The New York Giants are busy looking for their next head coach, but the search can end right now, because the perfect replacement for Brian Daboll is now available, and his name is John Harbaugh.
In November, the NY Giants did something they had always tried to avoid: Making a rash decision to fire a head coach during the season. But Daboll gave management no choice. After a pair of losing seasons, their former head coach began 2025 by starting 2-8 and blowing sizable fourth-quarter leads on multiple occasions.
With offensive coordinator Mike Kafka not showing he is deserving of going from being the interim to a full-time coach in 2026, the NY Giants are deep into their search to find a replacement and have been linked to a variety of experienced and inexperienced head coaches, including Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
On Wednesday, it was reported that former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski has emerged as a new favorite after spending the last couple of days with NY Giants decision makers. However, that truly is wasted effort, and the team’s search should end now.
The Baltimore Ravens made the bold decision to fire John Harbaugh after 18 seasons on Tuesday, and the G-Men need to jump on the opportunity to make him their next head coach.
John Harbaugh’s Resume Is Undeniable
Since moving on from franchise legend Tom Coughlin a decade ago, the NY Giants have had six different men serve as head coach. And on several occasions, the team went with a fresh-faced leader with no previous experience as a head coach. That has not worked, and they need to pivot back to trying to bring in a person with a proven track record, in the past and present.
- John Harbaugh record: 180-113
Well, Harbaugh has that. In an era where head coaches get the hook quickly if they can’t maintain consistent competitive play, the 63-year-old did that for 18 years in Baltimore. He has a 180-113 career record, led his team to the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons, and has a Super Bowl win on his resume.
Furthermore, Harbaugh had 10, 13, and 12-win campaigns in the previous three years before the Ravens finished 8-9 this season. He isn’t a coach who used to be great. Harbaugh is still elite right now. It’s why seven teams have reportedly already reached to his camp just hours after his firing.
Could Harbaugh Turn Jaxson Dart Into the Next Lamar Jackson?
During the NY Giants’ search for their next head coach, how that person can develop Jaxson Dart into a franchise QB has been a major topic. The team has a top-five pick in April but would prefer not to use it on a QB again.
When Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens in 2008, he wasn’t an offensive or defensive guru. His previous experience was mostly as a special teams coach. But he has proven adept at surrounding himself with smart coaches who help him develop talent, and he has done that with his QBs.
He turned Joe Flacco into an impact starter, and the pair took the team to a Super Bowl win in 2012. Then, when Flacco went into an age-related decline, he identified his replacement in Lamar Jackson and helped develop him into a two-time MVP.
If Harbaugh can do what he has always done and at least get Dart to be a production middle ground between Flacco and Jackson, NY Giants fans would be thrilled.
John Harbaugh Can Continue Success With Talent-Rich NY Giants Defense
While Harbaugh didn’t take over the Ravens’ job with a reputation as a defensive genius, the former DBs coach has always had a good defense in Baltimore. If he had the talent on the field, the Ravens defense has often been top 10 in total yards and points given up in the NFL, and that occurred under three different defensive coordinators.
New York’s defense was not an elite group statistically in 2025. However, they have some very good pieces to build on in 2026. Brian Burns proved he is one of the best pass rushers in the game. Dexter Lawrence remains a top tackle even after a quiet season. Bobby Okereke is a rock-solid QB of the defense, and after a very slow start Abdul Carter showed his massive potential late in the season.
If the team used the fifth overall pick on a potential superstar like Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, the NY Giants can be an elite unit in 2026, again, if Harbaugh does what he has always done for the last 18 years. It’s why he should not be one of the options to be the team’s next head coach, he should be the only option.
