Arguably, the biggest splash in head coaching free agency came when the Baltimore Ravens cut John Harbaugh after 18 years of his service. Unsurprisingly, multiple HC-needy teams reached out just 45 minutes after the news broke out. However, he’s earned the right to be selective, and by all indications, he plans to be.

“Just spoke with John Harbaugh who told me that while a ton of teams have reached out to him about their openings he’s going to take the weekend and narrow down to maybe 3 or 4 to go interview for rather than all across the board,” NFL on FOX reporter Jay Glazer wrote on X.

Harbuagh’s agent had revealed that several teams contacted him within an hour of the news breaking out. However, he never named names. Among the many teams that fired their head coaches this season due to various reasons, the New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns looked like the most logical landing spots. While one team has a promising QB, something that Harbaugh would prefer, another keeps him right in the AFC North. But he does have many options.

It shouldn’t be surprising. Harbaugh underachieved at times in Baltimore. But this is still a coach with a 193–124 record, a .609 winning percentage, six AFC North titles, and a Super Bowl ring. He sits 12th all-time in wins by an NFL head coach.

NFL analyst and Browns reporter Tony Grossi also revealed that Harbaugh’s wish list includes a salary around $20 million per year, a $10 million staff budget, full control over the roster, and even the ability to choose his own general manager.  Those demands narrow down the field pretty quickly. And that’s likely the point.

One team that appears to be out is the Miami Dolphins. After Miami chose not to hire Chad Alexander, who spent two decades working alongside Harbaugh, the connection there all but disappeared. Apart from these teams, the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals are also looking for a change on their coaching staff.

Harbaugh has many options on the table, but his decision might be influenced by the QB room.

Rookie QBs might influence Harbaugh’s next destination

We all know how good John Harbaugh is with quarterbacks. Under him, Lamar Jackson turned into one of the most explosive dual-threat quarterbacks of this era and ended up winning two MVPs. Wherever he goes, he would ideally want a young quarterback with superstar potential. And two teams come to mind: the Giants and the Titans.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Harbaugh plans to spend the next few days diving into a film on Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and Titans rookie Cam Ward. Both franchises are searching for a head coach, and both are hoping to find someone who can fast-track the development of their young signal-caller.

Both have immense potential. Ward started all 17 games as a rookie in Tennessee and finished with 3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Dart took over mid-season in New York, making 12 starts after Russell Wilson was benched, and threw for 2,272 yards with 15 touchdowns and five picks.

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Harbaugh hasn’t just been watching tape. He’s also been in touch with team decision-makers and has begun conversations with potential members of his own coaching staff, laying groundwork no matter where he lands.

While the Browns technically have two rookie quarterbacks as well in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, neither is viewed as a clear long-term answer in the same way. However, one thing can attract Harbaugh to the Browns. They have a handful of early 2026 NFL draft picks. If they draft a QB that the former Ravens head coach might like to develop, it may be worth it.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan has reported that the Giants “want Harbaugh badly,” and that interest goes both ways, largely because of Dart. If you were forced to guess today, New York feels like the most natural fit. But until the interviews are done and the dust settles, it’s still wide open.