Why John Harbaugh Will Avoid This Giants Coaching Misstep

Why history will NOT repeat itself with Harbaugh

Despite earlier speculative reports that one of Harbaugh’s requirements was to bring in his own personnel guy who would supersede general manager Joe Schoen’s authority, that was never the case. 

Harbaugh has been no stranger to working with general managers, having done so in Baltimore with Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta, and having enjoyed success with both men as well as a professional and personal relationship.

But in potentially going to a new organization to work with Schoen, someone he is believed to have had little contact with in league circles, it would be understandable if Harbaugh had just a tiny amount of trepidation.

Thanks to Schoen’s proactive approach of initiating contact with Harbaugh as soon as he was allowed to and building rapport through phone/video calls.

By the time the two men met face-to-face during Harbaugh’s formal interview on Wednesday, any trepidation by Harbaugh subsided to the point where he felt comfortable enough to agree to take the Giants job.

That’s a credit to the Giants and to Schoen for being both strategic and sincere in their pursuit of Harbaugh. This was not a case of Schon simply sweet-talking to Harbaugh and telling him what he wanted to hear, only to turn into a controlling ogre once Harbaugh’s name landed on the dotted line.

It was a legitimate attempt to build a collaborative relationship, one that the Giants hope will extend well beyond the five years Harbaugh’s new contract calls for as he and Schoen look to restore the glory in a Giants franchise that has been missing for the better part of the last decade-plus.  

There is also Harbaugh himself. By all accounts, he’s not a control freak who throws a tantrum if he doesn’t get his way; if he had, he probably wouldn’t have lasted as long as he did. 

In short, it’s the start of one of the most promising head coach-general manager relationships the Giants have had since Tom Coughlin and Ernie Accorsi. Will it be all sunshine and roses? 

No relationship ever is. But it promises to be a productive one based on communication and respect for one another, which makes for a solid foundation.