Giants Lose Assistant Coach to Raiders as Harbaugh's Staff Incomplete

Matt Robinson departs for secondary coach role with Las Vegas Raiders

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The New York Giants have lost assistant defensive line coach Matt Robinson to the Las Vegas Raiders, just two days after the Giants officially announced John Harbaugh's first coaching staff. Robinson, who previously worked with Harbaugh in Baltimore, will now join the Raiders' staff as their secondary coach.

Why it matters

This departure leaves a hole in Harbaugh's newly assembled Giants coaching staff, which was intended to have many familiar faces from his time with the Ravens. Robinson's move to the Raiders reunites him with new Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard, who he also worked with in Baltimore.

The details

Matt Robinson, 32, spent the past five years working under John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens, most recently as their outside linebackers coach. He was brought in by the Giants to work alongside defensive line coach Dennis Johnson, who also previously held that role in Baltimore. However, Robinson has now decided to leave the Giants and join the Raiders' staff as their new secondary coach, as part of newly hired head coach Klint Kubiak's first coaching staff in Las Vegas.

  • On February 14, 2026, the Giants officially announced John Harbaugh's first coaching staff.
  • On February 16, 2026, it was confirmed that assistant defensive line coach Matt Robinson was leaving the Giants to join the Raiders.

The players

John Harbaugh

The new head coach of the New York Giants, previously the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

Matt Robinson

A 32-year-old assistant coach who is leaving the Giants to become the secondary coach for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Klint Kubiak

The newly hired head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Rob Leonard

The new defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders, who previously worked with Matt Robinson in Baltimore.

Dennis Johnson

The Giants' defensive line coach, who also previously held that role with the Ravens.

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What’s next

The Giants will now need to find a replacement for Matt Robinson on their coaching staff as they continue to build out John Harbaugh's first team in New York.

The takeaway

This departure highlights the challenges of keeping an intact coaching staff when assistants receive opportunities elsewhere, even after a new head coach has just assembled their initial staff. It also shows the connections that exist within the NFL coaching community, as Robinson reunites with a former colleague in Las Vegas.