New John Harbaugh Rumors Reveal Meeting with Giants Exec amid Falcons Interview

No coaching candidate is generating more headlines than John Harbaugh, and the former Baltimore Ravens leader is reportedly on the New York Giants' radar.

Ian O'Connor of The Athletic reported Monday that Giants executive Chris Mara met with Harbaugh on Sunday for "an informal meeting" with the candidate who is "very interested" in the opening.

The report comes after the Atlanta Falcons announced they interviewed Harbaugh, although O'Connor reported the coach is yet to interview with the NFC South team in person and instead talked to president of football operations Matt Ryan.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Giants, Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins were seen as the favorites to land the longtime coach, so Atlanta and New York taking additional steps comes as no surprise:

ESPN's Adam Schefter noted that Harbaugh "has been conducting preliminary and extensive phone calls with the Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders and Cardinals."

Harbaugh could very well be the first domino to fall in the coaching cycle, as many teams with openings would surely love to have him on the sidelines. Once he does choose a suitor, those teams would logically move on to other candidates for the positions.

He is so highly regarded thanks to an 18-year run of consistency with the Ravens that included 12 playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title. Making the playoffs twice as many times as missing it over that long of a tenure in a league that prides itself on parity is notable, and the Giants and Falcons would both surely love to have that type of leadership.

After all, New York had made the playoffs just twice since the 2011 campaign, while Atlanta hasn't been in the playoffs since the 2017 season.

Harbaugh will surely be motivated at his next landing spot as well considering the Ravens dropped out of the playoffs this season when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their final game.

Reports that he may have lost the locker room and the support of some players also circulated following his hiring, but it is impossible to ignore his track record of success.

And that is why multiple teams have been connected to him at this point of the process.