Pro Football Rumors
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.
More to come.
