John Harbaugh’s exit from Baltimore might be the most surprising twist of the young offseason. Heading into the year, not many expected Harbaugh to be coaching for his job. However, the situation is ripe for another twist.
According to a video clip posted on X on Monday by ESPN Cleveland, Browns analyst Tony Grossi explained what the expectations would be for Harbaugh to entertain joining the Cleveland Browns.
“My understanding, and whether it’s true or not, we’ll find out,” Grossi said. “He won’t even interview unless certain things are met. Meaning, ‘I’m not going to go there and go through a protracted search. If I’m going in there, I’m going to be your coach unless I change my mind,’ and the other thing is this control of the roster is big. It might not be as big for him as it would be in Tennessee, who knows?”
In other words, it appears that Harbaugh wants a commanding amount of control over what takes place with the $6.4 billion franchise (Forbes), and he doesn’t want to waste time.
The reason for his alleged demands is unknown, but many fans will arrive at the conclusion that Harbaugh believes himself to be a gift for Cleveland rather than the other way around. As such, with that leverage, the coach with sky-high market value is not going to settle.
Exploring Additional Potential Fits For John Harbaugh
There are plenty of openings, as every team in need of a coach has not settled on a candidate. As such, John Harbaugh has his pick of the litter.
However, some fits appear better than others. Seemingly, the best options are the ones needing the least work on their roster. The Atlanta Falcons might be the best job available, not named the Baltimore Ravens.
Atlanta nearly won the division and is still unsettled on its general manager. As such, Harbaugh could have a lot of power in how the roster is assembled going forward, with already a solid foundation with Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
Otherwise, Tennessee could be a solid choice if Harbaugh is not interested in waiting a year for a rookie to learn his first NFL lessons. If Cam Ward is a hit under Harbaugh in 2026, the coach will receive a lopsided amount of the credit.
Another option with a potentially quick turnaround would be the New York Giants, a franchise with a solid nucleus of offensive talent already in place. However, his arrival could cause some early friction with incumbent general manager Joe Schoen, a problem that owner John Mara would need to rectify.
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