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Top John Harbaugh Landing Spots, Ranked

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By David Latham | Last updated Jan 6, 2026 5:44 PM ET

The Baltimore Ravens make the shocking decision to part ways with John Harbaugh, but the one-time Super Bowl champion won’t be out of a job for long. After missing the playoffs with an 8-9 record, the Ravens organization clearly believed Harbaugh’s message had gone stale and both sides needed a change of scenery.

BREAKING: Ravens Fire John Harbaugh; Race To Sign Him Begins

Despite the disappointing season and ugly fallout, John Harbaugh remains one of the league’s better head coaches and should find a job in no time. Six teams (excluding the Ravens) are looking for a new coach, and each one would probably love to have Harbaugh. However, only one team can sign him, so who will get him?

6. Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are probably the least desirable head coaching destination of all the available openings. The roster is weak, the team will likely move on from quarterback Kyler Murray, and they play in a loaded division.

John Harbaugh will have no shortage of suitors, and the Cardinals would need one heck of a sales pitch to get him to move to the desert. Arizona holds the third-overall pick, so perhaps the former Ravens coach will sign on if he believes in one of the top quarterbacks in the class.

5. New York Giants

Much like the Cardinals, the New York Giants have a long way to go before they’re ready to compete for a Super Bowl. However, they play in an easier division and have a few building blocks, including wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo.

Ultimately, Harbaugh’s interest in this position will come down to how he feels about first-round pick Jaxson Dart. Dart had an up-and-down rookie season, demonstrating some high-level play but also plenty of rookie errors and a concerning lack of interest in self-preservation. Quarterbacks can singlehandedly make or break a coaches tenure, and John Harbaugh might not want to put his future in Dart’s hands.

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4. Cleveland Browns

On paper, the Cleveland Browns do not have much to offer John Harbaugh. Their cap situation is a mess, they don’t have a quarterback, and while the defense is strong, you can’t win games without a good offense. Logically speaking, Harbaugh doesn’t have any reason to go to the Browns.

However, football is an emotional game, and the Browns can offer something that no other team can: the opportunity to go against the Ravens two times per season. If this marriage ended on a bad note, John Harbaugh might welcome the opportunity to build a roster that can take down the Ravens.

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3. Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are in a rough spot, but they have the pieces to turn things around with a strong offseason. While they finished with the worst record in the league, the Raiders have over $100 million in cap space and the first-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Once again, this will come down to how John Harbaugh feels about the incoming class of quarterbacks. Geno Smith clearly isn’t the answer, but if Harbaugh believes Fernando Mendoza can be a top-15 quarterback, then this could be the perfect fit.

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2. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have been closely linked to Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, but that could change now that John Harbaugh is available. Much like the Raiders, the Titans have a weak roster but have the resources to turn it around. The biggest difference is they already have a quarterback in 2025 first-overall pick Cam Ward.

Ward’s raw numbers aren’t that impressive, but nobody can blame him for not putting up Pro Bowl production in an atrocious environment. A proven head coach like John Harbaugh should bring out the best in Ward, and the team’s $95.6 million in cap space should allow the Harbaugh to bring in a viable supporting cast.

Main Photo: [Denny Simmons/The Tennessean] Imagn Images

1. Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons may not have a first-round pick, but they’re only team on this list with a talent to go on a deep playoff run. The jury is still out on former first-round pick Michael Penix, but this team has an elite defense, a great wide receiver in Drake London, and an above-average offensive line.

The Falcons have all this talent and play in the NFL’s worst division in the NFC South. The right coach can easily get this team to the playoffs next year, and John Harbaugh is the man for the job.