The Giants have finalized a five-year deal with John Harbaugh to make him the team’s new head coach, per Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
“I’m proud and honored to the head coach of this historic franchise, and especially excited to work with the Mara and Tisch families,” Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). “But most of all, I can’t wait to get started with the great players on this football team to see what we can accomplish together.” The 63-year-old is set to host his first press conference as the Giants’ head coach on Tuesday, per Garafolo.
Harbaugh emerged as the leading candidate for the Giants’ head coaching vacancy shortly after he was fired by the Ravens last week. He visited New York on Wednesday for a lengthy in-person meeting, but no deal came together before Harbaugh flew back to his (current) home in Baltimore. On Wednesday night, however, it was reported that Harbaugh accepted the job, which kicked off a multi-day process to finalize the agreement. The five-year deal is expected to be worth at least $100MM, per FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacciano, keeping Harbaugh as one of the highest-paid coaches in the league.
Compensation, however, was not the reason for this week’s delay, as that sum was agreed upon early in the negotiating process, according to Garafolo. Instead, Harbaugh wanted to change the Giants’ leadership hierarchy into one that more resembled the Ravens’. In the past, New York’s head coach has reported to the team’s general manager, who in turn reported to ownership, but in Baltimore, Harbaugh reported directly to owner Steve Bisciotti. The Giants agreed to Harbaugh’s terms and formalized the new reporting structure in his contract, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
“I report to [Giants owner] John Mara,” Harbaugh confirmed (via The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor). He added that he looks forward to forming a strong partnership with general manager Joe Schoen, who was a key part of the Giants’ full-court press to land the veteran head coach. It remains to be seen if there will be any other formal division of powers beyond the reporting structure written into Harbaugh’s deal.
Harbaugh will now get to work building his coaching staff. The Giants promised to spare no expense in hiring his assistants, many of whom will likely come from his previous staffs in Baltimore. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is considered the top candidate for the Giants’ OC job, though he is also scheduled for a second head coaching interview with the Browns. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who was Harbaugh’s assistant head coach in Baltimore in 2022 and 2023, is at the top of the team’s list of DC candidates. After Harbaugh hires his top lieutenants, he will work with them to hire the rest of his staff. The Giants have already notified some of their incumbent coaches that they will be moving in a different direction, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson.
At the same time, Harbaugh – and his new staff, as they come aboard – will get to work evaluating New York’s roster to prepare for the offseason. None will be more important than quarterback Jaxson Dart, who Harbaugh had already scouted in advance of his trip to New York, where the two got some face time.
“I’m very excited about these players,” Harbaugh said (via O’Connor). “I spoke with Jaxson two or three times at length & I couldn’t be more impressed with him. Watched him on tape, he had a heckuva rookie season and he’s got the right mindset. That is one tough dude.”
Harbugh coached a few current Giants during his time in Baltimore, including linebacker Chris Board and safety Beau Brade. Pending free agent right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor started his career as a Ravens fifth-round pick in 2017, and offensive lineman Reid Holskey spent his first NFL training camp under Harbaugh last summer. In general, though, he will be working with a brand-new group of players.
“I think the Giants roster is strong and it’s our job to make it stronger,” Harbaugh continued, per O’Connor. “We are going to compete for the playoffs and for championships. I expect and want to make the playoffs next year.”
That proclamation will gladden the hearts of Giants fans who have only witnessed two playoff berths since the team’s 2011 Super Bowl victory. New York has gone through multiple attempted rebuilds since, including their latest effort led by Schoen and Daboll that featured a wild card win in their first year and a 13-38 record since. Daboll was removed in November with the team headed for their third straight season with double-digit losses.
Consistent playoff appearances were a hallmark of Harbaugh’s time in Baltimore. The Ravens made the postseason in 12 of his 18 seasons as head coach, including five straight berths to start his tenure, culminating in a 2012 Super Bowl win. In the last eight seasons with Lamar Jackson, the team qualified for the playoffs six times, though they never won more than one game in a single postseason. Those struggles, as well as a concerning pattern of blown double-digit leads, were ultimately the impetus behind Harbaugh’s firing in Baltimore.
Harbaugh will be looking to bring that regular-season success to New York along with the strong culture and coaching staff he built in Baltimore. The Giants have a tight cap situation at the moment, but they could use Harbaugh’s reputation to draw a strong free agent class at more affordable prices. The team is also slated for the No. 5 pick in April’s draft, which will be one of Harbaugh’s biggest early decisions as a head coach.