The New York Giants are in hot pursuit of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh; it’s arguably the worst-kept secret in all of sports right now.
Well, there’s been a new development in the courting of Harbaugh, according to The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor.
“Giants executive Chris Mara told @TheAthletic that he met John Harbaugh for lunch Sunday and had an informal meeting at the coach’s house. People on both sides say Harbaugh remains very interested in the Giants job,” wrote O’Connor on X.
While no formal interview has taken place, the Giants and Harbaugh having a continued dialogue is a positive update.
Giants ‘Aggressive’ Pursuit of John Harbaugh
The New York Giants view Harbaugh as the coach they’ve been looking for since Tom Coughlin left, along with almost every other team with a head coach opening in the NFL.
It makes sense, I mean, how often does a coach with 18 years of experience, a 180-113 record, and a Super Bowl ring just hit the open market?
The Giants’ brass’s pursuit of Harbaugh will be “aggressive,” according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, and they intend to pull out all the stops to try and land their preferred candidate.
“The Giants, led by general manager Joe Schoen, have been aggressive with their interest in Harbaugh, fully knowing he is a top candidate in a year with several strong options, including Mike McCarthy and Kevin Stefanski, both former NFL head coaches,” wrote Schwartz.
“And here is some advice to teams that are convinced that Harbaugh is the right person to turn around the fortunes of the franchise: Once you sit down with him, do everything possible to make that interview the last one he has, even if it is the first one he takes.”
Joe Schoen leading the charge for the Giants is interesting, considering he’s obviously on the hot seat in New York.
He likely sees that his clock is ticking and views Harbaugh as his lifeboat in an otherwise precarious situation, and O’Connor recently reported that he may be willing to cede power to bring the former Super Bowl-winning coach aboard.
Joe Schoen Willing to ‘Adjust His Role’ to Land John Harbaugh
In an interview with Anthony Rivardo of Fireside Giants, O’Connor reported that Schoen is open to changing the power structure within the New York Giants organization to make the job more appealing to Harbaugh.
Heavy’s Arnav Sankar pointed out that Harbaugh is likely used to something similar from his time with the Baltimore Ravens.
“Harbaugh has spent more than a decade in Baltimore operating as the face of the franchise, wielding significant influence over roster construction, staffing, and organizational philosophy. While the Ravens still maintain a traditional GM structure, Harbaugh’s voice carries undeniable weight in personnel conversations and long-term vision,” wrote Sankar.
“For the Giants, the question isn’t whether Schoen is willing to give up authority entirely — it’s whether he’s willing to recalibrate. That could mean a more collaborative approach to roster decisions, greater coach input on quarterback direction and offensive philosophy, and shared influence over staffing and player development priorities.”
In what would be a wise move of self-preservation from Schoen, the Giants’ pursuit of Harbaugh should continue to heat up throughout the week.
Expect a formal meeting at the team facility, not just a lunch, sometime soon.
Giants, John Harbaugh Have First ‘Informal’ Meeting: Report