Though it’s not a done deal and details are still being finalized, the New York Giants are set to hire John Harbaugh. Following Brian Daboll’s firing, the Giants have found their coach. Harbaugh was a surprise availability after the Baltimore Ravens fired him.
He took some time to do a few chosen interviews, but the Giants didn’t want him to do any others. Overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday, the two sides made some serious headway and are closing in on an official deal.
John Harbaugh to coach New York Giants
John Harbaugh was with the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons. He amassed a 180-113 record, and he went 13-11 in the playoffs. However, in recent years, the Ravens didn’t do as well as they could have, and the team felt it was time.
That opened the door for a team like the New York Giants, who have won just seven games in the past two years. They wanted a coach who could win games and build a culture, and that appears to be what they have now.
Harbaugh also spoke with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday and had plans to meet with the Tennessee Titans today, but the Giants were the first team to have him in the building for an interview, and they essentially didn’t let him leave.
He did fly back home to Baltimore after the meeting, but he’s expected to return and be the newest head coach of the Giants.
The Giants felt he was the best possible option. They also interviewed interim Mike Kafka, Mike McCarthy, Raheem Morris, Kevin Stefanski, and Antonio Pierce. They had virtual conversations with Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, and Denver assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi.
Harbaugh, who had seven teams reach out right after he got fired, was their preferred choice, and now, barring an unforeseen setback, he’ll be on the sidelines next season. It is expected that former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken will join his new staff.
It remains to be seen if any other Ravens coaches will follow suit. Currently, it’s also unclear which Giants assistants will stay, but presumably not many. Harbaugh will want his own coaching staff.
Why the Giants?
John Harbaugh could’ve gone anywhere. He could’ve gone to the Atlanta Falcons, an 8-9 team in a weak division. He could’ve gone to the Las Vegas Raiders, who have the number one overall pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers, a division champion, had an opening. He could’ve gone to any team he liked. So why the Giants?
Harbaugh has not revealed any reasoning for this choice, but there are some advantages. The NFC East is fairly open, with the Philadelphia Eagles trending down and both the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders coming off poor seasons.
The Giants have $20 million in cap space this year, and that could balloon to $40 million or more after cuts. New York has $100 million in cap space in 2027, so there’s plenty of team-building flexibility. They also own the fifth overall pick, so Harbaugh can get one of the most impactful players in the draft.
They have, seemingly, the infrastructure in place on offense. Jaxson Dart looks very promising, and he plays well out of structure like Harbaugh’s former QB, Lamar Jackson. The Giants also have Malik Nabers, Wandale Robinson, and Cam Skattebo. The pieces seem to be in place.
Prior to his firing, Harbaugh was the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL. The longest was Mike Tomlin, who stepped down earlier this week, so now neither of them have lengthy tenure. Harbaugh is going to coach this year, but Tomlin is expected to take some time away.
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