John Harbaugh explains Giants switch to J.J. McCarthy at quarterback

J.J McCarthy nearly led the Giants to an incredible come-from-behind victory on Sunday. | Getty Images J.J. McCarthy “gives us the best chance to play the best offense we can,” New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said on Wednesday, explaining his decision to start McCarthy over Jameis Winston this Sunday against the Houston Texans.“I thought Jameis has done a tremendous job, won us games, played well,” Harbaugh said. “As we go forward here, this is going to be our direction. We think it gives us some good options on offense.”"I thought Jameis has done a tremendous job, won us games, played well. As we go forward here, this is going to be our direction. We think it gives us some good options on offense."John Harbaugh talks about the Giants' quarterback change from Jameis Winston to J.J. McCarthy: pic.twitter.com/3n2ge4O0ym— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) October 21, 2026The Giants went 2-1-1 in four games with Winston starting after Jaxson Dart was lost for the season with a knee injury, McCarthy, though, closer approximates Dart’s skill set than the immobile, 32-year-old Winston. The Giants spent the offseason building an offense that would incorporate Dart’s running ability. That was lost with Winston. McCarthy, 23, is not the runner Dart is, but does give offensive coordinator Matt Nagy the ability to access that portion of the playbook.Harbaugh is not worried about how much of the offense McCarthy can run.“He’s got the gameplan down,” Harbaugh said. “I think he had it down last week pretty fully, even more so this week. It has been tailored a little more toward his direction, probably. He’ll be ready to go.”Harbaugh would not commit to McCarthy being the starter for the remainder of the season.“Life is day-to-day, minute-to-minute. There’s really no guarantees,” Harbaugh said. “I would never say that anything is permanent in football or life. That’s the plan going forward.”