Prior to the news of John Harbaugh‘s Ravens exit, the Giants had been viewed as a team monitoring that situation closely. Now that Harbaugh is available, New York looks to have considerable interest.
The Giants are believed to have Harbaugh as their top choice, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter calling him a favorite to land the gig. The team had prepared for the possibility Harbaugh would become available, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. After Big Blue has struck out on coaches post-Tom Coughlin, Harbaugh appears a clear target.
Harbaugh, 63, is believed to have a high regard for the Giants’ job and Jaxson Dart, The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor tweets. After Week 18 began with a thin-looking talent pool for HC-needy teams, Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski have become available. Stefanski is already set to interview with the Giants this week.
Six non-Baltimore HC openings currently exist, but teams who have a head coach employed are believed to be in on Harbaugh too. Within an hour of Harbaugh’s ouster, Schefter reports at least seven teams have reached out to the newly available coach. Other teams without HC openings are likely to follow, Schefter adds. Considering Harbaugh’s experience and credentials, and this year’s crop lacking the level of candidates the Ben Johnson-Mike Vrabel 2025 pool included, it is unsurprising he is generating this much interest early.
Harbaugh has only worked for two NFL teams despite coaching in the league since 1998. Ray Rhodes hired him to be on the Eagles’ staff that year, and Andy Reid kept him on as special teams coordinator for an additional eight years. Hired by the Ravens in 2008, Harbaugh became the rare ST coach to rise to the HC level. He enjoyed immediate success and guided Baltimore to 12 playoff berths and Super Bowl XLVII, where he edged brother Jim in a Ravens-49ers shootout.
With so much interest in Harbaugh, the Giants could be in a competition. The team’s decision to retain GM Joe Schoen after a mostly woeful first four seasons becomes more interesting when it comes to attracting a top candidate. The Giants have gone 7-27 over the past two seasons,. The jury is still out on Dart, but the team will not enter this draft with a quarterback need. Big Blue’s QB situation compares favorably to a few of the HC-needy teams’ depth charts at the game’s marquee spot, though the roster needs plenty of repair.
Harbaugh’s age does introduce a complication for interested teams. Clubs considering a rebuild would not appear to be fits for Harbaugh. No coach has ever been hired past the age of 66 (Bruce Arians). Harbaugh should still land a gig immediately, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicates he is expected to want one. But the age component is not one to entirely dismiss. That said, a few interviews will probably be set up soon. The Giants figure to be among those clearing part of their schedule to talk with the seasoned coaching vet.
They can have him but I think he would want to go to Miami or Atlanta. Could natural-gas Jerry make a move?
I don’t think Miami is firing McDaniel and I don’t think Jerrah will fire Schottenheimer, though you never know. Also if I am Harbaugh, Giants look a little more intriguing with Dart/Nabers/Skattebo and some talent on the defense (Burns/Carter/Lawrence), plus the #5 pick. Atlanta has some talent but the QB situation is a little choppy if Penix doesn’t take a step forward. And they don’t have a 1st rounder this year. I’m biased, though, being a Giants fan.
If he went to the Giants, could he bring in Likely, Mitchell and Linderbaum?
If he can, sign me up lmao
Adding Linderbaum would anchor the O-Line….home run….
I just read that his agent got seven calls from different teams (could all be smoke) about him. Funny thing is there are only seven job openings including Baltimore. So there could be some mystery team.
Assume you mean only 6 open jobs.
No, 7. Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Las Vegas, New York Giants, Tennessee. So I assume six of those teams called (cause why would Baltimore) and then some seventh mystery team.
I think the mystery team is Miami
Miami jumps out as a possible mystery team. It’s natural to wonder what other owners might be interested now that he’s available. Dallas? Washington?
There isn’t a world in which the Falcons with Bijan, London, Pitts, Allgeier, and a good offensive line to go along with a good young defense isn’t a much more desirable job that the Giants.
You’re describing it like a fantasy roster, not a real one. I like those players, but they don’t have a clear quarterback answer or a first round pick, and those guys are approaching the ends of their rookie deals. The Giants obviously have some pretty big concerns too, but a coach isn’t picking a team because they have Tyler Allgeier.
Falcons still have Cousins under contract for 2 more seasons. Might as well hang onto him. Cousins performed just fine after taking over for Penix. Besides, Penix won’t be available until halfway through next season
idk, if you aren’t convinced on Penix then Falcons ceiling is considerably lower than Giants bc there’s no other short term fix. Obv depends, but don’t think it’s crazy to think Giants job is the best one on the market rn.
@Sid: They had all of that talent last year and didn’t do jack with it. Giants at least have excuses for their record: Nabers and Skattebo injured, plus a rookie QB learning the ropes. And, again, Giants have the #5 overall pick while the Falcons don’t have a first rounder at all. And you’re also ignoring the Falcons QB situation, which could go very south very quickly if Penix falters again. Oh, *also*, Pitts is an unrestricted free agent, so no guarantee he’s even in Atlanta next year.
Giants are a more desireable job in my opinion. It’s probably close, though. I don’t know how anyone could say that the Falcons are “much more desirable”.
Injuries are an excuse for bad coaching and a culture of entitlement.
At least 4 of the Giants’ losses were on the defense. Denver, Chicago, Detroit, first Dallas game. Harbaugh teams tend to be strong on defense and you can’t win in the NFL without that.
“Injuries are an excuse for bad coaching and a culture of entitlement.”
No idea what this means or how losing your WR1 and RB1 makes a “culture of entitlement”. I will agree the Giants were poorly coached and especially on defense, though. I suggest you crack a dictionary and look up “entitlement” because you are not using it properly.
Did I stutter? YOU DON’T WIN IN THE N.F.L. WITHOUT DEFENSE!
Understand that instead of being brainwashed by ESPN and other jock-sniffing media.
We get it, you hate the Giants and say the same thing on every post.
Can you read, Chucky? I literally said that I agree that they were poorly coached and said ‘especially on defense’. Then you all caps reply to me that defense is important. You OK? Another failure of a Jets season send you spiraling or something?
I am tired of everyone bringing up Atlanta’s lack of a 1st round pick. For that pick they got James Pearce who lead all rookies in sacks and Xavier Watts who lead all rookies in interceptions. Plus they will enter next year with one years experience
Pearce and Watts both look good. The team still doesn’t have a first round pick this year and no matter what you think of the value of the trade, that’s still a relevant consideration of the hand you’re being dealt if you take a job. Just like the picks you do have coming up are a consideration for any other job.
I bring up the lack of a 1st rounder because it’s extremely important. They already have Pearce. If you’re a HC weighing options, would you prefer the team you’re going to to have the #5 overall pick or no pick at all? Giants have Abdul Carter (led rookies in pressures and was 8th in the league) as well.
I’m not biased as I’m a Bills fan, Giants are sitting nice with a great nucleus of Dart, Nabers, Skattebo (to some extent as he runs to ragged to last long) on offense and Burns Carter Lawrence on Defense. Penix ISNT a franchise qb so besides Bijan and London that offense is gonna be hindered.
Malik Nabers — the modern-day Beckham.
Cam Skattebo — did a wrestling show when supposed to rehab a dislocated ankle. Reamed by none other than Michael Strahan.
Abdul Carter — benched for the entire 1st quarter vs. New England because he watched porn during a team meeting.
Dexter Lawrence — called out by Carl Banks for dogging it.
And we have a new one: Theo Johnson — showed up at Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks after being scratched from Week 18 due to illness.
This is a team of overgrown children, guaranteed to finish bottom of the NFC East every year unless there’s some real accountability.
I’m sure they tried, but I am surprised the Ravens outright fired him instead of trading him.
No coach has been hired after the age of 66? What about Pete Carrol?
It’s the Raiders. Maybe they don’t count as a professional football team.
Honestly, who expects Harbaugh to team up with the Mara brothers, their nepo nephew and Joe Schoen?
I think both Atlanta and Cleveland offer better situations.
Not the Browns
Atlanta and Cleveland don’t have a firm QB situation. In today’s NFL, that is a major factor in how desirable a coaching position can be.
That to me was why Berry was retained. To tell the new coach that Watson will start in 2026. Forget it …
He’s not going to Cleveland with the GM who put them in the QB hell they’re in right now and with Sheuder as his QB…..and Atlanta with Blank is another crap show with the way they handled Cousins and are now saddled with Pennix who is the poster guy for why not to draft a QB who was hurt multiple times in college and now follow suit in the pros…..Harbaugh is going to want to sign with a team that has pieces in place to rise and that ain’t either Cleveland or the Falcons or the Raiders for that matter…..
The Giants are no longer owned by “the Mara brothers” or “their nepo nephew”. It’s Robert Tisch, John Mara, and Julia Koch.
No coach hired past age 66….yet Carroll is in his 70s
OJ used to celebrate his annual 21st birthdays. Maybe Carroll does, too. I guess having your 52nd or 53rd annual 21st birthday counts as being younger than 66.
New York is close to his home. So I think they would have a leg up
here comes the lawsuit for discrimination for having a white head coach atop ur list before u interview so called minorities. hell probably gonna have lawsuit after that to. bunch of BS teams just want to win and don’t care what color they are as long as they win.
Sounds like projection. It’s amazing how you’re complaining about race being an issue while being the only person bringing it up. You must really love your culture wars.
I doubt the Giants are too worried about it. Brian Flores is already suing them for discrimination.
I think he’s Las Vegas bound but that’s just me.
Why….they’ve got a sucky old non franchise QB….personell problems with the way they handed the Mad Max situation and very questionable roster…..this is s project team forward and at 63 sincerely doubt that Harbough wants to spend the next 2-3 years building a team who’s roster can compete….besides it puts him to close to his bro….
Pete Carroll is over 66 and was hired. He is the oldest now, not Arians.
As of right now, the order of jobs opened should be:
1) Baltimore
2) New York
3) Atlanta
4) Cleveland
5) Tennessee
6) Arizona
7) Las Vegas
But if I were Harbaugh, I would wait till the 12th. If a team in Buffalo doesn’t win this weekend at Jacksonville, don’t be surprised if that job isn’t available.