Oct 30, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stands on the sidelines prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Cardinals Reportedly Contact Top HC Candidate

Originally posted on Arizona Cardinals on SI
By Donnie Druin | Last updated Jan 12, 2026 3:57 PM ET

The Arizona Cardinals move into the future hoping to land their next head coach, and when it comes to potential names, John Harbaugh is at the top of their list.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter says the Cardinals are indeed in on Harbaugh:

"While the Falcons announced an official interview with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, he already has been conducting preliminary and extensive phone calls with the Giants, Titans, Browns, Raiders and Cardinals, per sources. He is trying to determine who to meet with later this week and into next week before making a decision. He is fully expected to coach in 2026, per sources."

The Cardinals initially weren't in the mix for Harbaugh, as the Super Bowl-winning leader was first believed to be focused on the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons according to NFL insider Connor Hughes.

Coaching candidates believe the race for John Harbaugh is down to Giants and the Falcons, per @Connor_J_Hughes

The expectation is the runner-up would turn its focus to Kevin Stefanski. pic.twitter.com/2hX2eAaRgV
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 12, 2026

The Cardinals, to this point, are also potentially out on fired head coach Mike McDaniel.

To date, the Cardinals have requested to interview the likes of Vance Joseph, Robert Saleh, Anthony Weaver, Patrick Brown, Raheem Morris, Klint Kubiak, Matt Nagy, Jeff Hafley, Chris Shula and Mike LaFleur.

Harbaugh's long-tenured resume in Baltimore made him an attractive candidate for the Cardinals, especially after owner Michael Bidwill went out of his way to highlight urgency in wanting to turn things around sooner rather than later in the desert.

"I know our fans are frustrated. I am more frustrated. I know Monti is more frustrated. And so is JG and every one of those coaches and players. We all expected more. But when I look at it, some of the changes that were made with other teams just a year or two years ago, those teams with new coaches from a year or two ago are now in the playoffs, playing this weekend," Bidwill said.

"I know we can turn it around, and I'm looking forward to getting going with this search because it's going to be a great opportunity for us to be that next story where we flip it around."

Does it feel like the Cardinals are a realistic landing spot for Harbaugh? Probably not, though Arizona moves into the next phase of their coaching cycle with few coaches that provide the pedigree Harbaugh does.

The Cardinals might be forced to meet Harbaugh's requested demands to take another job, which includes the following according to Tony Grossi:

"I talked to a league insider who speculates on what he's heard about Harbaugh's prerequisites to even be interested in your job: $20 million a year. $10 million assistant coach budget. Total authority over the roster. Also would like to select his own guy to lean on, personnel guy."