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The New York Giants have been getting their flowers from across the NFL landscape for more than two days. But first-year coach John Harbaugh is doing what he can to keep his team from getting a big head.
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Fullback Patrick Ricard opened up about what Harbaugh’s message has been following the Giants’ 28-20 win over the rival Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants’ Week 1 win, which was watched by an average of 25.7 million people on NBC on Sunday night, has been the talk of the league. The impressive win buoyed their chances of qualifying for the playoffs and affirmed the buy-in to Harbaugh’s new culture.
But it also was just one game of 17 in the 2026 season, and the Giants now have to get ready for the Super Bowl-favorite Los Angeles Rams on Monday night in Los Angeles’ home opener at SoFi Stadium.
John Harbaugh’s Message to Giants: Stay Humble and Hungry
The Giants will return to practice Wednesday, but they have heard from Harbaugh, and the message has been about staying the course.
“It was pretty much just stay humble, stay hungry and just what can we do to get better, 1% better,” Ricard told reporters Tuesday. “Everyone knows it’s a long season. It’s one week, it’s one game, and we’re going to celebrate it. We’re going to look at the tape. We’re going to look at the good things, look at the bad things, and we’re going to continue to improve.”
The Giants are one of 16 teams to win their season opener, joining the likes of the Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, as well as the Lions, 49ers, Chiefs, Eagles and Ravens — Ricard and Harbaugh’s former team.
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But Harbaugh has been around the NFL long enough to know enough to realize what happens to teams that don’t progress after winning their opener.
“Harbs said this morning, it’s like right now it’s Week 1, you have teams, they’re going to be like this, slowly getting better, there’s going to be teams that are slowly getting worse, and by the time we get in December, that’s what you’re going to start seeing,” Ricard said. “You’re going to start seeing teams really be the ones that are competing for the playoffs and the ones that are already going to Cancun, is right now is the teams that are getting better week to week.”
Patrick Ricard Likes the Giants’ Dynamic Right Now
Fans are going to enjoy the 2026 Giants because it feels like the start of something new and exciting. Ricard feels it too and has been inspired by the work ethic his teammates have shown and the fellowship they have bought into.
“There’s so many guys here that want to prove themselves,” Ricard said. “They want to win, and you just see it with how they work, how they prepare, and how much they love each other.
“I feel like that was just things I noticed right away, and I think it’s so important for a team to want to win and want to be crazed, loving one another and working hard.”
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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 5:04 AM.