John Harbaugh on J.J. McCarthy: Really happy to add a strong, young quarterback

Published September 28, 2026 04:04 PM Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that the team was “turning over every stone” in search of a quarterback after Jaxson Dart’s knee injury in Week 2 and that search paid off with a trade for J.J. McCarthy. The Giants sent a fifth-round pick to the Vikings for the 2024 first-round pick and Harbaugh cited that draft status — which was built up while McCarthy was playing for Harbaugh’s brother Jim at Michigan — as one of the reasons why he was enthusiastic about the chance to add McCarthy to the roster.“Really glad, really happy, very excited to have JJ McCarthy,” Harbaugh said, via SNY. “I think he’s a strong young quarterback, has some experience in the National Football League. Obviously was a very high draft pick, very talented player and is gonna make us a stronger football team.”Harbaugh reiterated that Jameis Winston will remain the team’s starter in Week 4 and said it will be “a challenge” to get McCarthy acclimated to the offense with the season already underway. The speed of that process will join Winston’s performance as guides for when McCarthy might get a chance with his new team.