How the Giants helped John Harbaugh rediscover his coaching mojo

Coaches often rely on familiar motivational tactics—inspirational speeches, grueling training sessions, and historical references—to push their teams to perform. For one prominent NFL coach and his franchise, these strategies have become so routine that they’ve lost their novelty, overshadowed by the relentless expectations placed on them. The repetition of these well-worn approaches reflects not just tradition but the unyielding pressure to deliver results, no matter how many times the same playbook is trotted out. Whether the formula still works remains the question.

Heard that one before. Yup, that one, too. That heavy dose of optimism and positivity. The demanding physical rigors of his practices. The homespun anecdotes and historical quotes — Winston Churchill is a particular favorite. Check, check, check. It turned into been-there, done-that for John Harbaugh and the Ravens because it had to. There was...