John Harbaugh. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

John Harbaugh already a favorite for one head-coaching job

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Jan 7, 2026 8:03 AM ET

John Harbaugh may have been fired by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 seasons in charge, but you might not have to feel too bad for him. He will likely land on his feet — and quickly.

The Ravens on Tuesday fired Harbaugh as their head coach following a season in which they went 8-9 and missed the playoffs. The move came as a surprise to even Harbaugh, who was expecting to return for a 19th season.

While Baltimore will now be looking for a new head coach, Harbaugh may not have to wait long for a new job.

Harbaugh is expected to be the top candidate for teams looking to hire a new head coach this offseason.

John Harbaugh now is expected to become the top head-coaching candidate in this hiring cycle, per multiple league sources. Multiple teams now are expected to be interested in hiring him, and his presence is expected to have big ramifications.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2026

The teams, aside from Baltimore, that are looking for a new head coach include:

Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants
Tennessee Titans

Any of those teams would probably love to have Harbaugh as their next head coach, and it sounds like one already wants him pretty badly.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Harbaugh is expected to be a favorite for the Giants job. Keep in mind that does not necessarily mean that’s the job that Harbaugh wants. He may have his choice of several openings and will be able to pick what fits him best.

Harbaugh might not want to join the AFC West and be in the same division as his brother, so you might be able to cross the Raiders off the list. He might prefer a move to the NFC, which is where many of the other openings are. From there, it will probably come down to the quarterback and the GM he would be working with. Harbaugh would likely want it to be ones in whom he is confident he can win.

Harbaugh, 63, is a former Super Bowl champion and AP Coach of the Year. The Ravens reached the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons as their head coach.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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