Anthony Rivardo
When John Harbaugh accepted the New York Giants’ head coaching job, the expectation was for him to instill a new culture and place a new emphasis on building a strong special teams unit. For years, the Giants’ third phase was a rollercoaster of missed field goals and inconsistent punting, but the 2026 offseason has officially ended that era.
By securing former All-Pro kicker Jason Sanders and making Jordan Stout the highest-paid punter in NFL history, Harbaugh and the Giants have rebuilt their special teams unit overnight. This isn’t just about kicking balls; it’s about Harbaugh’s obsession with hidden yardage and field position—a strategy that defined his legendary run in Baltimore and is now the cornerstone of the Giants’ 2026 identity.
The Giants’ Record-Breaking Addition of Jordan Stout
The biggest splash of the special teams overhaul was the signing of Jordan Stout, who followed Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York on a record-breaking three-year, $12.3 million deal.
At $4.1 million per year, Stout is now the highest-paid punter in the league, a price tag justified by his 2025 campaign, where he led the NFL in net punting average (44.9 yards) and earned first-team All-Pro honors.
Stout’s ability to flip the field is a massive upgrade over the Scottish Hammer, Jamie Gillan, providing the Giants’ defense with the long-field advantage that Harbaugh considers a must-have for winning close games in the NFC East.
The Kicking Competition: Sanders vs. Sauls
While Stout is the locked-in starter, the kicking situation is a fascinating battle. The Giants signed veteran Jason Sanders to a one-year deal following his release from Miami. Sanders, a former first-team All-Pro who missed the 2025 season with a hip injury, brings a career 84.6% field goal rate and a massive leg to the facility.
However, he isn’t being handed the job; he’ll have to fend off Ben Sauls, the undrafted rookie who became a fan favorite in 2025 by going a perfect 8-of-8 on field goals and 15-of-15 on total kicks. This competition ensures that whether it’s the veteran’s experience or the rookie’s ice-cold precision, the Giants will have reliability at the position.
Winning the Hidden Yardage Game
Under Harbaugh, special teams aren’t an afterthought—they are a weapon. By investing in elite specialists, the Giants are banking on hidden yardage to swing two or three games in their favor this season. In 2025, the Giants’ struggles in the trenches and secondary often left them in poor field position, but Stout’s boomerang punts and a reliable kicker change that dynamic entirely. It forces opposing offenses to drive 80+ yards against a Brian Burns-led pass rush, a recipe for success that has historically fueled Harbaugh’s winning seasons.
The third phase is no longer going to be a liability; in 2026, it might just be the Giants’ greatest strength.
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