Shortly before the New York Giants fired head coach Joe Judge, rumors surfaced that Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh would be interested in the job if it became available.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg was among the first to report that news.
Re: Jim Harbaugh/NFL situation @BruceFeldmanCFB reported, the Raiders are likeliest spot if JH wants to return to NFL. He started coaching career w/ Oak Raiders. Before Michigan, he and his wife lived on West Coast. I'd heard Giants job could have interested him if it was open.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 5, 2022
Well, as it turns out, the job did become available. The Giants decided to part ways with Judge earlier this week and a new head coach will be hired shortly after they bring aboard a new general manager.
And Harbaugh’s alleged interest? Apparently it holds water.
Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports that Harbaugh is “intrigued’ by the Giants’ head coaching vacancy and that it’s more than just a leverage play.
When I first heard Jim Harbaugh’s name being bandied about during this hiring cycle, I thought it was a leverage play by Harbaugh to squeeze Michigan for more money coming off a College Football Playoff berth.
But I was extremely interested to learn from reliable sources that 1) Harbaugh’s NFL interest is genuine and that 2) the Giants’ vacancy intrigues him and he’d pick up the phone if they called.
The 58-year-old Harbaugh is certainly an interesting option, but would he be the right fit for New York? He has a long history of success at both the NFL and NCAA levels, but also carries the reputation of choking in big games.
Harbaugh compiled a record of 44-19-1 in four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, and has posted a 61-24 record since taking over at Michigan.
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