Is Dolphins' GM hire a sign that John Harbaugh is heading to the Giants?

Stories throughout the week have linked former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh with the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins.

Some suggested that the Dolphins were the favorites to win Harbaugh's services due to his relationships with team owner Stephen Ross and with Los Angeles Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander, the latter of whom had become a finalist to be named Miami's new general manager. 

It's now known Alexander won't hold that role with the Dolphins. 

John Harbaugh guy not headed to Dolphins

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Friday morning that the Dolphins were finalizing a deal to hire Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as their next general manager. Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Sullivan "does not have an extensive background with" Harbaugh. 

That doesn't necessarily mean the Dolphins won't ultimately win the Harbaugh sweepstakes. However, a previous report noted that "team quarterback situation will be a big factor" regarding Harbaugh's decision. 

Harbaugh allegedly "has a high regard" for Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Unproven commodity Quinn Ewers and benched former starter Tua Tagovailoa are the best options currently in Miami's quarterback room. 

How would John Harbaugh feel about working with Joe Schoen?

One report claimed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers "called about" Harbaugh and learned that he "wants" his own general manager with his next team. Meanwhile, the Giants retained Joe Schoen as their GM following the 2025 regular season. 

For what it's worth, Ian O'Connor of The Athletic previously shared that he had gotten an "early sense that Giants GM Joe Schoen will not be an issue for John Harbaugh." O'Connor also called Miami's hiring of Sullivan "a likely good bounce for Giants fans." 

"If [the] Dolphins wanted to make [the] job as enticing as possible for Harbaugh, they would have hired Alexander," longtime New York sports reporter Gary Myers added. "Now they have a first-time GM. Some might say that's better than having Joe Schoen. Harbaugh doesn't know Schoen but will get to know him next week. One thing we do know about Schoen: Despite his many misses, he did get the Giants a QB."

Harbaugh is not expected to meet with any teams before next week at the earliest. He reportedly is "the No. 1 coach on" the Giants' wish list.