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After days of anticipation and some extended contract negotiations, John Harbaugh and the Giants finally agreed on a five-year contract that will see the highly accomplished coach and Super Bowl winner join the beleaguered NFL franchise.
Harbaugh, fired earlier this month from the Ravens after a mostly successful, 18-year run, will take over the reins of a Giants team that has won just seven games over the last two seasons and has just one playoff appearance since 2017.
The deal is reportedly worth about $100 million, or $20 million per year, making him one of the NFL’s top-paid coaches, along with the Chiefs’ Andy Reid.
The Giants were one of nine NFL teams with a coaching vacancy this offseason. With former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin not expected to return to coaching, at least immediately, after leaving the Steelers earlier this week, Harbaugh was by far the most tenured and successful head coach on the open market. That pedigree made him a highly desired figure, and even some unnamed NFL teams without a current opening were said to have inquired about Harbaugh.
With New York now making its move and landing Harbaugh, though, the other eight openings are now expected to fill more quickly. The Giants previously fired Brian Daboll in November and finished the season with interim head coach Mike Kafka.
“John is a proven winner whose teams are disciplined, resilient, and prepared,” said Giants chairman Steve Tisch. “His passion for the game, his ability to connect with players, and his experience leading at the highest level made him an outstanding fit for us, and we’re excited to move forward together.”
Notably, Harbaugh will report directly to ownership rather than GM Joe Schoen, creating a different leadership structure than most NFL teams.
New York has a promising young quarterback in Jaxson Dart, but there are plenty of holes still in the roster, as it ranked 13th in the NFL in total offense and a particularly troubling 28th in total defense. The Giants will have the fifth pick in the upcoming NFL draft after missing out on the final day of the regular season in a chance to land the top selection.
