Giants’ Head Coach Hunt Heats Up: John Harbaugh’s Interview Could Change Everything by Week’s End
The New York Giants find themselves at a pivotal moment, embarking on a journey to secure the helm of their coaching future after parting ways with Brian Daboll midseason. The hunt is intense, with John Harbaugh emerging as a prime contender, poised to meet with several teams, including the Giants, Falcons, and Titans. This coaching carousel has the football world buzzing, especially as familiar figures like Eli Manning and Daboll himself have thrown their weight behind Harbaugh, praising not just the Giants but the promising quarterback, Jaxson Dart. Meanwhile, the Giants’ front office is casting a wide net, seeking insight from a diverse lineup of candidates—from Chargers’ defensive mastermind Jesse Minter to former head coaches and rising NFL coordinators. The stakes are sky-high; every move could reshape the trajectory of this iconic franchise. Buckle up, because the search for the Giants’ next head coach is unfolding with all the drama and anticipation that only the NFL offseason can muster. LEARN MORE
After parting ways with Brian Daboll during the 2025 season, the Giants are looking to find their next head coach. Here’s the latest…
Jan. 13, 10:45 p.m.
It seems we’re heading toward the final stretch in the John Harbaugh sweepstakes and multiple reports state the longtime coach is expected to interview with a trio of teams by the end of the week.
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While Harbaugh continues to gather information on potential destinations, he’ll interview with the Giants, Falcons and Titans. The Dolphins are also in consideration, but New York, Atlanta and Tennessee have the “inside track.”
Jan. 13, 4:04 p.m.
As the Giants continue to search for their next head coach, former quarterback Eli Manning and Brian Daboll, who was fired by Big Blue mid-season, are among the voices that have called John Harbaugh to give him a “strong recommendation” not only on the Giants but quarterback Jaxson Dart as well, reports The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor.
Despite his departure from the Giants after a difficult 3.5 seasons, Daboll was a big reason why the team selected Dart with the 25th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and why the young quarterback got the call early in the season to replace veteran Russell Wilson as the starter.
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Meanwhile, Harbaugh is high on New York’s list and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that as the former Baltimore Ravens head coach continues to gather information, the Giants are among three teams (Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans) that are considered the favorites to land him at this time.
Jan. 13, 11:12 a.m.
The Giants have requested an interview with Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, per multiple reports.
In addition to the Giants, the Browns, Cardinals, Dolphins, Falcons, Raiders, Ravens, and Titans have requested to interview Minter.
Minter, 42, has been the Chargers’ DC since 2024.
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He worked for the Ravens in various coaching roles from 2017 to 2020.
Minter also has extensive coaching experience in the college ranks, including stops with Indiana State, Georgia State, Vanderbilt, and Michigan.
Jan. 12, 8:00 p.m.
While a handful of teams have yet to speak with John Harbaugh during an official in-person interview, that formality hasn’t kept the ex-Ravens head coach from already meeting a Giants executive.
According to The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor, Harbaugh hosted an informal lunch meeting with Giants senior personnel consultant Chris Mara on Sunday, and the 63-year-old coach remains “very interested” in the job opening.
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The Giants’ early efforts courting Harbaugh aren’t the least bit surprising.
The team is “all-in” on Harbaugh, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes reaffirmed on Monday, and Giants co-owner Steve Tisch is another member of the front office who’s expressed “strong support” for his candidacy.
The Falcons were the first team to announce a completed interview with Harbaugh — but Monday’s meeting was over phone call, according to numerous reports.
Jan. 12, 3:40 p.m.
John Harbaugh has officially started his search for a new job, as the Falcons announced an interview with the former Ravens head coach via social media on Monday.
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The Falcons’ statement didn’t divulge where the interview occurred, and according to The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor, their meeting with Harbaugh wasn’t in-person. It appears Harbaugh has not yet scheduled any in-person talks.
While it’s still unclear how many teams Harbaugh is slated to meet with in the coming days, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports the Titans should also be considered “firmly in the mix” for the 63-year-old leader.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Harbaugh has already conducted “preliminary and extensive phone calls” with the Giants, Browns, Raiders and Cardinals, in addition to the Falcons and Titans. The expectation is for meetings to extend beyond this week before he chooses where to coach next season.
Jan. 12, 11:58 a.m.
The Giants will interview Colts DC Lou Anarumo on Tuesday, per multiple reports.
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The interview will be virtual.
Anarumo, 59, joined the Colts this season after spending the 2019-24 seasons as the Bengals’ DC.
The Staten Island native briefly worked for the Giants in 2018, when he was the defensive backs coach.
He also has experience coaching for the Dolphins, Purdue, Marshall, Harvard, Merchant Marine, Syracuse, and Wagner.
Jan. 11, 12:00 p.m.
While the John Harbaugh situation will likely linger through the week, another intriguing name has surfaced.
Per multiple reports, the Giants have requested to interview Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula for their head coaching job.
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Shula, the grandson of legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, has been on the Rams’ staff since 2017, working his way up the latter from assistant linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
The 39-year-old, who is expected to interview with the Dolphins, Titans, and Ravens as well, can interview this week while the Rams prepare for their upcoming divisional round matchup.
Jan. 10, 2:00 p.m.
With the Giants “all-in” on John Harbaugh, the “No. 1 coach on their wish list” per SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes, the former Baltimore Ravens head coach is taking the time to learn more about his potential next quarterback.
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According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Harbaugh “is spending today and the next few days watching film specifically on quarterbacks Jaxson Dart and Cam Ward.”
“He’s also been in contact with team decision makers, while continuing to communicate with potential members of his own coaching staff,” Russini notes.
Like New York, the Tennessee Titans are in search for a new head coach to pair with their young QB. The Titans selected Ward out of Miami with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, 24 picks ahead of the Giants and Dart.
Additionally, Russini reports that the Cleveland Browns have reached out to Harbaugh to interview for their head coaching vacancy. Harbaugh also received interest from the Miami Dolphins on Saturday about a potential interview after they finalized an agreement with new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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Harbaugh told FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer later Saturday that he’s planning to “take the weekend and narrow down to maybe 3 or 4 to go interview for rather than all across the board.”
Jan. 8, 12:34 a.m.
The Giants will interview Antonio Pierce on Thursday and Friday, per multiple reports.
Pierce was the Raiders’ head coach in 2024 after serving as their interim head coach in 2023 and their linebackers coach from 2022-23.
A standout linebacker for the Giants during his stint with the team from 2005-2009, Pierce also has coaching experience in the college ranks, having worked for Arizona State from 2018 to 2021.
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In addition to Pierce, the Giants have also requested to interview Broncos assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi.
Rizzi, 55, has also worked for the Saints and Dolphins during an NFL coaching career that began in 2009.
Jan. 7 8:32 a.m.
Kevin Stefanski, who was fired by the Browns, is interviewing with the Giants, per multiple reports.
Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Giants had dinner with Stefanski on Tuesday and will meet with him again on Wednesday.
Stefanski will likely be a hot commodity for teams looking for a new head coach this offseason after he won NFL Coach of the Year twice during his six-year tenure in Cleveland.
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Meanwhile, the Giants have also set up an interview with former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, according to multiple reports.
Additionally, former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is expected to interview with Big Blue, reports Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Jan. 6, 2:42 p.m.
Add two more names to the list of Giants candidates.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is expected to interview with the Giants this week. The Raiders, Cardinals, and Titans are also expected to interview Joseph.
A head coach for two seasons with the Broncos in 2017-18 (in which he won a total of 11 games), Joseph has served as defensive coordinator with the Dolphins, Cardinals, and now back with the Broncos, returning to the team in 2023.
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This season, the Broncos finished second in total defense (278.2 yards per game) and third in scoring defense (18.3 points per game). Joseph’s defense also led the NFL with 68 sacks.
Meanwhile, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN, New York has requested an interview with Colts DC Lou Anarumo.
Anarumo, 59, joined the Colts this season after spending the 2019-24 seasons as the Bengals’ DC.
The Staten Island native briefly worked for the Giants in 2018, when he was the defensive backs coach.
He also has experience coaching for the Dolphins, Purdue, Marshall, Harvard, Merchant Marine, Syracuse, and Wagner.
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Jan. 5, 5:17 p.m.
Shortly after his firing from the Cleveland Browns, Kevin Stefanski is expected to speak with the Giants, among other teams, regarding their head coaching vacancy, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Stefanski will likely be a hot commodity for teams looking for a new head coach this offseason after he won NFL Coach of the Year twice during his six-year tenure in Cleveland.
New York will have some competition as Schefter reports that Stefanski is also currently expected to speak with the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans, with more suitors potentially down the road.
Jan. 5, 9:30 a.m.
The Browns have fired head coach Kevin Stefanski.
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Stefanski led Cleveland to two playoff appearances and two 11-win seasons over his six years at the helm.
The 43-year-old also took home the NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2020 and 2023.
The past two seasons have been disastrous for Stefanski and the Browns, though, so the organization decided to move on.
Stefanski had been mentioned over the past few weeks as someone to keep an eye on for the Giants’ opening if he were to ultimately shake free this offseason.
Now that that has become a reality, perhaps he’ll be brought in for an interview as they begin the process.
Jan. 2, 10:05 a.m.
According to a report from ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants are expected to cast a wide net of candidates to interview for their head coaching job.
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That list of names includes the following: former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, former Raiders coach and Giants player Antonio Pierce, and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, among others, per Raanan.
Interim head coach Mike Kafka will also get the chance to interview for the full-time gig, Raanan noted, as GM Joe Schoen has said since Brian Daboll was fired on Nov. 10. Schoen will be leading the search and is still believed to be “coming back” to New York in 2026.
Other names mentioned as potential candidates include Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The Athletic’s Diana Russini previously reported on Dec. 13 that Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury are also on the list of potential head coaches.
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Dec. 29, 12:30 p.m.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman was expected to be one of the hottest names in this year’s coaching cycle, but it appears that the 39-year-old won’t be leaving South Bend.
“2026…run it back Go Irish,” Freeman posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday afternoon.
According to Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated, Freeman has informed NFL teams that he is staying at Notre Dame while agreeing to a restructured contract.
Freeman was reportedly on the the Giants’ early list of candidates, and he likely would have been at the top of other teams’ wish lists as well.
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Since taking over for Brian Kelly at the end of the 2021 season, Freeman has coached the Fighting Irish to a 43-12 record, including a trip to the National Championship Game against Ohio State at the end of the 2024 season.
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