New York Giants finalize five-year deal with John Harbaugh to be their next coach

After a couple days of uncertainty, it is now a done deal. The New York Giants have finalized their contract with former Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh to be their new lead man, the team announced on Saturday night.

It was reported on Thursday evening that the Giants had reached an agreement with Harbaugh, but it took almost two full days for the deal to be finalized. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the two sides were debating a "reporting structure," not money. Harbaugh told The Athletic that he will report directly to ownership, but is looking forward to forming a great partnership with general manager Joe Schoen. 

"This is the New York Giants," Harbaugh told ESPN on Saturday afternoon. "I'm proud and honored to the head coach of this historic franchise, and especially excited to work with the Mara and Tisch families. But most of all, I can't wait to get started with the great players on this football team to see what we can accomplish together."

Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens on Jan. 6 following Baltimore's season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the winningest coach in franchise history, going 180-113 during his 18 seasons, won Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 and was named Coach of the Year in 2019.

While Harbaugh won 10 playoff games in his first seven seasons with the Ravens, he won just three postseason matchups over the last 11 years. Harbaugh was reportedly confident he would return to Baltimore to chase a Lombardi Trophy in 2026, but the Ravens made the decision to search for another coach that can get the most out of two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. 

"We are proud to name John Harbaugh as the next head coach of the New York Giants," Giants president John Mara said in a statement. "Joe Schoen presented us an outstanding group of candidates, which allowed us to be deliberate and confident in this decision. Through numerous conversations, John consistently stood out for his conviction and vision for leading a winning organization, and we welcome him and his family to the Giants."

When the Ravens made the surprising decision to fire Harbaugh, his agent said he received calls from seven different teams expressing interest in his client 45 minutes after the news broke, per ESPN. There were only six other head coach openings at the time. Harbaugh formally interviewed with the Giants on Wednesday with team owners Mara and Steve Tisch reportedly in attendance, along with quarterback Jaxson Dart, per NFL Media.

Harbaugh is set to replace Brian Daboll, who went 20-40-1 in his four seasons as lead man. The former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator went 9-7-1 in his first season back in 2022, won NFL Coach of the Year and upset the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs. However, the Giants took a step back the next season with a 6-11 record, and went 3-14 in 2024 before Daboll was finally fired 10 games into the 2025 season.

Overall, the Giants have struggled ever since Tom Coughlin resigned following the 2015 season. All four full-time head coaches finished with losing records. The Giants have the second-worst record in the NFL (55-109-1) in the 10 seasons since the Coughlin era ended. Only the New York Jets have been worse.

Giants' coaches since Tom Coughlin (2016)

*denotes interim

For all of the struggles, the Giants were still considered to be one of the most attractive open jobs this offseason. 

New York owns the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has a prospective franchise quarterback in Dart, a talented running back with Cam Skattebo, a star wideout in Malik Nabers and then plenty of talent on the defensive line with Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence II and Abdul Carter. Now, they have new hope that comes in the form of an experienced coach that knows how to not only find success, but sustain it.