John Harbaugh has only been out of a job for roughly 24 hours, but all indications suggest that the former Baltimore Ravens head coach won’t be out of a job for long.
Harbaugh has already generated interest from at least nine teams, a well-placed league source told me. The Super Bowl-winning head coach has quickly emerged as the top name on the open market, with FOX Sports’ Ben Arthur also ranking him first in the top candidates available in this offseason’s coaching carousel.
So, which teams that haven’t fired their head coach might have interest in Harbaugh? Could Harbaugh remain in the AFC North, or are the New York Giants the favorite to land him? Here’s what I’m hearing around the NFL about Harbaugh’s status as a head coach candidate.
[Coaching Carousel: Ranking the 7 NFL Head Coach Vacancies]
9 groups have contacted Harbaugh. Which groups that have not fired their head coach reached out to him?
Given his résumé and lengthy report of success, it wasn’t a shock that at the least 9 groups reached out to John Harbaugh within the hours after he was fired on Tuesday.
The stunning half is that solely six groups (not together with the Baltimore Ravens) are at present on the lookout for a head coach.
So sure, a well-placed supply advised me there are at the least three groups, and probably extra, who’re having at the least some inner discussions about firing their present coach now that Harbaugh, the long-time Ravens’ coach, is available on the market. And people groups clearly wished to gauge his degree of curiosity as they resolve whether or not to truly pursue him.
The Miami Dolphins, who to date have stood by embattled head coach Mike McDaniel, are reportedly considered one of them. And a supply on one workforce hoping to make an enormous push for Harbaugh within the subsequent few weeks advised me that at the least one of many anticipated suitors is taking part in this weekend within the wild-card playoff spherical.
Mike McDaniel has mentioned that his job is protected as head coach of the Dolphins. However might John Harbaugh hitting the open market influence his job standing? (Photograph by Kathryn Riley/Getty Pictures)
Up to now, it’s clear that each one six non-Baltimore groups on the lookout for a brand new head coach — the New York Giants, the Tennessee Titans, the Atlanta Falcons, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Cleveland Browns, and the Arizona Cardinals — have at the least reached out to the Harbaugh camp, a supply mentioned. As for the others, hypothesis across the league appears to have centered on these groups:
Miami Dolphins: They reportedly reached out to Harbaugh, despite the fact that proprietor Stephen Ross has been leaking for weeks that he believes in McDaniel and desires to provide him one other season. They do have a GM opening too, which implies Harbaugh might wield a number of energy and select the final supervisor he needs there. Additionally, Ross has taken massive swings earlier than. Bear in mind his ill-fated try and land Sean Payton and Tom Brady in 2022 (at the price of $1.5 million and a first-round decide).
Inexperienced Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur has a gaudy, 76-40-1 report and is within the playoffs for the third straight season, however there was an eerie feeling across the league that he would possibly must win a first-round recreation to be utterly protected. If you wish to join some dots to Harbaugh, new workforce president Ed Coverage is the son of former 49ers president Carmen Coverage and shut with Jed York, the 49ers proprietor who had some fairly good success with John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, as the pinnacle coach in San Francisco. And the Packers, by the way in which, is an extremely engaging job, particularly for a coach who grew up within the Midwest.
Carolina Panthers: The reigning AFC South champs (albeit with an 8-9 report) have proven no indicators they’re prepared to maneuver on from Dave Canales (13-21 in two seasons), however the impulsive proprietor hasn’t had a single profitable season within the eight years he’s owned the franchise. He took an enormous swing (and miss) as soon as on Matt Rhule. The billionaire hedge fund supervisor is all the time a menace to swing once more.
“These are simply the apparent 4,” an assistant common supervisor on a workforce at present on the lookout for a head coach advised me, with the fourth workforce being the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The dialog was had, although, earlier than head coach Todd Bowles mentioned he can be returning to the Buccaneers for 2026.
“However you higher consider that John Harbaugh’s title has come up in conversations in additional than half the buildings within the league,” the assistant common supervisor added. “You don’t suppose Woody Johnson wouldn’t at the least take into consideration firing [Aaron] Glenn if he thought he might land Harbaugh [with the Jets]? You don’t suppose Jerry Jones had at the least a few conversations about him [with the Cowboys] in some unspecified time in the future?
“In fact they’ve. If in case you have any reservations in any respect about your coach and a man like Harbaugh is instantly obtainable, it’s a must to at the least take into consideration making a transfer.”
***
Might the Pittsburgh Steelers change one legend with one other?
The discuss of the Steelers and long-time head coach Mike Tomlin parting methods after the season died down after they beat Harbaugh’s Ravens within the season finale and received the AFC North. However not everyone seems to be satisfied that Tomlin is now positively staying in Pittsburgh.
A supply with one workforce at present on the lookout for a brand new coach referred to as the Steelers “an fascinating darkish horse” within the race to rent Harbaugh.
Mike Tomlin was in a position to assist the Steelers take down the Ravens in Week 18 for the AFC North title, however Pittsburgh’s head coach would possibly nonetheless be on the recent seat. (Photograph by Joe Sargent/Getty Pictures)
“If there are points there [with Tomlin in Pittsburgh], why would making the playoffs remedy them?” the supply requested. “He would possibly nonetheless really feel it’s simply time [to move on]. And administration would possibly really feel the identical approach, particularly in the event that they don’t win a recreation [which they haven’t done in the playoffs since 2016].”
Whether or not the Steelers would pursue the 63-year-old Harbaugh isn’t clear, however it could actually be a pretty job for the Ohio native. He loved exceptional stability working in Baltimore. The Steelers are one of many few organizations that might credibly assure the identical factor.
***
Harbaugh emerges as No. 1 goal in New York
As New York Giants common supervisor Joe Schoen compiled his record of potential new coaches during the last a number of weeks, one title saved developing in each dialogue. They have been very intrigued by the thought of hiring John Harbaugh if he turned obtainable. And in response to a workforce supply, that they had grown more and more assured that he would, in order that they ready to take their shot.
They have been proper, and the now-former Ravens coach is now clearly the No. 1 title on their record as their seek for a brand new head coach begins. In addition they consider they’re excessive on Harbaugh’s record too, the supply mentioned. They’ve, of their eyes, a number of items in place for a fast turnaround, particularly a promising, younger franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart.
In addition they haven’t any purpose to consider that Harbaugh just isn’t in search of extreme energy within the group or that he feels he wouldn’t have the ability to work with Schoen, the workforce supply mentioned.
Normal supervisor Joe Schoen and the Giants have John Harbaugh on the high of their head coach wishlist. They suppose Harbaugh has them extremely on his record of most popular estimations, too, a supply advised FOX Sports activities’ Ralph Vacchiano. (Photograph by Ishika Samant/Getty Pictures)
The Giants’ search might concentrate on Harbaugh, however it’s in any other case anticipated to be in depth and, a supply mentioned, will lean closely in direction of candidates with NFL head teaching expertise. Up to now, they’ve arrange, or are within the technique of establishing, interviews with seven candidates — Harbaugh, former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Of these seven, solely Anarumo, who was a candidate for the Giants head teaching job when Brian Daboll was employed 4 years in the past, and Kubiak don’t have earlier head teaching expertise.
The Giants are additionally anticipated to interview former Raiders head coach (and former Giants linebacker) Antonio Pierce and former Commanders offensive coordinator (and former Cardinals head coach) Kliff Kingsbury.
Stefanski, who might be their second selection, was scheduled to kick off their interviews on Wednesday.
***
Tomlin can be a match with the Giants, however would they watch for him?
There are a lot of, many private connections between the Giants and Steelers organizations, particularly among the many possession teams and entrance places of work, so it’s hardly stunning information that if Steelers coach Mike Tomlin have been instantly obtainable, he’d bounce to at the least close to the highest of the Giants’ record, too. However they don’t appear as satisfied that may occur as they sounded about Harbaugh.
So no, they’re not going to attend round to search out out.
Steelers beat Ravens 26-24, Clinch AFC North, Belief Aaron Rodgers within the playoffs?
Clearly, if the Steelers lose their wild-card recreation on Monday night time and there’s a fast decision to Tomlin’s standing, then the Giants might shortly transfer to suit him into their interview schedule. However a workforce supply mentioned there are sufficient good selections obtainable, in order that they don’t really feel the necessity to wait on Tomlin if the Steelers win.
They’re additionally not satisfied that Tomlin would even need to coach instantly subsequent season if he and the Steelers determined to half methods. There was some hypothesis that he would possibly need to take a 12 months off, maybe engaged on TV.
If he’s obtainable quickly, although, the Giants would positively have an interest. Whether or not he or Harbaugh can be their best choice at that time appears like a detailed name. It’d rely on who within the group is requested.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent six years overlaying the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years overlaying the Giants and the NFL for the New York Every day Information. Comply with him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication every day!
