New York Giants host Dallas Cowboys in John Harbaugh’s 2026 opener
John Harbaugh will make his New York Giants coaching debut when they host NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys in the opening Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season on 13 September.
The NFL confirmed the primetime fixture on Monday, marking the eighth time since 2012 that the two divisional foes have met in week one.
Recent Dallas dominance
The visiting side will arrive at MetLife Stadium holding a distinct historical advantage in these early-season encounters.
Dallas have emerged victorious in six of their past seven opening-weekend clashes against the New York franchise.
This broader trend of dominance extends across the regular season, with the Texas-based outfit winning nine of the last 10 meetings between the sides over the past five years.
Rebuilding a struggling squad
The demanding opening fixture presents an immediate challenge for the newly appointed head coach.
The former Baltimore Ravens boss took charge in January following a highly successful 18-year tenure in Maryland.
He inherits a struggling squad that has languished at the bottom of the NFC East standings for two consecutive seasons.
The four-time Super Bowl champions have managed to secure just a single post-season appearance since 2016.