’s hiring represents a significant shift in the Giants’ traditional power structure. Unlike his predecessors, Harbaugh will report directly to ownership rather than to the general manager—breaking with longstanding organizational protocol. This unusual arrangement speaks volumes about Harbaugh’s leverage and the Giants’ eagerness to secure his services. Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Chris Mara acknowledged this special circumstance in comments to reporters, noting that Harbaugh would be “the most important cog in the wheel” moving forward. Mara emphasized that this reporting structure might not have been offered to other candidates, saying, “We’re just comfortable doing this with him. I think with anybody else, maybe it might not have happened that way.” Despite Harbaugh’s elevated status, Mara insisted decisions would still be “a collaborative effort between ownership, general manager and coach.”
The coaching search took an unusual political turn when former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Harbaugh for the Giants position several days before the hiring was announced. In a post on Truth Social, Trump not only praised Harbaugh but explicitly advised him to “take the job.” When asked about this presidential endorsement during his introductory press conference, Harbaugh responded with good humor, saying, “It feels really great! I also noticed in that post that he said, ‘John take the job!’ So I thought [owner] John Mara might’ve had something to do with that.” The light-hearted acknowledgment suggested Harbaugh was comfortable navigating the unexpected political dimension of his hiring.
Trump later elaborated on his endorsement in comments to Fox News Digital, revealing a personal connection to the Harbaugh family. “I like the coach. I like his brother,” Trump said, referring to Jim’s brother John, who coaches the Baltimore Ravens. “They came up to see me about three months ago. They came up to see me in the White House with their mother and father because the mother likes me, and the father likes me and I think they like me.” Trump added praise for Harbaugh’s coaching abilities, saying, “He’s a great coach and he’s gonna do well with the Giants, just like his brother does so well. They got something very special in their blood. And I’m happy for the Giants. They got a great coach.”
The timing of Abrams’ departure—just one day after Harbaugh’s introduction—strongly suggests a connection between the two events. While no explicit reason was given for the parting of ways, the dramatic restructuring of reporting relationships likely played a role. Throughout his long tenure, Abrams had survived numerous regime changes, including the firings of multiple general managers and coaches. His ability to remain in the organization through these turbulent times had made him one of the most enduring executives in the Giants’ front office. Now, as Harbaugh steps in with unprecedented authority for a Giants head coach, Abrams’ quarter-century run has come to an abrupt end.
This organizational reshuffling represents the Giants’ most dramatic leadership change in years, signaling the franchise’s commitment to giving Harbaugh the authority he needs to turn around a team that has struggled for much of the past decade. With ownership granting him direct reporting access and Chris Mara describing him as the central figure in the organization moving forward, Harbaugh clearly enters the position with more power than any Giants coach in recent memory. The departure of a longstanding executive like Abrams further emphasizes that this is the beginning of a new era for the storied franchise—one in which Harbaugh will have exceptional latitude to implement his vision for returning the Giants to championship contention.
