Joe Schoen’s Status Factoring Into Giants’ Delay With John Harbaugh?
Early in the Giants’ John Harbaugh courtship, a rumor suggested the high-profile HC free agent would not have an issue working with GM Joe Schoen. The Giants are planning to retain Schoen, but the embattled exec’s status may be a factor in Harbaugh’s deal not being done yet.
As of Friday afternoon, the deal is not done. The sides were working on contract language this morning, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds money is not believed to be an issue. Harbaugh is expected to receive a deal in the $20MM-per-year range, which will place him among the NFL’s highest-paid HCs.
But an issue may be forming with regard to organizational power. Rumblings have emerged Schoen’s role in the Giants’ new setup has been a partial cause of this delay, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. Harbaugh, 63, was believed to have a Titans offer in place. He also appeared to be the Falcons’ top choice, and the Browns wanted to meet with him. This created considerable leverage, and it should translate to the 18-year HC veteran having at least some personnel say.
Schoen certainly is not in a position to win a power struggle here, but he is believed to have spoken with Harbaugh many times since his Ravens firing. That would point to the four-year Giants GM being in the team’s Harbaugh-era plan, but Leonard adds several sources informed him Harbaugh would likely want Schoen gone or at least see the GM’s power reduced. This could lead to a setup with Harbaugh carrying final personnel say, should he want it.
The Giants are prepared to give Harbaugh a monster deal to succeed Brian Daboll, who had come over from Buffalo with Schoen. It would be odd for Giants ownership, who needed to confirm Schoen was merely keeping his job for 2025, to back a GM who has yet to produce a 10-win season. There are likely more factors at play here, but Schoen’s role being one of them is interesting.
Any Harbaugh proposed changes to Schoen-overseen departments were expected to “create discomfort” during the process, per Leonard. Schoen’s modernization of the Giants’ operation was believed to be a selling point for the team, which kept him after firing Daboll in November. Potential moves to remove staffers with ties to ownership, with the potential for Harbaugh to bring in some of his own people, also loom as an issue.
We have seen new coaching hires lead to GM changes recently. The Jaguars booted Trent Baalke because his presence running their HC search was impeding a chance to hire strong candidates, and Liam Coen signed on shortly after that firing. In 2019, the Jets fired Mike Maccagnan after his first draft with new HC hire Adam Gase. In 2017, the Bills made the same move with Doug Whaley, ousting him months after hiring Sean McDermott. Eventually, GMs handpicked by the coaches — Joe Douglas, Brandon Beane — arrived in those AFC East cities post-draft.
Schoen said he did not envision his presence hurting the Giants’ GM search, and Harbaugh making New York his first visit pointed to a future working with Schoen. But this process dragging on has certainly become interesting. Considering the role Schoen has played in the Harbaugh search, it would surprise if the Giants traveled down this road. But this will be a situation to monitor as the team continues work on hammering out the expected HC’s contract.
Giants Likely To Hire Todd Monken As OC
The Giants are poised to become the first team to make an official head coaching hire in 2026. John Harbaugh is finalizing an agreement to head to New York. 
Once that takes place, attention will turn to Harbaugh’s staffing choices. He is naturally expected to being a number of Ravens coaches with him, and that includes a likely offensive coordinator transition. Todd Monken is a strong target of Harbaugh’s, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. A Monken agreement is expected to make him the team’s next offensive coordinator, which would come as no surprise.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo confirms Monken is the “frontrunner” for New York’s OC spot at this point. Nothing is finalized at this time, with a formal search required before a hire can be made. Once Harbaugh is officially in place, he will also have to make a decision on the fate of interim head coach Mike Kafka, who served as the Giants’ offensive coordinator prior to Brian Daboll‘s firing. Brining in Monken would presumably lead Kafka elsewhere as the coaching landscape takes shape.
According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Monken – who is still under contract with the Ravens for now – “expects” to be offered the OC gig in New York. Notably, Stroud adds that Harbaugh and Monken have not spoken with each other since news of the pending Giants deal broke in Harbaugh’s case. Discussions between the two should be expected shortly. Of course, other options have been explored by Monken aside from the strong possibility of following Harbaugh to his next destination.
The Browns conducted an interview with Monken last week for their head coaching vacancy. A reunion with the Buccaneers as their offensive coordinator has also been floated, with an interview being arranged recently. Between the Harbaugh news and today’s updates, however, it would come as a surprise if Monken did not find himself guiding the Giants’ offense in 2026.
A young core led by quarterback Jaxson Dart appealed to Harbaugh and played a role in the mutual interest which was seen between team and coach leading up to their agreement. Provided he takes on OC duties, Monken will be tasked with overseeing Dart’s second year and his development alongside the likes of wideout Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo. An agreement on that front would leave one of the most experienced coordinator candidates off the market for other suitors.
Latest On John Harbaugh: Giants, Contract, Manning, Staff, Titans, Falcons
John Harbaugh‘s impending deal with the Giants will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. According to Jordan Schultz, the contract is expected to be worth nearly $100MM over five years.
[RELATED: John Harbaugh Expected To Become Giants’ Next HC, Pending Finalized Agreement]
It’s not a surprise that Harbaugh will earn such a lucrative payday; there were rumblings that the Giants were basically willing to pay him whatever he wanted. The nearly $20MM average annual salary would top the rumored $17MM annual salary he was earning in Baltimore, and it would rival the lucrative contracts signed by Andy Reid ($20MM/year) and Sean Payton ($18MM/year).
Of course, money wasn’t the only reason that Harbaugh committed to the Giants, as it sounds like other suitors were willing to open the check books for the former Super Bowl-winning coach. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans had an offer ready for Harbaugh and were willing to do whatever it took to get him in Tennessee. Harbaugh had a meeting scheduled with the Titans for this morning, and Rapoport notes that Titans leadership was indeed planning to fly to the coach’s Maryland home today. However, the organization was informed last night that Harbaugh was finalizing his deal with the Giants.
Harbaugh did his research prior to his handshake deal with the Giants, reaching out to coaches, executives, and even former players. According to Russini, Harbaugh talked with Giants GM Joe Schoen everyday after he was let go by the Ravens. The coach also reached out to a number of the positional coaches from Brian Daboll’s staff to “pick their brains on the state of the roster,” per Connor Hughes of SNYtv. To top it all off, Harbaugh even spoke with Eli Manning about the opportunity, according to veteran reporter Gary Myers.
Now, Harbaugh will be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s only made two postseason appearances since their Super Bowl XLVI victory. Some pundits initially wondered if Harbaugh may avoid a relatively tough NFC East. However, Ian O’Connor of The Athletic notes that when he pointed out that the Falcons and the NFC South would represent the easiest playoff path for the coach, Harbaugh’s camp indicated that he wasn’t afraid of the NFC East competition.
To help him top the division and return to relevance, Harbaugh will have to fill out his coaching staff. We heard earlier today that Ravens OC Todd Monken was likely to join his former boss in the same role in New York, and a number of other coaches are expected to follow. According to Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, Harbaugh will likely “bring a lot of his Ravens staff” to New York, and the new head coach isn’t anticipating resistance from the Ravens. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic echoes that sentiment, although the reporter warns that the Ravens may try to retain a handful of their preferred coaches.
Harbaugh may also be recruiting some members of previous staffs to New York. According to Hughes, Anthony Weaver is among the Giants targets for defensive coordinator. Weaver spent three years on Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore, serving as the team’s defensive line coach. He was a candidate to replace Mike Macdonald as the Ravens defensive coordinator in 2022, but Harbaugh ended up opting for Zach Orr, opening the door for Weaver to leave for the DC role in Miami. Now, Harbaugh has a chance to reunite with the coach in his next stop.
Cowboys To Interview Christian Parker, Charlie Bullen, DeMarcus Covington For DC Job
The Cowboys’ search for a new defensive coordinator continues to expand.
Dallas will interview Eagles pass game coordinator Christian Parker and Giants interim defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen on Thursday, with Packers run game coordinator DeMarcus Covington scheduled for Friday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Parker, 34, spent six years as a college coach before getting his first NFL job with the Packers. He then serves as the Broncos’ defensive backs coach from 2021 to 2023 before taking on his current position in Philadelphia. In Denver, he played a crucial role in the development of cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss. Similarly, he oversaw the breakout rookie seasons by Eagles cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024.
Bullen, 42, has NFL experience with the Dolphins and Cardinals as well as some time in college at Iowa and Illinois. He was hired as the Giants outside linebackers coach in 2024 and quickly integrated Brian Burns into the Giants’ pass rush following his trade from the Panthers. Bullen then took over the team’s interim DC after Shane Bowen was fired in November. The unit improved significantly at the end of the year, allowing just 33 points in their last three games.
Covington, 36, spent four years at the college level before an eight-year stint in New England. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024 but was not retained on Mike Vrabel‘s new staff. Covington went to Green Bay in the offseason and held the defensive line together after the departure of Kenny Clark and injuries to multiple key players. He could be promoted to replace defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley if he leaves for a head coaching job, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Parker, Bullen, and Covington are the latest additions to a long list of candidates for the Cowboys’ DC job. Other requested or scheduled interviewees include former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr, Browns safeties coach Ephraim Banda, Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones, Broncos defensive pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard and their own defensive line coach, Aaron Whitecotton.
John Harbaugh Expected To Become Giants’ Next HC, Pending Finalized Agreement
It appears the first domino in this year’s head coaching hiring cycle is tumbling over. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, John Harbaugh and the Giants are “working to finalize an agreement to make him New York’s next head coach.” Barring any setbacks, the deal is expected to happen as Schefter claims that “Harbaugh is ready to accept the Giants’ deal, and the team is expected to hire him as soon as possible.”
Schefter made sure to make room for such a setback, nothing that “the deal is not final, and contract numbers still are being negotiated,” citing a source who claimed that “there still is a lot to work through.” Nothing’s certain until i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, but SportsNet New York’s Connor Hughes and Paul Schwartz of The New York Post both appear confident enough in the direction things are heading to say in some form or fashion that the Giants got their guy.
Harbaugh had an appointment set in the morning to meet with the Titans at his home for an in-person interview and later intended to do the same with the Falcons, but it appears that is no longer the case. With Harbaugh’s attention shifting now to hammering out the details of his imminent contract with the Giants, competing teams have been informed of his decision, likely meaning that those plans to meet have been cancelled.
Even before the moment Harbaugh became available following his dismissal after 18 years in Baltimore, the Giants were deeply interested in the prospect of him becoming their next head coach. After he was officially let go, New York immediately made it known that he was the frontrunner, in their eyes, to replace Brian Daboll in the head coaching position. What ensued was a full-court press starting from Day 1, as the next day, reports indicated that the franchise was “all-in” on landing the 62-year-old’s services.
After getting let go so unexpectedly, Harbaugh intended to take his time as the NFL’s most eligible bachelor. He took the week to gather information from interested parties but made it known that he didn’t intend to start doing any interviews until the following week. While the Falcons were the first team to officially interview Harbaugh, getting to him virtually, the Giants were close on their heels and the first to make contact in-person whenever he finally did make himself available. Board director and senior player personnel executive Chris Mara met Harbaugh for lunch the Sunday before the week began.
The Falcons, Giants, and Titans were all listed as initial frontrunners in the race to land Harbaugh’s signature. Atlanta’s new president of football Matt Ryan had a surprising connection with Harbaugh that drew his interest in that direction. In Tennessee, a young first-round quarterback overflowing with potential and surrounded by an incredible amount of cap space made the Titans an attractive option, as well. New York, though, continued to press Harbaugh with promises of everything he could want: salary, roster control, a young first-round quarterback of their own, also filled with potential.
This morning, it was announced that New York, the most aggressive team in this pursuit, would be hosting Harbaugh with in-person interviews with the Titans and Falcons to follow. It all started with team co-owner Steve Tisch sending his private plane to fly Harbaugh to New Jersey. What followed was an over-five-hour tour that allowed Harbaugh to meet with quarterback Jaxson Dart, the team’s other co-owner John Mara, general manager Joe Schoen, and several other members of the team’s front office. Harbaugh was even bombarded with phone calls from notable Giants alumni, including former quarterback Eli Manning, former head coach Tom Coughlin, and even recently fired coach Daboll, who “raved about his experience in the organization.”
Hughes pointed out that lots of offseason talk seemed to indicate that Schoen’s presence in New York would be a deterrent for a top coaching prospect like Harbaugh, but Schoen appears to be a major part of this potential deal getting this far. Schoen notably assured Harbaugh that he’s willing to cede some power for personnel decision-making to allow the head coach to have more say in roster decisions.
At the end of their day together, Harbaugh boarded his flight home to Baltimore, where he expected to be leaving for soon to meet with Tennessee in the morning. However, the Giants opted to step up their full-court press with an all-out blitz in the final moments. They gave their final pitches, made their best offers, and stalled Harbaugh’s plane for about two hours, making a major push to land their white whale. Ultimately, Harbaugh departed on that plane without having agreed to anything, but vibes in the building were still extremely positive in the wake of his departure. 
It appears the full-court press did not end there, though, as these most recent reports broke to indicate Harbaugh would be withdrawing himself from consideration from other jobs to work towards finalizing a deal with New York. NFL insider Jordan Schultz claims the team will end up putting Harbaugh among the highest-paid coaches in NFL history, while Hughes notes that the team’s investment doesn’t stop there. The Giants are reportedly sparing no expense as they’ve also promised Harbaugh “the budget he needs to round out his staff as he sees fit.”
The Giants swung for the fences in their pursuit of Harbaugh, at times seeming embarrassingly forward in making their intentions known, but it all seems to be paying off, and it’s clear why they tried so hard. After seeing Coughlin lead the team for 12 years, the team ran through Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Daboll all over the next 10. According to Hughes, following the dismissal of Daboll, Schoen and the team made a list of traits they were looking for in their next head coach that required them to be a leader of men, be capable of captivating the locker room and rallying players, and be capable of restoring accountability amongst the players and staff. They have to feel good about how many boxes Harbaugh checks off there.
As for Harbaugh, he was dismissed from a team full of talent that continues to struggle to find its full potential — by the way, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes that Giants aren’t scheduled to meet the Ravens until the 2028 NFL season. He now finds himself on another team rife with talent. On the shoulders of Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, wide receiver Malik Nabers, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and defensive ends Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, the Giants feel like they have a group of cornerstone franchise players, and it now looks like they have a coach to lead them.
John Harbaugh Leaves New York Without Deal; Titans Set For Tomorrow
10:30pm: Hours after Harbaugh departed from New York with intentions of meeting with the Titans in Baltimore tomorrow morning, Paul Schwartz of The New York Post reports that “all signs point to John Harbaugh becoming the next head coach of the Giants.” No official reports from either party have indicated that Schwartz’s report is accurate, but it appears the first big domino of the head coach hiring cycle could be falling fairly soon. Hughes of SportsNet New York expects a decision to be made by the end of the weekend.
9:03pm: Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh met with the Giants today, and despite the team’s best efforts, he went home without having signed a contract. New York doesn’t seem too discouraged, though, as the general media takeaway is that it was a very good visit, and it would’ve been a shock to see Harbaugh deviate from his established plan to meet with multiple teams. Instead, we’ll see Harbaugh do just that, as he is set to meet with the Titans tomorrow, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. 
According to Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports, the team flew Harbaugh out to New Jersey on team co-owner Steve Tisch‘s private plane early this morning. After touching down, Harbaugh was given a tour of the facility where he spent over five hours meeting with Tisch and fellow co-owner John Mara, as well as general manager Joe Schoen and other members of the team’s front office. And it was a good thing Harbaugh had done his homework on rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, because he got to meet the 22-year-old as part of the team’s all-out pitch.
Vacchiano also mentions that the team made it clear they were willing to offer him “almost anything he wants.” As a franchise, they made the decision to make the most of their shot by “going for broke.” Their intentions were to convince Harbaugh that the Giants are the best franchise for him, with Schoen assuring him that he’s willing to cede some power for personnel decision-making over the potential head coach. Additionally, Harbaugh spent time on the phone with “several prominent Giants alumni,” including former quarterback Eli Manning and former head coach Tom Coughlin. Even Brian Daboll, who was the one that vacated the seat Harbaugh is now vying for, called Harbaugh and “raved about his experience in the organization.”
The Giants made it known that while Harbaugh’s demands have been “significant,” they “don’t seem to be too extensive.” In fact, they metaphorically pulled out the check book tonight to let him know that they are willing to meet his asking price and even shell out for a top-quality staff beneath him. Per Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York, the team made “a massive push” to try and get a deal with Harbaugh done today. The plot thickened as the evening wore on and Harbaugh’s ride home remained parked in New Jersey as the Giants blitzed Harbaugh in an attempt to land a signature before he left. Ultimately, Harbaugh’s plane did depart for Baltimore, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, as the free agent left without committing.
Harbaugh spurning the Giants’ best efforts doesn’t necessarily reflect badly on New York. As Mike Garafolo of NFL Network pointed out, Harbaugh’s insistence on meeting with multiple teams was always a part of his plan and is just the process playing out. Now Tennessee decision-makers will fly out tomorrow morning to meet Harbaugh on his turf, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor disclosed his understanding that New York could be the only team facility that Harbaugh intends to visit, with the remaining meetings set to happen at his home in Baltimore. O’Connor’s colleague at The Athletic, Dan Duggan, posited that it’s hard “to imagine taking a job like this without stepping foot in the building,” so New York’s ability to get him onsite may already put them at a huge advantage.
Regardless, Harbaugh will continue his process with the Titans tomorrow in Baltimore. As Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated points out, even before today, Harbaugh has been extremely thorough in vetting the current openings, and he has all the leverage at the moment that allows him to be patient. As for the Giants, they’ve been understanding of his process, and despite the fact that he left today without a contract, NFL insider Jordan Schultz claims “there’s no panic” in the building.
John Harbaugh Planning In-Person Falcons, Titans Interviews
Day 8 of the John Harbaugh watch produced the first in-person meeting for the high-profile coaching candidate. The Giants booked that summit and have Harbaugh on-hand today.
Unless the Giants can convince Harbaugh they are the perfect fit today, it appears the veteran HC will have more visits to make. Harbaugh is currently planning in-person meetings with the Falcons and Titans, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. The early expectation points to both meetings taking place over the next three days.
Considering this is Harbaugh’s first time on the coaching carousel in 18 years, it would make sense he takes more than one in-person meeting. The Giants, after all, have not done well to keep their interest a secret. It does not seem Harbaugh would lose leverage with the Giants if he leaves their facility today to take other meetings.
The Falcons were the first team to meet with Harbaugh officially, but the visit was virtual. The Titans initially came up as a team trailing the Giants and Falcons in these sweepstakes, but a subsequent report pegged Tennessee as being one of the three frontrunners to land this market’s top prize.
As for the Giants, Harbaugh has done plenty of homework. He has researched how the organization is run and spoken with ownership about potential improvements, according to Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano. Harbaugh, 63, is also not believed to have issues working with GM Joe Schoen, whom the Giants are retaining for a fifth year atop the front office.
Schoen used a first-round pick in last year’s draft on quarterback Jaxson Dart, whose presence could help lead Harbaugh to New York. Dart reportedly intrigues Harbaugh, though the Falcons and Titans also have young signal-callers who may appeal to the coach.
The Falcons spent the eighth overall pick on Michael Penix Jr. in 2024. Penix was unspectacular in his first two seasons, though, and he added to a long injury history with a partially torn ACL in Week 11. Led by new president of football Matt Ryan and a to-be-determined general manager, the Falcons will have to decide how to proceed at quarterback this offseason. It seems likely the Falcons will part with Kirk Cousins, which would at least put them in the market for a capable insurance policy behind Penix.
One thing is clear about Atlanta: QB issues aside, there’s enviable talent on hand with running back Bijan Robinson, No. 1 wide receiver Drake London and a defense that produced the NFL’s second-most sacks in 2025. However, the Falcons could lose tight end Kyle Pitts to free agency after he earned second-team All-Pro honors this season. Harbaugh, whose Ravens were often known for excellent tight end play during his tenure, may push to retain Pitts.
The Titans, meanwhile, took former Miami signal-caller Cam Ward No. 1 overall in 2025. Ward struggled as a rookie, but there was little help around him. Adding more talent in the offseason will be an obvious priority for GM Mike Borgonzi, who will have the cap space and draft capital to do it. Roughly two months before free agency, Borgonzi could massively upgrade the team’s head coaching position in moving from the Brian Callahan–Mike McCoy duo to Harbaugh.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
NFC East Notes: Smith, Cowboys, Draft, Giants, Eluemunor, Eagles, Commanders
Mentioned as a player who could move back to tackle, Tyler Smith is not going down that road yet. The Cowboys have seen Smith become an All-Pro at guard, and Brian Schottenheimer said (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) the recently extended standout will be staying there entering the 2026 offseason. The second-year Dallas HC did indicate the door will be open to shift Smith outside, however. Smith lined up at guard for the bulk of 2025, but the 2022 first-round pick — who filled in for Tyron Smith at left tackle as a rookie — saw 203 snaps on the blind side this season. Smith is 3-for-3 in Pro Bowls as a guard; he signed a guard-record $24MM-per-year extension last September. As it stands, 2024 first-round pick Tyler Guyton will enter the offseason as Dallas’ top LT.
Here is the latest from the NFC East:
- Jerry Jones made good on past comments the Cowboys could trade into the draft assets acquired in the Micah Parsons trade for veteran talent, acquiring Quinnen Williams at the deadline. The Cowboys used a 2027 first-round pick as the headliner in a deal to acquire the Pro Bowl defensive tackle from the Jets. The team still has two first-round picks in 2026. “Don’t think that we couldn’t do some trading with those two No. 1s,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “All of the value that you get out of having these extra picks and having some flexibility under the cap, we’re going to take advantage of it.” The Cowboys hold the Nos. 12 and 20 overall picks in the upcoming draft. Moving down the board would provide extra capital for a Cowboys team in dire need of defensive help; based on Dallas’ impressive first-round track record, it would surprise to see the team trade one of these two picks for veteran talent.
- The Commanders hold the No. 7 overall pick, and top sacker Von Miller is headed to free agency. While Miller is interested in staying, he will turn 37 in March. Washington is interested in adding EDGE talent in the draft or free agency, GM Adam Peters said (via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala). The team has Dorance Armstrong entering a contract year. After pursuing Joey Bosa and DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency last year, Washington signed Miller over the summer.
- Among the non-Saquon Barkley storylines during the memorable Hard Knocks: Offseason HBO offering on the Giants from 2024 covered Jermaine Eluemunor‘s free agency. The former Raiders right tackle sought a two-year deal rather than a longer-term commitment, betting on himself. After playing out a two-year, $14MM pact, Eluemunor should command a decent deal ahead of his age-31 season. Indeed, the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz notes the Giants’ two-year RT is expected to command a “far bigger” contract than he did in 2024. Pro Football Focus graded the 31-year-old blocker 54th among tackles this season. He did start 31 games — at both right and left tackle — for the Giants over the past two seasons. Eluemunor will carry 76 career starts into free agency.
- A November ankle surgery sent Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba to IR. The operation appears likely to cost the rookie offseason time. The 2025 second-round pick said (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s E.J. Smith) he hopes to be ready by the late summer. Mukuba made 10 starts as a rookie. The Eagles also have Reed Blankenship and Marcus Epps set for free agency at safety; one year remains on Sydney Brown‘s rookie contract.
Giants To Meet With John Harbaugh
The most aggressive team in the John Harbaugh pursuit will have a chance to make a sales pitch. Harbaugh is meeting with the Giants today, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
This will be the longtime Ravens HC’s second meeting since becoming a coaching free agent; the Falcons received the first, meeting with him Monday. This will, however, be Harbaugh’s first in-person meeting, NFL.com adds.
[RELATED: 2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Both John Mara and Steve Tisch are expected to be at the meeting, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan and Ian O’Connor. The Giants have satisfied the Rooney Rule, which required HC-seeking teams to interview at least two external minority candidates, meaning they could make a hire today if they chose.
Harbaugh has been connected to the Titans, Dolphins and Browns as well; as it stands, Atlanta, New York and Tennessee have been viewed as the frontrunners. But no known interviews have been scheduled there just yet, and Rapoport adds there is a chance Harbaugh does not leave the building without a deal in place today. A Titans meeting is believed to be in Harbaugh’s plans, according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. The Falcons would also like to bring Harbaugh in for an in-person meeting, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes.
Joining the Falcons in monitoring Harbaugh’s Ravens status before his firing, the Giants have been in heavy on the Super Bowl-winning HC since his Baltimore ouster. The Giants came up as a team “all in” on Harbaugh quickly and team exec Chris Mara — John’s brother — had lunch with the free agent coach recently. Countless conversations have occurred between Harbaugh and the Giants, per Rapoport, raising the stakes for this in-person meeting. Chris Mara and Joe Schoen will be at this meeting as well, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano tweets.
The Giants are believed to appeal to Harbaugh in part because of their Jaxson Dart draft choice in last year’s first round. New York has plenty of needs and has won more than six games in a season just once over the past nine years. The team also is retaining Schoen, though it should be expected a Harbaugh hire would reduce the fifth-year GM’s power in the organization. Harbaugh is not believed to covet full personnel control, however.
New York already went with a coach carrying a special teams background, hiring Joe Judge in 2020, but Harbaugh obviously transcends such status by now. He led the Ravens for 18 years, winning a Super Bowl and reaching four AFC championship games. A failure to reach a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson doomed Harbaugh in Baltimore, but as many as nine teams — including some with HCs employed — contacted him hours after his firing.
There are now nine HC vacancies, but with Mike Tomlin not viewed as likely to dive into this pool (instead eyeing a TV role for 2026), Harbaugh is the biggest fish out there. He may make the first move to shape this year’s market.
Now 63, Harbaugh will undoubtedly be seeking a team that can present ingredients to win immediately. With the Giants entering Week 17 in the No. 1 overall draft slot (before falling to No. 5), it is worth wondering if they have the best case among interested teams. But Dart’s presence on a rookie contract (through at least 2027) does give New York a selling point some of the other teams angling for a splash hire do not.
Harbaugh is believed to have spent the weekend discussing arrangements with potential assistants. A decision could be coming soon, and the Giants’ pitch will be a key storyline as this chase continues.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/13/26
The NFL’s latest reserve/futures deals…
Buffalo Bills
- OL Nick Broeker
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Devin Veresuk
Los Angeles Chargers
- LS Peter Bowden, WR Dalevon Campbell, DL TeRah Edwards, WR Luke Grimm, WR JaQuae Jackson, RB Amar Johnson, LB Emany Johnson, C Josh Kaltenberger, TE Tanner McLachlan, OLB Garmon Randolph, G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei, CB Isas Waxter, TE Thomas Yassmin
New York Giants
- DL Marlon Tuipulota
Pittsburgh Steelers