Harbaugh and Giants in Final Talks Over Head Coach Deal

The New York Giants are in the final stages of hiring former Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh as their next head coach, according to multiple sources in the NFL. While contract numbers are still being worked out between the two sides, Harbaugh is ready to accept the position and the Giants plan to complete the hire as soon as possible.

Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens on January 6 following the team's playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending an 18-year tenure in Baltimore. Within 45 minutes of the news breaking, his agent received calls from seven different teams interested in him, even though only six head coaching openings existed at the time.

Background

The Giants have been searching for stability at the head coach position for nearly a decade. Since Tom Coughlin left after the 2015 season, the team has cycled through four full-time head coaches, all of whom finished with losing records. Brian Daboll, the most recent coach, was fired in November after the Giants started the 2025 season 2-8. The team finished with a 4-13 record, continuing a troubling pattern of decline.

Over the same 10-year period, the Giants have compiled the second-worst record in the NFL at 55-109-1, trailing only the New York Jets. The franchise has not made the playoffs since 2022, when Daboll's first season showed promise with a 9-7-1 record and a playoff victory over Minnesota. That success proved short-lived as the team went 6-11 the following year and then 3-14 in 2024.

Despite these struggles, the Giants are considered one of the more attractive coaching vacancies this offseason. The team holds the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and has young talent in place, including rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who showed promise in his first NFL season.

Key Details

Harbaugh visited the Giants' facility on Wednesday for an in-person interview with team owners John Mara and Steve Tisch. Quarterback Jaxson Dart was present for the meeting, signaling the organization's commitment to the process.

The Giants' senior player personnel executive Chris Mara had already met with Harbaugh informally in Baltimore before the formal interview, demonstrating how aggressively the team pursued the coaching candidate. This early groundwork appears to have positioned New York ahead of other teams seeking Harbaugh's services.

The Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans also expressed interest in Harbaugh, but the Giants appear to have moved faster and more decisively in their pursuit. Reports indicate the Giants made an unofficial offer in the range of 20 million dollars per year, which would make Harbaugh one of the highest-paid head coaches in NFL history.

"There still is a lot to work through," one source told ESPN regarding the ongoing negotiations.

While the deal remains unsigned, both sides appear motivated to reach an agreement. Harbaugh has indicated his willingness to accept the position, and the Giants have signaled their intent to hire him as soon as possible.

Harbaugh's Track Record

Harbaugh brings a resume that few coaches in the NFL can match. During his 18 seasons with the Ravens, he compiled a 180-113 regular-season record and led the team to six AFC North titles. His greatest achievement came in the 2012 season when the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII, defeating the San Francisco 49ers.

He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2019 and won 13 playoff games during his first seven seasons in Baltimore. However, his recent track record in the postseason has been less successful, with only three playoff victories in his last 11 seasons.

What This Means

If the deal is completed as expected, Harbaugh would become the Giants' seventh head coach since 2016, replacing a revolving door of leadership that has failed to restore the franchise to relevance. His hiring would represent a significant shift in the organization's approach, bringing in a coach with a proven history of building winning programs.

For the Giants' young roster, including Dart and other recent draft picks, Harbaugh's experience and track record could provide the stability needed to develop these players into contributors. The team's draft capital and available cap space give Harbaugh resources to work with as he attempts to turn around the franchise.

The move also signals that Giants ownership is willing to invest heavily in finding a solution to their coaching problems. The reported 20 million dollar annual offer demonstrates a commitment to landing a top-tier candidate rather than settling for a lesser option.

Harbaugh's departure from Baltimore marks the end of an era for the Ravens, while potentially beginning a new chapter for a Giants franchise desperate for success. The NFL coaching carousel continues to move, with one of the league's most respected coaches preparing to take on one of its biggest rebuilding challenges.