Joe Schoen speaks out on his Giants role with John Harbaugh changing reporting structure

INDIANAPOLIS — Joe Schoen, more than anyone, knows what it took to get it done. He understands how many waking hours and sleepless nights went into it, fully realizes that it happened. Still there are moments when the general manager of the Giants — yes, he retains that title and fills that role — pauses and allows himself to revel in what went down and what it means.

“So, yeah, some days I just pinch myself, I’m like, ‘man, John Harbaugh’s our head coach,’ ’’ Schoen said Tuesday from the NFL scouting combine. “This guy’s won a ton of games. He’s a really good head coach and just listening to him talk and how he thinks, and the leadership that he provides to the building, it’s been really cool.’’

Now the challenge is to turn “really cool’’ into real success. To lift the franchise out of the doldrums, Harbaugh and Schoen must work together. And they will. Schoen’s role, despite reports or speculation to the contrary, has not been marginalized or minimized.

“I’m still the general manager of the team, my role has not changed,’’ he said. “I’m still tasked with leading the entire football operation and we’re going to work in collaboration like most good teams do.’’

The hiring of Dawn Aponte as senior vice president of football operations and strategy raised some eyebrows, as far as what it meant to Schoen, even though that is the exact title that Kevin Abrams held with the team for more than two decades. Aponte, since 2017, has been the NFL’s chief football administrative officer, and previously worked for three NFL teams (Dolphins, Browns, Jets). In a departure from the way the Giants have operated in the past, Aponte — in charge of the salary cap and negotiating contracts, among other duties — will report directly to Harbaugh.

Why was this structure important to Harbaugh?