John Harbaugh Rumors Reveal Former Ravens HC's Level of Interest in Giants, Browns Jobs

Former Baltimore Ravens head honcho John Harbaugh is the biggest name on the market for teams seeking a new head coach. Whether he would consider joining a divisional rival like the Cleveland Browns will be a fascinating subplot.

According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Harbaugh "won't begin interviewing until next week... but the Browns will likely be on the list unless Harbaugh already has a slam-dunk job with another team. He's believed to have legitimate interest in coaching the Browns, even with the uncertain quarterback situation and looming rebuild of the offense."

It appears Harbaugh is also "very interested" in the New York Giants, per Ian O'Connor of The Athletic:

While Harbaugh is an Ohio native, there's an argument to be made that Cleveland's opening is one of the least appealing on the market.

Harbaugh's former team, the Ravens, has two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and a veteran core around him. The Giants boast exciting young players on both sides of the ball in Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter and a far better pedigree this century than the Browns. The Atlanta Falcons can say the same and have a solid overall roster in a very winnable division, though questions persist about Michael Penix Jr. The Las Vegas Raiders have the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, which likely will be used to select a quarterback. The Tennessee Titans appear to have the quarterback position resolved with Cam Ward. The Miami Dolphins are in need of a full rebuild, though living in Miami is certainly a perk. The Arizona Cardinals have quarterback issues as well but a better overall roster than Cleveland.

Granted, the allure of turning around a historic franchise like the Browns might be intriguing to Harbaugh. But he's also the hottest commodity on the market and will have his pick of the litter. It's hard to argue that the Browns present the best football situation.

The Browns have had just two winning seasons since 2008 (both under Kevin Stefanski) and only three playoff appearances since returning to the NFL in 1999. Team ownership has made some dreadful calls, including signing Deshaun Watson to the worst contract in NFL history. Rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders failed to impress in half-season auditions and the Browns aren't on the board until the No. 6 overall pick, likely leaving them out of the running for a top prospect at the position barring a trade (given that it's also a need for the Raiders, New York Jets and Cardinals, who have the first three picks). And while the defense is solid thanks to Myles Garrett, the offense is devoid of playmakers.

Perhaps Harbaugh will be intrigued by the challenge. But there are simply better opportunities available.