Falcons Interested In John Harbaugh; Latest On Giants’ Pursuit
It took no time for former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to draw interest from other NFL teams.
No club appears to be more invested than the Giants, who are “all-in” in securing the 62-year-old coach, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. They were among the first teams with reported interest, though several followed suit. Among them are the Falcons, who are “increasingly interested,” according to Hughes.
Teams will be looking to move fast to secure Harbaugh’s services. He could meet with the Giants as early as this weekend (via The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor), as they have already begun interviewing their candidates. Their other potential hires include ex-Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was seen as an early frontrunner before Harbaugh became available.
Harbaugh may have a similar effect on other head coaching searches. That could raise questions about the NFL’s Rooney Rule, especially if a team fires their current head coach to hire Harbaugh. They would still have to interview at least two minority candidates under the Rooney Rule, but those would clearly be shams, resulting in declined interviews and/or punishment from the NFL. Going to New York or Atlanta, who already have openings and interview requests out to multiple minority candidates, might be the cleanest outcome.
Like the Giants, the Falcons have a young quarterback in place, though he may not have the same affinity for Michael Penix Jr. that he reportedly does for Jaxson Dart. But Atlanta’s roster is stocked with young talent on both sides of the ball that would keep Harbaugh out of a rebuilding situation he would likely prefer to avoid. New York seems like a bigger risk for that kind of scenario, though Harbaugh may also want to spearhead a rebuild for his second act, too. And of course, even a single offseason of heavy investment via the trade, free agency, and the trade market could get the Giants back in playoff contention next year.
Of course, Harbaugh will still need to close the deal in his interviews. He is going in with the huge advantage of his pedigree and the respect he commands around the NFL, but the Ravens did not fire him for no reason. He will need to prove he can still remain adaptable to the modern league and continue to connect with players four decades his junior.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/26
Today saw four teams establish reserve/futures deals for next year:
Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Dohnte Meyers
Minnesota Vikings
- DT Jaylon Hutchings, LB Jacob Roberts
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
- LB Milo Eifler
Washington Commanders
Cardinals, Falcons, Giants, Raiders, Ravens, Titans To Interview Vance Joseph
JANUARY 7, 8:58pm: Another new team has been added to Joseph’s docket. According to senior NFL insider Josina Anderson, in addition to the Giants and Raiders, Joseph will interview with the Ravens on Thursday for an opportunity to replace John Harbaugh in Baltimore.
The Browns remain the only team leaving Joseph off the invite list at the moment. Luca Evans of the Denver Post confirmed today through sources that Cleveland had not yet requested an interview. Instead, it’s the former Browns who could be looking to Vance to help their defense reestablish the identity that made the Ravens so notorious for years.
JANUARY 6, 3:48pm: Add the Falcons to Joseph’s itinerary. Atlanta brass will discuss its recently vacated HC position with the Denver DC this week, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini tweets. This makes Joseph on the radar for five of the six available positions thus far. The Browns can make it a sweep.
Last year, Joseph met with only the Jets and Raiders. After the Broncos’ defense delivered a second straight strong season under Joseph, more teams have taken notice. While Joseph will shift his focus back to the Broncos’ divisional-round game next week, his bye period will be eventful.
JANUARY 6, 12:03pm: Vance Joseph‘s second Broncos stint has boosted his stock, and after seven years back on the coordinator level, the former head coach is poised to become a strong candidate for a second-chance opportunity. Several teams will meet with the Denver DC about HC vacancies.
The Cardinals, Giants, Raiders and Titans will huddle up with Joseph, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Because the Broncos secured the AFC’s bye slot, Joseph can discuss HC jobs with teams beginning Wednesday of this week. The interviews must be virtual, but Joseph will conduct them all this week.
Joseph’s Cardinals interview is perhaps the most interesting, as he spent four years as their DC. The veteran staffer’s Denver return showed a willingness to return after being fired. While the Cardinals did not technically fire Joseph in 2023 — as they dismantled Kliff Kingsbury‘s staff upon dismissing the HC — they passed on Joseph as the Kingsbury successor.
Joseph interviewed for the Arizona job shortly after Kingsbury’s ouster but did not meet about the position a second time. The Cards gave the job to another defensive-minded coach, Jonathan Gannon, whom they fired Monday.
The Raiders met with Joseph about their HC vacancy last year, eventually giving the job to Pete Carroll. That will make for an interesting meeting this time around, as the team fired Carroll after a 3-14 season. The Giants and Titans came up as interested parties for Joseph ahead of this year’s carousel launch.
There are a host of defensive-minded HC candidates this year but few offense-oriented options for teams. This has allowed Joseph, 53, to move into stronger position to become a second-chance HC. Joseph went 11-21 as the Broncos’ HC from 2017-18, but his quarterback situation — headlined by Case Keenum and the Paxton Lynch draft miss — did plenty to hurt those teams’ chances. After helming a third-ranked defense last season, Joseph repeated that finish in 2025.
The Broncos enter the playoffs third in scoring defense and second in yardage, as Joseph’s defense has powered them to the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2015. While Denver is highly unlikely to lose OC Joe Lombardi, the prospect of losing Joseph and QBs coach Davis Webb is firmly in play.
Raheem Morris Sets Up HC Interviews With Giants, Cardinals
Just days after the Falcons fired him, Raheem Morris is drawing plenty of interest from teams looking for a head coach. After scheduling a Titans interview, he’ll also meet with the Giants and Cardinals in the next week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The 49-year-old Morris has worked as a full-time NFL head coach twice. His first opportunity came with the Buccaneers from 2009-11. The Bucs put together a 10-win campaign in Morris’ second year, but that was sandwiched between seasons in which they went 3-13 and 4-12. First-round quarterback Josh Freeman didn’t pan out as hoped, which helped lead to Morris’ demise.
Morris primarily served as defensive assistant with Washington and Atlanta from 2012-20, though he was also the Falcons’ wide receivers coach for three years and their passing game coordinator for one. Morris also had a stint as the Falcons’ interim head coach in 2020. He went 4-7 replacing the fired Dan Quinn. The Falcons hired Arthur Smith during the ensuing offseason.
With Smith taking over, Morris temporarily departed Atlanta to serve as Sean McVay‘s defensive coordinator in Los Angeles. Morris held that role through 2023. He was a key figure on the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning staff in 2021.
Morris’ efforts with the Rams earned him another head coaching shot in Atlanta, where he succeeded the fired Smith, but the reunion didn’t go well. The Falcons posted a subpar 16-18 record under Morris from 2024-25. Although the Falcons made big investments in quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr, neither provided an obvious solution under center over the past two years. The franchise cleaned house in giving Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot their walking papers last Sunday night.
Any coach who has a suboptimal QB situation is likely to struggle. Finding an answer at the position has been a problem so far for Morris, who has gone a woeful 37-56. However, he’d inherit a potential franchise signal-caller in New York. The Giants are hopeful they found one when they used the 25th pick in the 2025 draft on Jaxson Dart, who had a promising rookie year despite concussion issues.
Morris would work with Dart in New York, but there’s less clarity in Arizona. Veteran Jacoby Brissett is under contract for another year. He may stick around as a bridge QB, though the Cardinals could find their next starter in the draft. They’re slated to pick third overall in the spring. Former No. 1 overall selection Kyler Murray is still on the roster, but the Cardinals are likely to trade or release the seven-year veteran in the next couple of months.
Giants Set Up HC Interviews With Mike McCarthy, Kevin Stefanski
Former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy may land with a third NFC team. The Giants will interview McCarthy for their head coaching position next week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Their meeting will take place Tuesday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
After the Ravens fired John Harbaugh on Tuesday, he reportedly vaulted to the top of New York’s wish list. The Giants will need a fallback plan if they’re unable to lure Harbaugh, though, and the 62-year-old McCarthy represents another experienced option with plenty of past success.
Like Harbaugh, McCarthy is a former Super Bowl winner. He helped the Packers to their most recent championship in 2010, his fifth season as their coach. Entering the playoffs as a 10-win wild-card team, the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers ripped off four straight victories en route to a title.
McCarthy lasted seven more years as Green Bay’s head coach after its Super Bowl XLV win over the Steelers. The Packers made the playoffs in five of those seasons, but a 4-7-1 start in 2018 led to McCarthy’s ouster.
After a year off, McCarthy took over for Jason Garrett as the Cowboys’ head coach in 2020. Dallas struggled to a 6-10 mark in McCarthy’s first year, but the team put together three straight 12-win seasons after that. The Cowboys won just one playoff game out of four during that stretch, though, before taking a significant step back in 2024. Quarterback Dak Prescott missed nine games with a severe hamstring injury, which helped lead to a 7-10 finish. Owner Jerry Jones allowed McCarthy’s contract to expire and went on to replace him with Brian Schottenheimer.
With his time in Dallas up, McCarthy interviewed for HC vacancies in Chicago and New Orleans last winter. Neither they nor anyone else hired McCarthy, who didn’t work in 2025. The offensive-minded McCarthy could resurface with the Giants, who would assign him the task of helping develop young quarterback Jaxson Dart. McCarthy would also attempt to build on an impressive 174-112-2 record as a head coach.
As the Giants wait to talk with McCarthy, they’ve already begun discussions with ex-Browns HC Kevin Stefanski. It was reported Monday that he would interview with the Giants. The two sides had dinner on Tuesday night, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Stefanski’s interview will occur on Wednesday, per Schefter.
Giants Hold John Harbaugh As Frontrunner For HC Job?
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.
Klint Kubiak Receives HC Interview Requests From Giants, Cardinals, Raiders
To little surprise, Klint Kubiak is a popular early candidate for head coaching opportunities. The Seahawks OC has received plenty of interest from teams with a HC vacancy.
Kubiak was already known to have received an interview request from the Falcons. He is also expected to be a target for the Titans regarding their opening. In addition, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports the Giants, Cardinals and Raiders have submitted an interview slip. This marks the first offseason in which Kubiak has received an HC interview request. Giants rumors had emerged before the regular season’s conclusion.
Seattle clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed and with it a bye during the wild-card round. As a result, NFL rules permit Kubiak to interview virtually with interested teams this week. All interviews he conducts must take place before the opening round of the playoffs wraps up. Per Breer, Kubiak is currently in the midst of planning his schedule with his focus still mainly on the Seahawks.
Kubiak has worked as an offensive coordinator with three different teams (Vikings in 2021, Saints in 2024 and Seahawks this season). The 38-year-old has not lasted beyond one season in any of those roles, though the Seahawks certainly would be interested in retaining him for the 2026 season. The Vikings fired Mike Zimmer after the 2021 campaign, and the Saints dismissed Dennis Allen midway through the ’24 season. That led to new offensive play-callers arriving and Kubiak heading elsewhere.
The second-generation play-caller coached the Broncos’ quarterbacks during an eventful 2022 season in Denver; Nathaniel Hackett went around OC Justin Outten to give Kubiak play-calling duties as the season spiraled. Hackett then worked as the pass-game coordinator under Kyle Shanahan in 2023, helping Brock Purdy to a Pro Bowl season as the 49ers soared to Super Bowl LVIII. The Seahawks reunited Kubiak with Sam Darnold this past offseason, with the assistant’s presence a draw for the QB, and the Seahawks have booked the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time in 11 years.
Seattle ranks third in scoring offense and eighth in yardage, and Darnold has delivered on his free agent contract. The Seahawks have seen some second-half inconsistency from their starter, but he has done enough to keep the offense afloat en route to a 14-3 record. Jaxon Smith-Njigba also smashed a Seahawks single-season record by tallying an NFL-leading 1,793 yards. With this coaching crop heavier on the defensive side, Kubiak was bound to receive requests. The Seahawks, who fired Ryan Grubb after one season, could face the prospect of replacing their OC for a third straight year.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Giants, Falcons Among Teams Monitoring Ravens HC John Harbaugh’s Status
Changes of some kind are expected on the Ravens’ coaching staff. It remains unclear if that will include the departure of John Harbaugh, but his situation is drawing considerable attention. 
A parting of ways between Harbaugh and the Ravens has been floated late in the season, one in which the team finished 8-9 and fell short of the playoffs. Leading up to Week 18’s winner-take-all game against the Steelers, it appeared as though a firing would be considered a surprise. Still, uncertainty looms over the situation with the list of coaching vacancies taking shape.
Harbaugh has been at the helm of the Ravens for 18 seasons; only Mike Tomlin‘s Steelers tenure is longer. Baltimore authorized a three-year extension last March, and owner Steve Bisciotti is well known to hold Harbaugh in very high regard. Those factors point to stability at the HC position for 2026. Nevertheless, Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports there are teams “monitoring” the possibility of Harbaugh departing. Included among them are the Giants and Falcons.
This comes after Josina Anderson of The Exhibit described Harbaugh as being “well-coveted” by teams around the league. That no doubt includes at least some of those with a vacancy at the moment (such as New York and Atlanta). Six openings are in place currently, although the possibility exists for that number to increase depending on how things play out in yet-to-be-finalized cases such as Harbaugh’s.
Per Anderson, movement amongst the coaching staff will be coming “relatively soon.” That could include a parting of ways with one or both of offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Monken has been on the head coaching radar in previous years, and earlier today he received an interview request from the Browns.
Details on the matter of assistant coaches will be worth watching for closely in Baltimore’s case. Until a firm commitment becomes public from the team, meanwhile, Harbaugh’s status will remain at least somewhat unclear. A final decision will have implications for Baltimore but it could also make a notable impact on this year’s hiring cycle.
Giants Request HC Interview With Lou Anarumo
Since Brian Daboll‘s firing, many have pointed to Lou Anarumo as potential replacement. The latter will indeed receive a look from the Giants. 
Anarumo has received a head coaching interview request from New York, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The Giants have thus joined the Titans in attempting to line up a meeting with Anarumo. His Tennessee interview will take place tomorrow.
Not long after Daboll was dismissed, Anarumo was named as a candidate for the Giants. The Staten Island native has previously worked with the team. Anarumo served as the Giants’ defensive backs coach in 2018. His one-year stint in that role was followed by his Bengals hire as defensive coordinator.
Anarumo led Cincinnati’s defense for six years until being fired following the 2024 campaign. In short order, the 59-year-old landed another DC gig by joining the Colts. Indianapolis finished just 23rd in total defense and 21st in points allowed this season, but the team was hit hard by injuries throughout the campaign. Anarumo’s stock has not suffered, as evidenced by the fact he is already a target of multiple teams seeking a new head coach.
The Giants promoted offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to interim HC after Daboll was fired. Kafka will interview for the full-time position, although it is rare situations such as his result in a hire on that front. New York has been named on multiple occasions as a feasible landing spot for Kevin Stefanski, who was fired by the Browns yesterday. The Giants are among the teams he is expected to interview with.
Earlier today, New York also emerged as a potential suitor for Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Like Stefanski, Joseph has been a head coach in the NFL. Anarumo, by contrast, has never led a coaching staff at the pro or college levels. He could very well get the opportunity to do so in 2026, however, depending in part on how he interviews with the Giants.
Kevin Stefanski Expected To Interview With Giants, Falcons, Titans
9:22pm: Stefanski will indeed be interviewing with the Titans. Veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky reports that the ousted Browns coach will meet with Tennessee leadership on Saturday.
3:40pm: In the time leading up to ‘Black Monday,’ it became increasingly clear Kevin Stefanski‘s time in Cleveland was coming to an end. The Browns, as expected, fired him this morning. 
Many have pointed to Stefanski as one of the top head coaching candidates in the 2026 cycle. To no surprise, then, a list of prospective suitors has emerged in short order. Stefanski is expected to interview with the Giants, Falcons and Titans, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Prior to his dismissal, Stefanski was named as a candidate to watch regarding the Giants. New York has used Mike Kafka in an interim capacity since firing Brian Daboll. Kafka will receive an interview for the full-time gig, but a number of outside options will be explored as well.
The Titans’ initial batch of interview requests came out earlier today. The Chiefs tandem of Matt Nagy and Steve Spagnuolo along with Broncos and Colts defensive coordinators Vance Joseph and Lou Anarumo have been targeted for an interview. Tennessee has also been mentioned as a likely suitor in the case of Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury. Stefanski represents another veteran play-caller on the offensive side of the ball as the Titans seek out Brian Callahan‘s replacement.
By Sunday night, Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot had been fired by Atlanta. The team is nearing a hire for a new president of football operations position. Matt Ryan is the frontrunner for that role. Once a deal has been finalized in that respect, attention will turn to the HC and GM vacancies. Atlanta has already submitted interview requests with Klint Kubiak (offensive coordinator, Seahawks) and Anthony Weaver (defensive coordinator, Dolphins).
Stefanski won a pair of Coach of the Year awards during his six seasons with the Browns. Things have not gone according to plan since the start of 2024, however, a factor which was noted in the statement confirming his dismissal. Nevertheless, the 43-year-old is largely held in a high regard as a veteran offensive mind who has (at times) found success in spite of unenviable quarterback situations.
Developing any of Jaxson Dart, Cam Ward or Michael Penix Jr. would be seen as a top priority for Stefanski in the event of a hire. His interest in each of the vacancies in New York, Tennessee and Atlanta will be worth monitoring as the hiring landscape takes shape. Given the fact he is now unemployed, Stefanski is free to interview with teams at any time.