Giants’ Coaching Search Reveals Brief Interest in Mike Tomlin Before John Harbaugh Hire
Fans will finally learn who will lead the Giants as John Harbaugh is announced as head coach. The Giants signed Harbaugh’s deal over the weekend following many days of private discussions, giving him enormous control over football operations and changing the organization’s power structure.
Harbaugh’s hiring was disclosed earlier in the week, but the deal’s delay showed how significant it was for the Giants. By hiring a coach, the company committed to a long-term vision. The organization also curtailed general manager Joe Schoen’s authority, hinting that Harbaugh will lead roster and strategy decisions.
Before sealing the purchase, the Giants momentarily considered another famous name. According to league reports, a Giants owner contacted former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin shortly after his resignation. The Giants’ check-in, not formal pursuit, shows that they were exercising due diligence in case their original plan failed.
With Tomlin’s circumstances, an immediate relocation was unlikely. He retired with two years left on his contract and a 2027 team option. More importantly, Tomlin stated that he will not coach in 2026. That communication was apparently shared with the Giants representative who called him, eliminating any short-term chance.
Even if Tomlin wanted to coach straight away, the Giants would have had to give Pittsburgh draft picks because his contract wasn’t up. Harbaugh was more pragmatic and simple for New York as the team stabilized its leadership.
Given the longstanding history between the Maras and the Rooneys, the two organizations’ principal owners, the Giants’ brief contact with Tomlin is remarkable. Even if it was never supposed to lead anywhere, their history undoubtedly made the talk natural.
A special spot in recent NFL history belongs to Harbaugh and Tomlin. The Ravens’ Harbaugh has been head coach since 2008, and the Steelers’ Tomlin took over a year earlier. They fought each other in the AFC North for nearly two decades, one of football’s most bitter rivalries.
Their paths are diverging. Harbaugh must rebuild the Giants and return to success in New York. Tomlin is likely to become a television commentator in 2026, with a coaching return in 2027 unknown. He is definitely out of the Giants’ plans.
The Giants’ message is straightforward. Any contact with Tomlin was exploratory; John Harbaugh was the definite pick. After the coaching search is over, the franchise can focus on the future under a proven leader with a championship resume and decades of top-level expertise.
Sources:
NFL Network
