May 11, 2026, 08:19 AM ET

John Harbaugh is set to launch his tenure as New York Giants head coach in a high-stakes primetime battle against a longtime NFC East adversary.

The NFL revealed on Monday that the Giants will welcome the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13 for the kickoff edition of 'Sunday Night Football' in the 2026 campaign.

This matchup marks the eighth occasion since 2012 that these NFC East foes have clashed in a season-opening game, with Dallas claiming victory in six of the previous seven Week 1 encounters against New York.

New York aims to buck that pattern with Harbaugh at the helm, having brought him on board in January following his 18-year stint leading the Baltimore Ravens.

Harbaugh steps into a Giants squad that has placed dead last in the NFC East for two straight years and boasts just a single playoff berth since 2016.

The Giants have also faltered badly of late versus Dallas, posting a 1-9 record over the last five seasons.

As 'America's Team,' the Cowboys consistently pull strong national TV audiences, while the Giants stand to gain extra primetime slots thanks to Harbaugh's presence and Jaxson Dart's emergence as the franchise quarterback after a standout rookie campaign.

Assuming both are fit, the game offers the first significant showdown between Dart and Dak Prescott; the pair did start their respective season finales on Jan. 4, though neither club was in playoff contention by that point.

The contest may also feature NFL debuts for two ex-Ohio State standouts: Giants linebacker Arvell Reese, selected fifth overall, and Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, picked shortly thereafter at No. 11.

With Dallas traveling to New York, neither squad will visit Seattle on Sept. 9, when the reigning champion Seahawks raise their Super Bowl banner to launch the season.

Potential opponents for the Seahawks include Chicago, Arizona, Kansas City, the Los Angeles Chargers, or a rematch from the title game against New England. The complete schedule drops Thursday, alongside additional matchups in the days ahead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.