ExtremeRavens Posted 9 hours ago Posted 9 hours ago Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said Tuesday that one of the things that made it easier for him to fire John Harbaugh was that he wasn’t worried about the coach “landing on his feet” for his next opportunity. He also didn’t have to wait long to do so. Harbaugh is finalizing an agreement to become the coach of the New York Giants, according to multiple reports early Thursday morning. ESPN, which was the first to report the development, said that the deal is not final and that contract numbers still are being negotiated. Harbaugh, 63, replaces Brian Daboll, who was fired in November after a 20-40-1 record across three-plus seasons, including a 2-8 mark this season. Harbaugh, who was relieved of his duties on Jan. 6 after 18 seasons in Baltimore, is considered not just a significant upgrade but New York’s most prominent hire in decades. That the two sides came together relatively quickly was also not a surprise. The Giants have made the playoffs just twice over the past 14 seasons, with just one postseason win in that span. Harbaugh is the winningest coach in Ravens history, and his 180 regular-season victories rank 14th all-time. He also won a Super Bowl, coached Baltimore to a dozen playoff appearances, including four trips to the AFC title game, and had only three losing seasons with the Ravens, including this year after Baltimore finished 8-9 and out of the playoffs for the first time since 2021. By comparison, the Giants have had just three winning seasons since their Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots in February 2012. In that time, New York has cycled through six coaches since parting ways with Tom Coughlin in January 2016. The Giants and Harbaugh also immediately looked at each other fondly once he became available. Harbaugh has a long-standing relationship with the Mara family, including Giants co-owner, president and chief executive John Mara. John’s brother Chris, a senior personnel consultant with the organization, also flew to Baltimore to meet with Harbaugh on Sunday. On Wednesday, Harbaugh formally met with the Giants at their headquarters in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and the two sides quickly consummated a deal. Aside from his ties to the Mara family, Harbaugh, a historian of the league, also views the Giants as a legacy franchise. They also have a roster with intriguing talent, including quarterback Jaxson Dart, who in 12 games as a rookie completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 487 yards and nine more scores on 86 carries. In Baltimore, Harbaugh helped develop Lamar Jackson, one of the game’s most dynamic and prolific players, into a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player who, under offensive coordinator Todd Monken two seasons ago, became the first player to pass for over 4,000 yards and rush for at least 900 in the same season while also throwing a career-high 41 touchdown passes. Whether Harbaugh brings Monken with him to New York remains to be seen, but the veteran coach is not expected to be back with the Ravens, who are still searching for their next coach from more than 15 candidates. It is also unclear how much Harbaugh will reshape the Giants’ staff, including on the personnel side, but he had a good deal of input on player decisions in Baltimore and is likely to have the same with New York and general manager Joe Schoen. More than anything, though, he will look to instill a culture of accountability and winning in a franchise that needs both. During his tenure in Baltimore, the Ravens had some of the best defenses in NFL history. His special teams expertise from his days in that role with the Philadelphia Eagles before being hired by Bisciotti in 2008 gave the Ravens a unique edge. His offenses adapted, too, from drop-back quarterback in Joe Flacco to the mobile Jackson and from a ball-control, run-heavy scheme to a more wide-open one that in 2024 became the first to have at least 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same season. Though his message had perhaps become stale and results regressed in recent years, he also had not lost the locker room in Baltimore and was a central figure in helping build an organization that many around the league have envied for its stability, consistency and commitment. The Giants weren’t the only team interested in Harbaugh. The Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans were both also in contact with Harbaugh and his agent, Bryan Harlan. In the end, though, New York, with a young roster that has some talent, a promising quarterback and the opportunity to lead one of the league’s oldest and most storied franchises, was too appealing to turn down. Harbaugh, who was just the third coach in Ravens history, now becomes the 24th coach in Giants history and will look to restore them to their former glory. Baltimore and New York aren’t scheduled to face each other in the regular season until 2028. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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