The first coaching domino fell late last night, as John Harbaugh was finalizing a deal to become the Giants coach. No contract yet, but it’s imminent after he canceled today’s interview with the Titans.
Additional details from my colleagues:
- His offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Todd Monken, is expected to join him in New York.
- General manager Joe Schoen assured Harbaugh that the new coach can influence roster decisions as he wishes
- Harbaugh reportedly “told at least one person that these conversations … left him feeling that he could definitely work with Schoen.”
A free agent for just over a week, Harbaugh was pursued relentlessly by New York’s front office. It was the first team to meet him in person, then flew him in via private jet and arranged a meeting with quarterback Jaxson Dart, among others, plus a dinner with senior executives.
Can you blame the Giants for the urgency?
Since moving on from Tom Coughlin, they cycled through Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge and Brian Daboll, none of whom lasted more than four years. Next to Harbaugh’s resume, theirs were laughable (though that’s true of almost all coaches):
In a way, the 63-year-old Harbaugh is everything this franchise has missed: demanding, experienced and most importantly, a winner. In Baltimore, he had just three losing seasons in 18 years. Compare that to the Giants finishing below .500 in 11 of the 14 seasons since Coughlin won the 2011 season’s Super Bowl.
Landing a coach of Harbaugh’s caliber was a rare win for the Giants. It might prove their biggest since that last Super Bowl. It could even get them to another.
Harbaugh seems to offer everything this team needs, and we’ll have more on that over the coming weeks. Over to Dianna.
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What Dianna’s Hearing: Searches underway in Pittsburgh, Philly
The Giants are landing the top candidate on the market and a bona fide program builder in Harbaugh, whose introductory news conference is expected to be held next week.
With the first of the league’s nine vacancies about to be filled, expect movement to increase on a coaching carousel all but spinning out of control. I’m also hearing that:
- The Steelers requested an interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who served as Pittsburgh’s senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach in 2022, plus Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver and Rams DC Chris Shula.
- On the other side of the state, the Eagles have begun reaching out to candidates regarding their offensive coordinator vacancy. Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and former Giants head coach Daboll are at the top of their list, per sources.
We’ll keep you updated. Back to you, Jacob.
Jets to miss on Moore, potential QB2
Some day before the universe ends, the Jets will select a quarterback in the NFL Draft, and that quarterback will lead them to a Super Bowl. Maybe.
(Joe Namath was selected in the AFL Draft.)
It’s less likely to happen this April, however, after projected No. 2 quarterback Dante Moore opted to return to Oregon rather than risk a career with the Jets (my words, not his). His words:
💬 “Since I was a four-year-old, I’ve dreamed of playing in the NFL, and of course, the NFL is something that the professionals play at, and I feel like I could have been excited … wherever I got drafted, being blessed to be where I am.
“But I feel like coming back is the best thing for me, to make sure that when that day does happen, that I’m fully prepared, I’m able to go and play my best ball.”
With Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza the Raiders’ presumptive pick at No. 1, that leaves few QB options for the Jets, who offer a better environment for a young quarterback than in years past, though that’s a low bar.
Here’s what my colleague Dane Brugler explained in his updated mock draft, based on early buzz from teams:
💬 “With Moore returning to Oregon, the No. 2 pick looks as wide open as I can remember.
“Though it’s disappointing, it gives the Jets an opportunity to select whomever they see as the best non-quarterback in the class — and Ohio State edge Arvell Reese is a prime candidate.
“He played a hybrid role for the Buckeyes last season, mostly spying and setting the edge, but he was disruptive when allowed to use his speed and violence as a pass rusher.”
That’d certainly help a team in need of talent. The Jets could always keep Justin Fields (unlikely), or:
- Draft a QB: Alabama’s Ty Simpson, whom the Steelers select at No. 21 in Brugler’s mock, could be the Jets’ target with their second first-round pick (No. 16). Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss is also a potential candidate in early rounds.
- Add a free-agent QB: Daniel Jones and Malik Willis are the headliners of weak 2026 class, though it probably gains Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins as cap casualties. Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa could also be cut or traded.
Plenty of choices. Few are inspiring.
Our Jets beat reporter, Zach Rosenblatt, picked the 37-year-old Cousins as the likeliest target, and I could see it. Cousins was better in his second year out from his Achilles tear, and would exit Atlanta with a 12-10 record across two seasons as an off-and-on starter, including a final four-game win streak.
And hey, if it doesn’t work out, Moore should be in the 2027 draft. There’s a good chance the Jets will be waiting.
Extra Points
💬 Tomlin’s final words as the Steelers’ coach? They garnered a standing ovation. My colleague Mike DeFabo shared what went down in Pittsburgh.
🎙 Was that wrong? After the Jaguars were eliminated, a local reporter showed some unorthodox kindness to Jaguars coach Liam Coen. The backlash was widespread, but one positive outcome is this thought-provoking read by David Aldridge. I’m proud to work with colleagues who set such a high bar.
📈 The most popular story on The Athletic this a.m. is about the mental side of punting, by Seahawks legend Jon Ryan. The first returner he faced? “Some rookie nobody” named … Devin Hester. Oof.
💪 “Pain makes a man.” That was Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who Ben Johnson said is “wired the way we want our entire team wired.” Excellent profile today by Dan Wiederer.
▶️ Yesterday’s most-clicked: Again it was Aaron Rodgers’ passionate defense of Matt LaFleur, which the Packers’ coach appreciated.
Once again, it overshadowed the legendary clip of the Colts in punt formation on first down. A challenger already?
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