Jan. 10, 2026, 5:08 a.m. ET
If the New York Giants want to hire John Harbaugh as their next head coach, it may cost them both money and authority.
During an appearance on 850 ESPN Cleveland on Friday, NFL analyst Tony Grossi, citing a “league insider,” claims Harbaugh has strict demands, which include power over the team’s personnel.
“I talked to a league insider who speculates on what he’s heard about Harbaugh’s prerequisites to even be interested in your job,” Grossi said. “$20 million a year, not a problem, $10 million assistant coach budget, total authority over the roster, and also would like to select his own guy to lean on, personnel guy.”
Grossi added that Harbaugh requires more power than he had with the Baltimore Ravens, which would put the Giants in a bit of a pickle due to the presence of general manager Joe Schoen.
However, NFL insider and Harbaugh’s friend, Ian O’Connor of The Athletic, pumped the brakes on Grossi’s report.
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“In the conversations I’ve had with people in and around the process, they’d be surprised if he really forced the Giants — or any other organization he might work for — for total control over the roster,” O’Connor said.
That’s not to say Harbaugh wouldn’t want some power, however.
“I think he definitely wants some personnel say and power, but I don’t know about total autonomy over the roster,” O’Connor said. “I don’t think he’s going to push for that. I don’t think he’s going to say — for instance, with the Giants — ‘you have to fire Joe Schoen, or I’m not taking this job.’ That’s not how John is wired. I’ve known him for a number of years, and I’d be really surprised if it came to that.
“I think he’s more of a collaborator. Again, he wants some power, but it doesn’t have to be absolute, and I think that will help the Giants in their pursuit.”
If the Giants truly want to right the ship and hire a leader of men, surrendering some level of power is simply the cost of doing business.
