INDIANAPOLIS — The New York Giants front office officially transformed Tuesday as general manager Joe Schoen and head coach John Harbaugh addressed the media at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. The central focus: the hiring of Dawn Aponte as the team’s new Senior Vice President of Football Operations and Strategy. This move solidifies a new power structure for a franchise desperate to erase the memory of a 4-13 season. Aponte, a 30-year league veteran who recently served as the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations, joins the team with a direct reporting line to Harbaugh, a detail that has sparked intense debate regarding the traditional GM-led hierarchy.
The Power of Three: Integration over Silos
Despite the high-profile additions, Joe Schoen was quick to clarify his standing within the organization. “I’m still the general manager of the team and my role has not changed,” Schoen told reporters. He remains entering the final year of his initial contract, a situation he once again chose not to discuss. The addition of Aponte is designed to streamline the “business of football.” She will manage the salary cap, player contract negotiations, and analytics. Harbaugh described the setup as a “multi-person job,” noting that Aponte serves as the bridge for total integration across the department.
The Giants are betting on this collaborative model to fix a roster that struggled for consistency. While Schoen maintains leadership over the “entire football operation,” Aponte’s role mirrors the expansive duties previously held by Kevin Abrams, though with a heavier lean into modern data. The video and analytics departments will now fall under her purview as the Giants prepare for a critical offseason. The team holds the No. 5 overall pick in the upcoming draft and remains “open to moving back” to maximize their capital.
Injury Report: Nabers and Skattebo on Track
The Giants’ offensive identity in 2026 hinges on the health of two young stars: wideout Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo. Nabers, who suffered a devastating torn ACL and meniscus in Week 4 of last season, is the team’s primary weapon for young quarterback Jaxson Dart. Schoen expressed optimism about the rehab process, stating he has been in frequent text contact with the receiver. The goal remains a full return by training camp this summer.
Meanwhile, 2025 rookie sensation Cam Skattebo is nearing the finish line of his recovery from a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula. Skattebo is eyeing the start of the offseason program on April 6 for his return to the field. “I’m good,” Skattebo said during Super Bowl week. “I’m probably about two months out of being fully healthy.” Linebacker Micah McFadden is also expected to be a full participant in spring activities after missing nearly all of 2025 with a foot injury.
“Dawn is someone who helps us [integrate]. It’s a multi-person job, so between Joe, I and Dawn, I think we get a chance to do that… We organized it the way we organized it because we felt like this is the best way to be effective.”
— John Harbaugh, New York Giants Head Coach
Ownership Under Scrutiny
The football talk was briefly interrupted by questions regarding the recent release of Department of Justice emails connecting co-owner Steve Tisch to Jeffrey Epstein. The documents, released in late January 2026, revealed exchanges from 2013. Schoen deferred to Tisch’s previously released statement, while Harbaugh maintained his focus on the gridiron. “I have great respect for the ownership,” Harbaugh said, adding that his interactions have remained strictly professional and positive since taking the job in January.
The Giants now head into a pivotal free agency period starting in March, with decisions looming on key contributors like Wan’Dale Robinson and Cor’Dale Flott. With a new leadership “triad” in place and their franchise receiver on the mend, the pressure is on Harbaugh and Schoen to prove this unconventional structure can win in the NFC East.
