It appears the primary domino on this yr’s head coaching hiring cycle is tumbling over. In keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, John Harbaugh and the Giants are “working to finalize an agreement to make him Latest York’s next head coach.” Barring any setbacks, the deal is anticipated to occur as Schefter claims that “Harbaugh is prepared to just accept the Giants’ deal, and the team is anticipated to rent him as soon as possible.”
Schefter made sure to make room for such a setback, nothing that “the deal just isn’t final, and contract numbers still are being negotiated,” citing a source who claimed that “there still is loads to work through.” Nothing’s certain until i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, but SportsNet Latest York’s Connor Hughes and Paul Schwartz of The Latest York Post each appear confident enough within the direction things are heading to say in some form or fashion that the Giants got their guy.
Harbaugh had an appointment set within the morning to fulfill with the Titans at his home for an in-person interview and later intended to do the identical with the Falcons, however it appears that is not any longer the case. With Harbaugh’s attention shifting now to hammering out the small print of his imminent contract with the Giants, competing teams have been informed of his decision, likely meaning that those plans to fulfill have been cancelled.
Even before the moment Harbaugh became available following his dismissal after 18 years in Baltimore, the Giants were deeply enthusiastic about the prospect of him becoming their next head coach. After he was officially let go, Latest York immediately made it known that he was the frontrunner, of their eyes, to exchange Brian Daboll in the top coaching position. What ensued was a full-court press ranging from Day 1, as the subsequent day, reports indicated that the franchise was “all-in” on landing the 62-year-old’s services.
After getting let go so unexpectedly, Harbaugh intended to take his time because the NFL’s most eligible bachelor. He took the week to collect information from interested parties but made it known that he didn’t intend to start out doing any interviews until the next week. While the Falcons were the primary team to officially interview Harbaugh, attending to him virtually, the Giants were close on their heels and the primary to make contact in-person each time he finally did make himself available. Board director and senior player personnel executive Chris Mara met Harbaugh for lunch the Sunday before the week began.
The Falcons, Giants, and Titans were all listed as initial frontrunners within the race to land Harbaugh’s signature. Atlanta’s latest president of football Matt Ryan had a surprising reference to Harbaugh that drew his interest in that direction. In Tennessee, a young first-round quarterback overflowing with potential and surrounded by an incredible amount of cap space made the Titans a sexy option, as well. Latest York, though, continued to press Harbaugh with guarantees of every little thing he could want: salary, roster control, a young first-round quarterback of their very own, also full of potential.
This morning, it was announced that Latest York, probably the most aggressive team on this pursuit, can be hosting Harbaugh with in-person interviews with the Titans and Falcons to follow. It began with team co-owner Steve Tisch sending his private plane to fly Harbaugh to Latest Jersey. What followed was an over-five-hour tour that allowed Harbaugh to fulfill with quarterback Jaxson Dart, the team’s other co-owner John Mara, general manager Joe Schoen, and several other other members of the team’s front office. Harbaugh was even bombarded with phone calls from notable Giants alumni, including former quarterback Eli Manning, former head coach Tom Coughlin, and even recently fired coach Daboll, who “raved about his experience within the organization.”
Hughes identified that a number of offseason talk appeared to indicate that Schoen’s presence in Latest York can be a deterrent for a top coaching prospect like Harbaugh, but Schoen appears to be a serious a part of this potential deal getting this far. Schoen notably assured Harbaugh that he’s willing to cede some power for personnel decision-making to permit the top coach to have more say in roster decisions.
At the top of their day together, Harbaugh boarded his flight home to Baltimore, where he expected to be leaving for soon to fulfill with Tennessee within the morning. Nonetheless, the Giants opted to step up their full-court press with an all-out blitz in the ultimate moments. They gave their final pitches, made their best offers, and stalled Harbaugh’s plane for about two hours, making a serious push to land their white whale. Ultimately, Harbaugh departed on that plane without having agreed to anything, but vibes within the constructing were still extremely positive within the wake of his departure. 
It appears the full-court press didn’t end there, though, as these most up-to-date reports broke to point Harbaugh can be withdrawing himself from consideration from other jobs to work towards finalizing a cope with Latest York. NFL insider Jordan Schultz claims the team will find yourself putting Harbaugh among the many highest-paid coaches in NFL history, while Hughes notes that the team’s investment doesn’t stop there. The Giants are reportedly sparing no expense as they’ve also promised Harbaugh “the budget he must round out his staff as he sees fit.”
The Giants swung for the fences of their pursuit of Harbaugh, at times seeming embarrassingly forward in making their intentions known, however it all appears to be paying off, and it’s clear why they tried so hard. After seeing Coughlin lead the team for 12 years, the team ran through Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and Daboll all around the next 10. In keeping with Hughes, following the dismissal of Daboll, Schoen and the team made an inventory of traits they were on the lookout for of their next head coach that required them to be a frontrunner of men, be able to charming the locker room and rallying players, and be able to restoring accountability amongst the players and staff. They’ve to be ok with what number of boxes Harbaugh checks off there.
As for Harbaugh, he was dismissed from a team filled with talent that continues to struggle to search out its full potential — by the way in which, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes that Giants aren’t scheduled to fulfill the Ravens until the 2028 NFL season. He now finds himself on one other team rife with talent. On the shoulders of Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, wide receiver Malik Nabers, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and defensive ends Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, the Giants feel like they’ve a gaggle of cornerstone franchise players, and it now looks like they’ve a coach to steer them.