The biggest unknown the New York Giants faced before Sunday night’s regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, beyond whether they’d win or not, was whether star receiver Malik Nabers would play.
It’s not that Nabers couldn’t play. He’d been medically cleared for weeks.
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The question was whether Nabers had the confidence to play, to get hit, and not be worried about getting hurt again after he suffered an ACL and meniscus right knee injury a year ago that required him overcoming psychological as well as physical hurdles.
Enter new Giants coach John Harbaugh.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after being introduced during a news conference at the teams NFL football training facility Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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Harbaugh is different, folks. He started his postgame press conference after his team’s victory over the Cowboys in the same way he ended his presser after a season-ending loss with the Ravens in 2025: By giving thanks to Jesus Christ.
He’s also different in that he has won 13 season openers since becoming a head coach in 2008 and understands when players need nurturing or need pushing.
Nabers needed a little pushing. During the team’s walkthrough practice on Saturday, Harbaugh decided Nabers needed to get over his uncertainty and insecurity about getting hit in a game.
So the coach tackled Nabers.
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) catches a pass as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Kaiir Elam (20) defends in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
“I know everybody was worried about if I get tackled,” Nabers told reporters. “Actually, coach Harbaugh tackled me …
“He wanted to see if I could take a tackle and it was good.”
In an age of analytics and metrics often driving coaching decisions, Harbaugh went old school. He figuratively threw his guy in a pool and forced him to swim.
“Yeah, we were all just chilling on the sideline,” quarterback Jaxson Dart said, recounting the moment. “It was right before we were supposed to start our walkthrough, and things were just up in the air. We didn’t know exactly what was going to happen.
Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants directs his team during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Getty Images)
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“And me and coach Harbs kind of had some conversations. He’s like, ‘You know what, like, I think that once he gets hit for the first time and realizes that he’s OK, then he’s going to feel confident.’
“So I think in his mind that triggered, ‘Oh, maybe I should tackle him right then and there.’ So, we’re all just standing there, and then all of a sudden Leek goes down on the ground, and our team’s super protective of him. So we all turned to look, and it’s coach Harbs tackling Leek.
“And then he pops up and he goes, ‘See, you’re all good.'”
Nabers and other players pointed to the moment as pivotal , but it left Harbaugh still unsure whether his best receiver could play Sunday night. When was he finally certain?
“I got a sense like about three hours before the game, maybe two and a half, somewhere in there,” Harbaugh said. “And when he went out and tested it and he felt ready and that’s when the decision was made. It was his call. He had been cleared medically, but he had to feel right.
Head coach John Harbaugh of the New York Giants reacts during the second quarter of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 13, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Getty Images)
“He had to feel like he was ready to go, and he could protect himself and perform the way he wanted, and he did. Malik played a great game. He played a heck of a game.”
Nabers caught six passes for 69 and those are admittedly modest numbers. But they’re important in that the Giants now have their best wide receiver back and are apparently confident he can withstand contact again.
“It was amazing, it was amazing,” Nabers said. “It was amazing to take it all in, get right back on track to where I left off. I’m happy that the fans still love to see me out there.”
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